Conference “Digital health in times of crisis” 9th October 2025

Dr. Rabih El Chammay is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst recognized for his leadership in mental health in Lebanon and internationally. Since 2014, he has led the National Mental Health Program within the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, in partnership with WHO, UNICEF, and the International Medical Corps, with the goal of reforming the care system and raising public awareness of mental health issues. He is also a Lecturer at Saint Joseph University and practices at Hôtel Dieu de France Hospital in Beirut. With over 15 years of experience with international agencies such as WHO, UNHCR, and UNICEF, he brings recognized technical and strategic expertise. He served as Chair of the WHO Advisory Group on Mental Health from 2022 to 2024 and was subsequently renewed for a second term from 2025 to 2027. Fully dedicated, he works to improve care and promote mental health as a fundamental right

Dr. Anaid (Aniya) Atasuntseva is a licensed clinical psychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. She also serves as chief mental health advisor at Telehelp Ukraine, a non-profit volunteer effort seeking to provider telehealth medical and mental health consultation and support to individuals in Ukraine affected by the Russian invasion. In addition to providing direct care, Telehelp Ukraine partners with international agencies to identify needs and train Ukrainian based of mental health professionals in evidence-based practices. Dr. Atasuntseva is an expert in treating adolescents presenting with suicidality and self-harming behaviors. Her additional areas of clinical focus include the treatment of trauma and disordered eating.

With over 25 years of experience in public health, including with the US CDC and WHO. In UNICEF, he contributes to shaping global strategies for public health emergencies. He focuses on infectious diseases epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and modeling. He seeks to understand how pathogens spread within and between populations and to identify drivers of outbreaks to inform timely, and effective responses. He explores the intersection of outbreak response and public health policy, examining how health systems and governance influence epidemic trajectories. He focuses on the challenges of responding to threats in resource-constrained and emergency-prone settings.

Lola Kola is a researcher in global mental health with over 15 years of experience in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in West Africa. She is a Medical Sociologist with extensive experience in the development and clinical implementation of mental health digital interventions in low- and middle-income countries, particularly across Sub-Saharan Africa She is affiliated to the University of Ibadan and Kings College London. Her research project has been funded by major funders such as the National Institute of Health USA, the Wellcome Trust, UK, Medical Research Council, UK, Grand Challenges Canada and the IDRC, Canada. Her work has been published in The Lancet, Nature, JAMA, World Psychiatry and other leading journals. She teaches and mentoring young researchers.