Pietro Pasquini | Gynaecology | Innovative Research Award

Dr. Pietro Pasquini |  Gynaecology | Innovative Research Award 

Doctor | University of Bologna | Italy

Dr. Pietro Pasquini is an Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident at the University of Bologna, specializing in Gynecologic Oncology and Robotic Surgery through the ORSI Academy, Belgium, where he also serves as a Clinical Fellow and Robotic Surgery trainer at AZORG Hospital, Aalst. He was a member of the first European team to perform telesurgery, reflecting his pioneering contributions to robotic gynecologic surgery. His medical training includes a residency at IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy, clinical fellowships in Tanzania (Consolata Hospital, Ob/Gyn and General Surgery) and Belgium (UZ Brussels, Oncological, Abdominal, Thoracic, and Cardiac Surgery), a Master’s degree in Medicine and Surgery from Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, and an extensive role as an Anatomy Dissection Tutor at DIBINEM, Bologna. Pasquini has actively participated in professional development programs, including Erasmus+ internships, IFAB’s Young Talent program, and international anatomy conferences. He holds certifications in multiple robotic platforms (DaVinci® X, Xi, Toumai®, HugoTM RAS, Hinotori®), gynecological ultrasound (IOTA), BLSD, and ECDL. He has presented at major conferences such as the Society of European Robotic Gynaecological Surgery and Society of Robotic Surgery. Pasquini has authored key publications on telesurgery and gynecologic oncology, including Pioneering telesurgery in gynecology: the first European case of total hysterectomy (J Robot Surg. 2025;19:460), and Effect of Diaphragmatic Resection Versus Stripping in Advanced Ovarian Cancer (Ann Surg Oncol. 2025). His h-index is 2 with 11 citations across 4 Scopus-listed documents. He actively leads ongoing research in AI-assisted surgical planning, robotic hysterectomy, peritoneal cancer index detection, and surgical simulation standardization, demonstrating expertise in robotic surgery, patient care, database management, and public speaking.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

1. Pazzaglia, E., Pasquini, P., Jamaer, E., Traen, K., Despierre, E., & Mottrie, A. (2025). Pioneering telesurgery in gynecology: The first European case of total hysterectomy. Journal of Robotic Surgery.

2. Mezzapesa, F., Di Costanzo, S., Coadă, C. A., Bernante, P., Balsamo, F., Garelli, S., Genovesi, L., Pasquini, P., Lambertini, A., Caramelli, F., et al. (2024). Combined robotic surgery for concomitant treatment of endometrial cancer and obesity. Surgical Endoscopy.

3. Santoro, M., Zybin, V., Coada, C. A., Mantovani, G., Paolani, G., Di Stanislao, M., Modolon, C., Di Costanzo, S., Lebovici, A., Ravegnini, G., et al. (2024). Machine learning applied to pre-operative computed-tomography-based radiomic features can accurately differentiate uterine leiomyoma from leiomyosarcoma: A pilot study. Cancers.

Handan Özcan | Gynecology | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Handan Özcan | Gynecology | Best Researcher Award 

Associate Professor| University of Health Sciences | Turkey

Dr. Handan Özcan, Associate Professor at the University of Health Sciences, is a distinguished scholar in women’s health, midwifery, and psychosocial interventions, with research spanning perinatal mental health, reproductive and sexual health, menopause, complementary therapies, and patient-centered care. Her multidisciplinary projects integrate clinical practice, education, and evidence-based strategies to address critical challenges in maternal and reproductive health, empowering women through innovative approaches that improve quality of life and health outcomes. She has conducted influential studies on stigma in HPV-positive women, perinatal grief, postpartum mental health, endometriosis, and the use of non-pharmacological interventions such as mindfulness, music, and complementary therapies. In addition to her extensive teaching and curriculum development experience, she has edited key academic books, authored numerous book chapters, and served as reviewer and editorial board member for leading journals. Dr. Özcan is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Association, Turkish Nurses Association, and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, contributing to global collaborations in advancing women’s health. She has authored over 85 peer-reviewed journal articles, with notable publications in 2025 addressing chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, postpartum depression, sleep quality, and women’s health challenges in conflict zones. Her work has been widely recognized, accumulating 76 citations, with an h-index of 5 and i10-index of 25, reflecting both the academic impact and global relevance of her research contributions. Through innovation, mentorship, and impactful scholarship, Dr. Özcan exemplifies excellence in advancing maternal and women’s health worldwide.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

1. Karakaş, S., Uzun, S., & Özcan, H. (2025). The effect of omega-3 fatty acid use on women’s mental health in postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis study. Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira, 71(1), e20241389. Cited by: 1

2. Elkoca, A., Özcan, H., & Kahraman, B. Y. (2025). Complementary and alternative medicine therapies used by women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Advances in Integrative Medicine, 12(1), 75–80. Cited by: 3

3. Çuvadar, A., & Özcan, H. (2025). Effects of civil war on young women in Somalia: Exploring the relationships between death anxiety, meaning in life and self‐esteem. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 31(1), e70035. Cited by: 1

4. Özcan, H., Oral, S., Kuruay, Ş., & Yilmaz, B. M. (2025). The effect of music on pain, anxiety and satisfaction during nonstress testing. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 31(1), e14106. Cited by: 2

5. Özcan, H., & Güngör, T. (2024). Breastfeeding experience and anxiety in mothers with COVID-19 in the postnatal period: A qualitative study. Archives of Public Health, 82(1), 62. Cited by: 2