Hrvoje Budincevic (winner)
Assist. Prof. Hrvoje Budincevic is a specialist in intensive care and cerebrovascular diseases in Croatia. He is deputy head of neurology and head of the Stroke and Intensive Care Unit at Sveti Duh University Hospital in Zagreb. His expertise, commitment to innovation, and leadership benefit stroke care development across the country.
Vítor Tedim Cruz (winner)
Prof. Cruz is head of the Neurology Dept and Stroke Unit at Matosinhos Local Health Unit, and President of the Portuguese Stroke Society. An advocate for patient empowerment, he is also a tireless innovator, compassionate leader and unifying force, whose ability to bring together diverse healthcare teams under a shared vision of excellence is inspiring.
Kristaps Jurjāns (winner)
Dr Jurjāns is head of the stroke unit at Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital in Riga, Latvia. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement, he has ensured that the highest quality of care is consistently delivered to stroke patients. He is a quality monitoring advocate and a committed teacher to the next generation of Latvian neurologists.
Hariklia Proios (winner)
Prof. Proios is associate professor of Neurocognitive Disorders & Rehabilitation at the Dept of Educational & Social Policy of the University of Macedonia in Greece. She lead development of the FAST Heroes campaign and co-founded the Grand Heroes Foundation. She has been the president of the Stroke Alliance For Europe (SAFE) since 2020.
Francisco Purroy (winner)
Dr Purroy is head of neurology at the Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, and Stroke Coordinator for the Spanish province of Lleida – an Angels Region thanks to his dedication and hands-on involvement. By generously sharing his vast experience and expertise, he ensures that every hospital improves its stroke management and patient outcomes.
Yerzhan Adilbekov
Dr Adilbekov is Chairman of the Board of the National Coordination Center for Emergency Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan. Under his leadership as National Coordinator of the stroke service in Kazakhstan, the number of thrombolytic therapies and neurosurgical operations has doubled, and the number of stroke centers in the country has grown from 36 to 83.
Svatopluk Ostrý
Dr Ostrý is chief neurologist of the leading comprehensive stroke center in the Czech Republic – Hospital České Budějovice in the South Bohemian region. He is also a regional leader who is very committed to driving regional improvement, a dedicated teacher and mentor, and a 2024 recipient of the FAST Heroes Adult Advocate Award.
Piotr Sobolewski
Prof. Sobolewski is head of neurology at Specialist Hospital in Sandomierz. A pioneer of multidisciplinary collaboration and regional approach even before the Angels Regions strategy was established, he is a strong advocate for collaboration between emergency services and neurologists, and an invaluable supporter of Angels activities in Poland.
Nune Yeghiazaryan
Dr Yeghiazaryan is head of neurology and the stroke centre at Erebouni Medical Center in Yerevan, Armenia, and President of Armenia Stroke Council. She is member of European Academy of Neurology, the ESO and the WSO, and a regional representative and steering committee member of ESO-EAST. She has worked in the field of stroke in Armenia since 2010.
