EAP LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 2025 | LEIPZIG, GERMANY

25-27 September 2025

Registration and accommodation bookings open on 30 May at 12:00 CET!

Registration & Travel Grants
Cancellation Policy

EAP Leadership Academy 2025

Equipping Tomorrow’s Leaders in Paediatrics
25–27 September 2025 | Radisson Blu Hotel, Leipzig, Germany

The European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) invites you to an exceptional opportunity to accelerate your leadership journey. Join peers and mentors from across Europe for three dynamic days of interactive learning, skill-building, and professional networking in one of Germany’s most vibrant cities.

 

Designed for emerging paediatric leaders and young professionals in medical advocacy and public relations, the EAP Leadership Academy will help you develop essential leadership competencies and master the art of influencing change within the healthcare landscape.

 

 

Who Should Attend?

 
  • Paediatric residents, trainees, or early-career paediatricians.
  • Individuals committed to child health and the advancement of paediatrics.
  • Active members of national or European paediatric organisations.
  • Professionals with current or future potential for leadership, advocacy, or regulatory roles.
 

Why Attend?

  • Connect with and learn from internationally renowned paediatric leaders.
  • Build essential skills in communication, advocacy, and leadership.
  • Expand your professional network with peers and mentors from across Europe.
  • Experience a dynamic, interactive, and inspiring learning environment.
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Places are strictly limited to 30 participants to ensure an intensive and personalised experience.

Our Supporters

 

The EAP Leadership Academy 2025 is proudly supported by:

Nestlé Nutrition Institute

Increasing the positive impact of nutrition.

Sanofi

Transforming the practice of medicine through breakthrough science.

Programme

Thursday, 25 September - Arrival and Orientation

Arrival & Check-In

Thursday throughout the day

🕕 19:00 | Welcome Dinner and Ice-Breaker

Engage in a unique, interactive icebreaker during dinner!

🕕 09:00 – 09:30 | Welcome & Introduction

Prof. Suzanne Suggs & Prof. Berthold Koletzko

🕕 11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee Break

🕕 09:30–11:00 | Plenary Presentations

 

🎥 Media communication – Dr. Daniel Saraga

📱 Social media engagement- Austeja Stankutė-Kolosova

🎯 Advocacy introduction – Peggy Diby

🩺 Patient-provider communication – Prof. Suzanne Suggs

⚖️ Regulatory science & paediatrics – Prof. Sanja Kolacek

 

🕕 11:30 – 13:00 | Parallel Workshop

Media Skills

– Dr. Daniel Saraga

Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement

- Peggy Diby

Patient Communication & Social Media

- Prof. Suzanne Suggs & Dr. Austeja Stankutė-Kolosova

🕕 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch & Networking

🕕 14:15 – 15:45 | Parallel Workshop (continued)

Media Skills

– Dr. Daniel Saraga

Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement

- Peggy Diby

Patient Communication & Social Media

- Prof. Suzanne Suggs & Dr. Austeja Stankutė-Kolosova

🕕 15:45 – 16:15 | Coffee Break

🕕 16:15 – 17:45 | Parallel Workshop 3 (continued)

Media Skills

– Dr. Daniel Saraga

Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement

- Peggy Diby

Patient Communication & Social Media

- Prof. Suzanne Suggs & Dr. Austeja Stankutė-Kolosova

🕕 19:00 | Rooftop Dinner & Networking

Enjoy a 3-course dinner Rooftop, Rathuasbar, Melia Hotel.

🕕 16:15 - 17:45 | Parallel Workshop 1 (continued)

🕗 09:00 – 10:30 | Reports from the Groups


🎥 Media: Mock interviews & media exercises
📱 Social Media & Patient Communication: Showcase of strategies
🎯 Advocacy: Role-play panel discussions & stakeholder messaging

 

🕗 10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break

🕘 11:00 – 12:30 | Final Plenary: Advocacy Reflections

🎯 Key elements for effective advocacy – Peggy Diby
🌍 Paediatric advocacy at EU/international level – Prof. Berthold Koletzko
🏢 Lessons from corporate advocacy – Peggy Diby
💡 Panel insights: Burkard Rodeck, Peggy Diby, Sanja Kolacek, Berthold Koletzko

 🕥 12:30 | Closing remarks & next steps

 🕥 12:45 – 14:00 | Farewell Lunch

 🕥 From 14:00 | Departures or informal networking

Your Mentors. Your Inspiration.

Step into the room with the changemakers.

The EAP Leadership Academy faculty includes paediatric experts, trailblazing advocates, and experienced leaders who have shaped the future of child health.


They’re here to challenge, guide, and inspire you to become the next voice of paediatrics in Europe.

Chairs

Suzanne Suggs

Leadership Academy Programme Director

Full Professor of Social Marketing, USI, Switzerland Prof. Suggs leads the BeCHANGE research group at the Università della Svizzera italiana and is Vice-President of the Swiss School of Public Health. She has served as co-chair of the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force and is an expert in health communication, vaccination acceptance, and behavioural health strategies. Prof. Suggs advises governments and institutions on science communication and health policy, and teaches internationally on health communication and social marketing.

Berthold Koletzko

President, EAP & Chair, EAP Leadership Academy

Prof. Koletzko is the Else Kröner-Senior Professor of Paediatrics at LMU Munich and Head of the Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine at Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital. An internationally recognised expert in paediatric nutrition and metabolism, he has authored over 1,200 scientific articles and holds leadership roles in several global health organisations. He is also the founder and chair of the Child Health Foundation, dedicated to promoting evidence-based child health initiatives.

