Meet the speakers

Dr Filonid Aliu is a cardiology specialist with over seven years of clinical experience in hospital and private practice settings. He completed his undergraduate medical training at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, followed by specialist training in cardiology at the University Clinic for Cardiology. He is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (UK), with a subspecialty interest in interventional cardiology.

Dr Aliu is a regular attendee at major cardiology congresses and has presented his own research at international conferences. He served as the National Ambassador for North Macedonia for the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth (ISfTeH), reflecting his commitment to digital innovation in healthcare. He is also actively engaged in scientific publishing and international collaboration through the European Society of Cardiology and related professional bodies.

Dr. Suana Bono graduated from the Medical University of Tirana in 2019. Following graduation, Dr. Bono completed a year of clinical practice in the Emergency Department of Pogradec Hospital, gaining valuable frontline experience. In pursuit of further training, Dr. Bono moved to the UK, where she served as an Emergency Clinical Fellow at Ealing Hospital for one year. This was followed by a role as a Cardiology Clinical Fellow at the renowned St Thomas’ Hospital, where she deepened her expertise in cardiovascular medicine. In August 2024, Dr. Bono began a training program in Psychiatry at East London NHS Foundation Trust, continuing her professional development within the UK healthcare system.

Denis completed his medical degree at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry and is currently working as a Foundation Year 1 doctor in Care of the Elderly at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust. He has a keen interest in haematology oncology and, having trained in London, has encountered a wide range of exciting acute and complex presentations. He is passionate about teaching and learning from shared experiences, and hopes readers find his case presentation both insightful and applicable to their practice.

Leonora Fisniku is a consultant neurologist with a special interest in Multiple Sclerosis and other CNS inflammatory and autoimmune conditions working at Cambridge University Hospital NHS Trust Foundation. She completed her MD at the University Hospital Mother Teresa in Tirana, Albania before moving to the UK where she completed her postgraduate and neurology training in London at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Imperial College and Kings College Hospitals. She completed her PhD studies at the Institute of Neurology under the supervision of Professor David Miller and was awarded a PhD titled: “MRI predictors of disability in relapse onset MS patients” at the University College London. She worked as a consultant neurologist and was the MS lead at UHS (Sussex) before joining Cambridge MS team. Her main interest lie in offering novel treatments, including stem cell therapy, to patients with MS and other autoimmune conditions.

Dr Ardiana Gjini is the Executive Director of Public Health at Hywel Dda University Health Board, where she leads an expansive portfolio beyond core public health, including climate change mitigation, diabetes care, the social model of health, emergency preparedness, and preventative strategies in healthcare. Since taking up the role in summer 2023, following national leadership roles in Public Health Wales, she has spearheaded key initiatives such as the expansion of the Bowel Screening Programme and the recovery of cancer screening services post-Covid. Her tenure also included leading serious incident responses and advancing communicable disease control. Dr Gjini maintains active academic roles with Cardiff University and the University of Bristol, contributing to both teaching and research.

Before joining NHS Wales, Dr Gjini held Consultant roles in the English NHS, where she led on cancer policy, screening, immunisation, and early diagnosis initiatives. Her career in public health was shaped by early clinical and humanitarian work in Kosovo during the late 1990s, where she collaborated with WHO to rebuild healthcare services post-conflict. This formative experience ignited her enduring commitment to public health, which she continues to combine with academic pursuits, resulting in numerous peer-reviewed publications and growing collaborations with universities in west Wales.

Dritan Pasku is an orthopedic surgeon specialising in spinal surgery. 

He completed his Medical Degree at both Medical school of University of Tirana in Albania and University of Parma in Italy.  He then moved to Greece where he completed his residency in Orthopaedics and Traumatology at the University Hospital of Heraklion in Crete where he also completed his PhD studies. 

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He returned back to his native country, Albania where he worked as an Orthopedic Surgeon for 5 years before moving to the United Kingdom where he completed his Complex Spine fellowship at Centre for Spinal Research and Surgery at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham  where he is currently working as an Associate Spinal Consultant. His main interest are degenerative spinal conditions and minimal invasive surgery.

Dr Arisa Reka graduated with a Bachelor's in Medicine and Surgery from University College London (UCL). She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from UCL. Currently, Dr. Reka is an Anaesthetics Trainee at East Kent.

Arben Rrukaj is a GP trainer and Senior partner at TheWillesden Medical Center, London. Arben complete his medical degree at the Tirana Medical University in 1993 before moving to UK where he passed PLAB in 2001 and MRCGP (London) in 2006. Arben has a passion for teaching and he completed Westminster Postgraduate Teaching DIPLOMA, London in 2012.

Dr Ernese Xhafa-Hamiti completed medical training at the University of Prishtina Medical School with post-qualification training and experience gained in numerous academic centres in London, such as University College London Hospital, Imperial NHS Trust, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre and Bart's Health NHS Trust.

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She completed postgraduate studies at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and is a member of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in London, The Association of Cancer Physicians (ACP), European Society of Medical Oncologists (ESMO), UK Breast Cancer Group (UKBCG) and UK Acute Oncology Society (UKAOS).

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She holds a substantive post as a consultant in Medical Oncology at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre and an honorary post at Wexham Park Hospital and King Edward VII Hospital, Windsor, where she treats oncology patients, focusing on two tumour types: breast and lung cancer.  Dr Xhafa-Hamiti also offers her expertise in private hospitals such as Princess Margaret Hospital, Bishop’s Wood Hospital, Spire Thames Valley Hospital and Genesis Care.

Her work includes treating cancer patients with the most advanced methods, such as immunotherapy, hormonal therapies, chemotherapy and targeted therapies.

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Ernese also offers acute oncology expertise (AOS) while making a management plan for inpatients who present with acute problems related to their treatment or cancer itself. 

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She is an author and co-author of many publications and an active member of the clinical trial team in her Oncology department. 

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She continues to teach and mentor junior doctors and registrars and appraises her senior colleagues.