Prof. Zdravka Poljakovic, Dr. Ivan Peric, Dr. Nikola Blazevic
Croatia
Prof. Zdravka Poljakovic is head of the department of Intensive Neurology and Cerebrovascular Diseases at KBC Zagreb and Head of the Croatian Neurological Society. She has played a key role in advancing comprehensive stroke care in Croatia. She shares the nomination with Dr Ivan Peric and Dr Nikola Blazevic, young physicians who actively continue this work in daily clinical practice.
Prof. Piotr Sobolewski
Poland
Prof. Piotr Sobolewski is a distinguished neurologist and head of the neurology department at Specialist Hospital in Sandomierz who has been actively supporting the development of Angels Initiative in Poland from the outset. Prof. Sobolewski is a strong advocate for collaboration between emergency responders and neurologists to improve the stroke pathway, and committed to promoting the FAST Heroes campaign.
Dr. Antonio Medina Rodríguez
Spain
Dr. Medina is a highly respected neurologist from Tenerife and a leading figure behind the creation of the regional stroke protocol in the Canary Islands. His hospital was the first in the region to complete the Angels consultancy process, achieving diamond status in just one year. He is commended for his leadership, vision, humility, and tireless dedication to improving stroke care across the Canary Islands.
Dr. Csaba Óváry
Hungary
Director General of the Bács-Kiskun County Teaching Hospital, Dr Óváry has shown exceptional dedication to advancing stroke care through a strong regional approach in Bács-Kiskun County. He hosted Hungary’s very first Regional Steering Committee meeting, actively championed the FAST Heroes program, and collaborates with Angels in a spirit of trust, partnership and openness.
Dr. Jozef Haring
Slovakia
Dr. Haring is neurologist at the Faculty Hospital Trnava in Slovakia, the second biggest thrombectomy center in Slovakia. He initiated the process ot transform Trnava into the first Angels Region in Slovakia, with the goal of “showing the way” to the rest of the country. His contribution includes innovative interventions in the fields of data collection and processing.
Dr. Daniel Václavík
Czech Republic
Chief neurologist at Hospital Ostrava–Vítkovice in the Czech Republic, Dr. Václavík has been deeply involved with Angels from the start, contributing on multiple levels including as a member of the national Angels Steering Committee, and as a close collaborator with Petr Jaššo and the EMS of the Moravian-Silesian Region. His dedication was a critical factor in the region becoming an Angels Region in 2024.
Poltava Stoke Team
Ukraine
Drs Mykhailo Tonchev, Andrii Nos, Dmytro Lebedynets and Pavlo Lebedynets have been at the forefront of shaping modern stroke care systems in Ukraine, as well as contributing to advancements across Central Asia and several Western European countries. Their contribution is systemic, measurable, and transformative :setting new standards, driving meaningful progress, and building long‑term capacity in stroke medicine.
Dr. Yerzhan Adilbekov
Kazakhstan
Dr. Adilbekov has played a foundational role in building Kazakhstan’s stroke care system, advancing reperfusion therapy, opening the country’s first Stroke Simulation Center, and preparing the first Central Asia TtT workshop. His leadership also strengthened regional collaboration with Mongolia, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. His vision and impact make him a standout candidate.
Dr. Asel Kerimkulova
Kyrgyzstan
Dr. Kerimkulova transformed national stroke care by leading the creation and update of treatment guidelines, establishing a nationwide stroke network, and enabling the first thrombolysis in 2025, launching countrywide reperfusion therapy.
Dr. Anastasia Kaliontzoglou
Greece
Dr. Kaliontzoglou, Head of the Neurology Department on Rhodes, has transformed stroke care on her island despite working with minimal resources. Through determined leadership, she has strengthened protocols, united teams, and built a culture of continuous improvement that led Rhodes to become the first Greek island to receive an ESO Angels Award in 2023.
Dr. Ana Paiva Nunes
Portugal
Dr. Ana Paiva Nunes is a key driver of hospital training initiatives, actively supporting centres across the country in optimising the stroke pathway, confronting shared national challenges, and advocating for systematic quality monitoring. At European level, she participates in the Stroke Action Plan for Europe as a national representative, ensuring that the perspectives and needs of stroke patients are directly reflected in strategic discussions.
