Workshop on Progressive MS and NMO-SD - Ljubljana 2025
Our workshop is a must-attend learning and networking experience for all professionals passionate about rehabilitation and improving care for people living with multiple sclerosis.
Speakers
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Alenka Horvat Ledinek
Neurologist at University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia, heading the MS Centre at the Neurology Clinic. Experienced in diagnosis, treatment and research into multiple sclerosis, with special interest in disease-modifying therapies and new treatment approaches. Co-author of cross-national studies of MS therapies and active voice in public education about MS. -
Ana Ožura Brečko
Ana Ožura Brečko, PhD, is a clinical psychologist working at Neurological Rehabilitation, Division of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia. She specialises in neuropsychological assessment of cognitive deficits and cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with MS. Her main research interest are personality changes in MS patients. -
Anja Pertot
Dr Anja Pertot is a physician and researcher based at the University Rehabilitation Institute Slovenia – Soča in Ljubljana. Her clinical and academic work focuses on neuro-rehabilitation and spinal orthotics, with notable contributions to conservative treatment guidelines for idiopathic scoliosis and hip and knee osteoarthritis. She has co-authored several peer-reviewed articles on bracing in scoliosis, and serves as a lead specialist in orthotic and prosthetic applications in Slovenia. Widely respected for her interdisciplinary approach, Dr Pertot continues to advance rehabilitation science and integrate evidence-based protocols into clinical practice. -
Darija Šćepanović
Assist. Prof. Dr. Darija Šćepanović (University Medical Centre, Slovenia)｜ Her clinical and research focus includes urinary and fecal incontinence, as well as musculoskeletal issues during pregnancy and postpartum. She has co-authored national guidelines for physical activity in pregnancy and received several national and international recognitions, including the Gold Plaque from the Slovenian Association of Physiotherapists and a best poster award at the World Physiotherapy Congress. She is a former Vice President of the International Organization of Physiotherapists in Pelvic and Women’s Health and serves on the editorial board of Fizioterapija, the professional journal of the Slovenian Association of Physiotherapists. -
Dejan Georgiev
Assoc. Prof. Dejan Georgiev, MD, PhD, FEBN｜Dejan Georgiev is an associate professor of neurology currently affiliated with the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Department of Neurology and University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences. Currently he is Head of the Unit of Neurorehabilitation at the Department of Neurology in Ljubljana. He is an expert in Movement Disorders and Deep Brain Stimulation. His research interests span from phenomenology and clinical presentation of movement disorders, through mechanisms of movement disorders to the effectiveness of different therapeutical treatments for movement disorders. In addition to the clinical research, he is an active member of the Artificially Intelligence Lab at the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences. -
Eva Žura
M.Sc., Neurological Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, A physiotherapist and a member of the Multiple Sclerosis Centre, actively contributing to multidisciplinary care for individuals living with multiple sclerosis. Her work combines clinical practice with evidence-based approaches, focusing on improving quality of life and physical functioning. Her research interest includes balance impairments — their causes, underlying mechanisms, and targeted interventions to support greater independence in daily life activities. In addition to multiple sclerosis, she addresses a range of neurological conditions, emphasizing practical solutions that enhance patients’ everyday abilities. She remains engaged in both clinical and research work, with a focus on the real-world needs of neurological rehabilitation. -
Gregor Brecl
Assist. Prof. Gregor Brecl Jakob, MD, PhD, University Medical Centre Ljubljana｜Gregor Brecl Jakob is a Slovenian neurologist and Head of the Centre for Multiple Sclerosis at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana. He earned his medical degree and PhD from the University of Ljubljana, focusing on motor and cognitive interactions in early multiple sclerosis. His research focuses on neuroimmunology and MS treatment strategies and balance disorders in multiple sclerosis. Dr. Brecl Jakob is a Fellow of the European Board of Neurology and an active member of ECTRIMS and the European Academy of Neurology panels. -
Jana Pöttgen
Clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist specializing in MS at University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. Focuses on neuropsychiatric aspects of MS including fatigue, sexual dysfunction, outcome measure development, psychotherapeutic and eHealth interventions. Has published substantial systematic reviews, RCTs and work on patient-reported outcome measures. -
Jelka Janša
Jelka Jansa, OT, MSc, working with neurological conditions, including PwMS. Besides clinical work is also involved with Fieldwork education, research and leading an OT Unit within Neurorehab Service at the Neurological Hospital. -
Jože Sambt
Jože Sambt holds Ph.D. in economics (University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Economics, 2009). He teaches Introductory Statistics, Research methods and techniques, Demography and Economic Statistics. His research interests include relations and transfers among generations, demography, impact of demographic changes on long-term sustainability of public finances and labour economics. His list of publications includes numerous peer reviewed articles in journals and books, including one of the world's top scientific journals ‘Science’. During his career he has been involved in numerous national and international research projects on intergenerational transfers, (microsimulation) pension models, long-term sustainability of public finances, etc. He is also leading Slovenian team in international research project National Transfer Accounts (www.ntaccounts.org). He colaborates with numerous domestic and international organizations. -
Lousin Moumdjian
Rehabilitation researcher and postdoctoral scholar at Hasselt University and Ghent University, Belgium. Specialises in auditory-motor coupling, gait and rhythm-based rehabilitation, music and rhythm interventions, and motor-cognitive dual-task performance in people with MS. Active in designing embodied learning and feedback-based interventions to improve mobility and reduce fatigue. She is also a member of RiMS Executive Board as SIG Officer. -
Michelle Lehman
Michelle Lehman, MSc(OT), is an occupational therapist and co-founder of Think Self-Management, an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between evidence-based chronic disease self-management research and practice. Drawing on her dual perspective as a clinician and researcher, she focuses on translating research into accessible, person-centred tools that are easy for real-world clinicians to access and use with clients. Her work bridges clinical expertise, research application, and advocacy for sustainable, client-driven models of chronic disease management. -
Tanya Packer
Dr. Packer is an occupational therapist by profession and previous director of the School of Occupational Therapy and the School of Health Administration (SHA) at Dalhousie University. She is a highly accomplished senior scholar, academic leader, and a tenured full professor. Dr. Packer has an active research program focused on “chronic and complex conditions”. Recognized as a world leader in self-management science, she has published over 130 peer reviewed manuscripts. Working with partners and research trainees, her current projects focus on the design and testing of self-management interventions including fatigue management, development of a patient reported outcome measure, low vision rehabilitation and helping teams assess the self-management support they provide. -
Uroš Rot
Uroš Rot, MD, PhD is a Professor of Neurology at the Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia and at Medical faculty, University of Ljubljana. His main reserach interests are clinical and CSF studies in multiple sclerosis and CSF studies of dementia/neurodegenerative diseases biomarkers. He is a Head of Department of Neurology, and former President of Slovenian Society of Neurology (2015-2022). -
Žiga Špiclin
Professor at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, developing machine learning algorithms and intelligent decision-support systems for brain MR image analysis, such as Markers (https://ms.quantim.eu) for brain and lesion quantification and future disability progression prediction. Recent developments involve innovative medical devices for functional assessment of patients with neurodegenerative diseases, such as the SmartNHPT (https://smart-nhpt.com), an autonomous multiparametric nine-hole peg test.