Public Health and Policy Working Group

Health of a population determines its productivity, longevity and hence is closely related to the overall working of the state. Public health and its policies form a large chunk of volatile laws, which affect all residents. We, as the EST Working Group for Public Health and Policies, analyse and assess the role of public health in the EU, and how we can help make it more accessible and equitable. 

Christos Tsagkaris – Head of the Working Group

Christos Tsagkaris is a Medical Doctor from Greece currently working as an Orthopedic Surgery resident in Balgrist University Hospital (Zurich, Switzerland). His research experience has culminated in peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, presentations and awards in national and international conferences and several editorial or reviewer appointments in academic journals. Christos has been involved in advocacy related to health in Europe for a long time. He has served as a Youth Ambassador for Greece in the Association of European Cancer Leagues, as a board member (Editor in Chief, Vice President) of the European Student Think Tank, as an organizer and participant in a number of Model European Union Simulations, as a founding member of the Cancer Prevention Research Group in Greece and #Students_Against_COVID and as a board member of the Institute of Cancer and Crisis. He has a special interest in musculoskeletal health, non communicable diseases’ prevention, digital health and medical humanities.

George Mathew

George Mathew is a final-year medical student studying at Medical University – Pleven. He is from the state of Kerala in India and is currently living in Pleven, Bulgaria to study medicine.

He is part of the Standing Committee on Medical Education in Pleven and is passionate about issues like public health, the influence of corporations in governmental policymaking and climate change.

George hopes to be an integral part of the ‘Working Group for Public Health and Policy’ and wants to help the younger generation be more aware of policies that pertain to them in the EU, by exposing them to different problems, perspectives and solutions.

Jana Morgagni

Jana was born in Italy, and has both Italian and Polish heritage. She has lived in different corners of the world, which is where she probably belongs to. Currently, she is pursuing a research master’s in “Social Sciences for a Digital Society” at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Previously, she graduated from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice with a bachelor’s degree in “Philosophy, International, and Economic Studies”. During her undergraduate studies, she completed an exchange program in Taiwan, and developed a passion for public policy—particularly in public (global) mental health, social inequalities, and welfare. Jana thanks her undergraduate journey for endowing her with a multidisciplinary foundation, which she is an enthusiastic promoter of.

Giulia Pavan

Giulia Pavan is a Healthcare Consultant in EU public affairs, working for a Brussels-based company. With a BA in Philosophy, International, and Economic Studies from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and MA in International Relations and European Studies from the University of Florence, she has also completed courses in health economics and health law. Specializing in healthcare policy and regulatory affairs, Giulia advises clients on navigating the complex EU regulatory landscape, shaping policy strategies, and engaging with key stakeholders. She has a particular interest in rare diseases and digital health, and advocates for innovative approaches to improve healthcare access and patient outcomes across the EU.

Aparajeya Shanker

Dr Aparajeya Shanker is a General Surgeon in training, currently working as a general and emergency surgery resident in Bulgaria. He is a published researcher with interests in Surgical Research, Surgical Education and Surgical Ethics. He has a wide range of interests ranging from Public Health, Global Surgery and Oncosurgery. He is a firm believer in the goals of frontline surgery and is an advocate for greater and higher surgical access to all areas of the world and has served in numerous roles related to training and educating medical students and junior doctors, working as a medical volunteer and hosting meetings and panel discussions on better surgical care and access.

In his spare time, Dr Aparajeya Shanker writes non-fiction articles and essays, reads, and plays the guitar.

Frank Wolfe

Frank joined the EST Working Group in Public Health and Policy in October 2024. Frank is currently a student in the MSc Economics programme at Trinity College Dublin. He graduated in 2024 from BA PPES (Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Sociology), which included an Erasmus exchange in economics at UCLouvain. He interned at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), conducting research in health and environmental economics in Ireland. He previously interned at the Centre for Social and Economic Research in Warsaw, and at the Irish Green Party. He is interested in public policy, public health, applied economics and data science.

Bryony Hoyle