Speakers

Peggy Diby

Global Head of Corporate Affairs & Internal Engagement of Nutrition Strategic Division at Nestlé

Peggy leads global advocacy and stakeholder engagement for Nestlé’s Nutrition Division with a strong focus on equity, sustainability, and women’s health. With over 20 years of experience in the agrifood sector, she has championed corporate strategies that integrate corporate social responsibility into business operations. She has been a vocal advocate for delivering positive social impact across the value chain and is committed to creating safe, dignified, and empowering environments for women at every stage of life. Peggy is also an active mentor and speaker, advocating for reproductive justice and inclusive business leadership. Her leadership embodies the belief that corporate action is essential to achieving reproductive justice and building a future where no woman must choose between her health and her work.

Sanja Kolaček

Professor of Paediatrics, Medical University of Zagreb, Croatia Former Head, University Department of Paediatrics, Children’s Hospital

Prof. Sanja Kolaček is an internationally recognised expert in paediatric gastroenterology, based in Zagreb, Croatia. She is Professor of Paediatrics at the Medical University of Zagreb, where she also completed her Master of Science and PhD degrees. Until her retirement in 2022, she served as Head of the University Department of Paediatrics at the Children’s Hospital Zagreb and led the Croatian Referral Centre for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. Prof. Kolaček was President of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) from 2019 to 2022 and now serves as the society’s Liaison Officer. She has contributed extensively to the advancement of her field through European research initiatives, expert advisory roles, and scientific collaborations. A prolific author and speaker, Prof. Kolaček has published over 300 papers in peer-reviewed journals and has delivered more than 250 invited lectures at major international scientific meetings. She has also served as Associate Editor for the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition and continues to contribute to several editorial boards and peer-review panels.

Burkhard Rodeck

Secretary General German Society of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Generalsekretär der Deutschen Gesellschaft für KInder- und Jugendmedizin

Prof. Burkhard Rodeck is a distinguished paediatrician based in Germany, renowned for his extensive contributions to paediatric medicine and healthcare policy. He has held prominent positions in leading medical institutions and has been instrumental in advancing paediatric care standards across Europe. Prof. Rodeck's expertise encompasses clinical practice, medical education, and health system leadership, making him a respected voice in shaping paediatric healthcare policies.

Daniel Saraga

Science and Policy Communication Specialist

Dr. Daniel Saraga is a seasoned science communicator and the founder of Saraga Communications, a Swiss agency specialising in science and policy communication. With a background in physics, he earned his PhD from University College London and has conducted research at the University of Basel. Dr. Saraga has held prominent roles in science communication, including serving as the Head of Science Communication at the Swiss National Science Foundation and as editor-in-chief of the Swiss research magazine Horizons. He has also been the managing editor of Technologist and Reflex magazines. In his current role, Dr. Saraga works with universities, governments, and companies across Europe, providing expertise in media training, strategic communication, and public engagement. He is trilingual, working in English, French, and German, and is dedicated to enhancing the impact of scientific research through effective communication strategies.

Austėja Stankutė-Kolosova

Paediatrician, Vaikų ir jaunimo klinika EMPATIJA

Austėja Stankutė-Kolosova is a paediatrician based in Vilnius, Lithuania. She completed her general paediatrics training at Vilnius University in 2022 and has since worked across several paediatric care settings, including emergency departments and primary care clinics. She currently practises part-time at Vaikų ir jaunimo klinika EMPATIJA, Šeškinės Poliklinika, Trakai Hospital, and Vilnius City Clinical Hospital. Austėja has been an active member of the Young EAP (European Academy of Paediatrics) team since May 2022, promoting international collaboration among early-career paediatricians. Her current professional interests include rare diseases, social paediatrics, and healthcare workplace management. She remains passionate about medical education and public engagement, regularly participating in academic events and initiatives to support young professionals in paediatrics.

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Core-MD Project

Coordinating Research and Evidence for Medical Devices (CORE-MD)

New ways to test high-risk medical devices.

 

Manufacturers of medical devices need to test their products before being allowed to market them. Specifically, they require clinical data showing their medical device is safe and efficient. In this context, the EU-funded CORE-MD project will translate expert scientific and clinical evidence on study designs for evaluating high-risk medical devices into advice for EU regulators. The project will propose how new trial designs can contribute and suggest ways to aggregate real-world data from medical device registries.


It will also conduct multidisciplinary workshops to propose a hierarchy of levels of evidence from clinical investigations, as well as educational and training objectives for all stakeholders, to build expertise in regulatory science in Europe. CORE–MD will translate expert scientific and clinical evidence on study designs for evaluating high-risk medical devices into advice for EU regulators, to achieve an appropriate balance between innovation, safety, and effectiveness. A unique collaboration between medical associations, regulatory agencies, notified bodies, academic institutions, patients’ groups, and health technology assessment agencies, will systematically review methodologies for the clinical investigation of high-risk medical devices, recommend how new trial designs can contribute, and advise on methods for aggregating real-world data from medical device registries with experience from clinical practice The consortium is led by the European Society of Cardiology and the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, and involves all 33 specialist medical associations that are members of the Biomedical Alliance in Europe.

EAP Representative:

  • BERTHOLD KOLETZKO
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