Anna Bocchino | Nursing and AI | AI Breakthrough Award

Prof. Dr. Anna Bocchino | Nursing and AI | AI Breakthrough Award

Professor at Salus Infirmorum Nursing University, Spain

Anna Bocchino is a dedicated academic and researcher in the fields of psychosocial sciences, transcultural health, and social psychology, with extensive involvement in both education and scientific inquiry. She is currently serving as a full-time faculty member at the Centro Universitario de Enfermería Salus Infirmorum, affiliated with the University of Cádiz. Her professional trajectory is marked by a consistent focus on culturally competent care, innovative pedagogy in nursing education, and the psychosocial dynamics of health. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges psychology, nursing, and social theory, making her a prominent contributor in both academic and clinical contexts.

Profile

ORCID

Education

Anna Bocchino holds a doctoral degree in psychology from the University of Naples, where her thesis explored cross-cultural competencies among nurses in Caserta and Seville. Her academic foundation is rooted in relational sciences, with an emphasis on integrating community psychology principles into healthcare settings. Over the years, her educational pursuits have been complemented by continuous professional development, focusing on gender studies, intercultural communication, and advanced clinical diagnostics within the nursing profession.

Experience

Bocchino has held teaching positions in multiple core subjects including “Ciencias Psicosociales Aplicadas”, “Transculturalidad, Género y Salud”, and “Habilidades de la Comunicación Intercultural.” These have been delivered through in-person modalities to undergraduate nursing students. In addition to teaching, she has coordinated several innovation projects at the University of Cádiz aimed at improving didactic strategies, such as integrating ICT in the classroom and utilizing gamification through educational tools like “Trivial NANDA.” Furthermore, her research and teaching excellence are demonstrated by her involvement in numerous funded projects focusing on curriculum development and student engagement.

Research Interests

Her primary research interests include transcultural health, the psychology of migration, burnout in healthcare settings, and the development of diagnostic tools in nursing. She has explored themes such as professional grief, cultural empathy, and the use of artificial intelligence in clinical decision-making. Bocchino’s work often incorporates content validation methodologies and psychometric analysis, reflecting her commitment to evidence-based practice. She is also interested in the pedagogical development of future nurses, with a special emphasis on fostering intercultural sensitivity and improving patient-provider communication.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout her career, Bocchino has received institutional recognition for her contributions to teaching innovation and academic research. She has led or co-led various projects funded under the University of Cádiz’s initiatives for improving academic performance and enhancing scientific dissemination. Her leadership in these initiatives has positioned her as a role model within the academic nursing community.

Publications

  • The Integration of AI into the Nursing Process: A Comparative Analysis of NANDA, NOC, and NIC-Based Care Plans

    • Journal: Nursing Reports

    • Date: 2025-05-27

    • DOI: 10.3390/nursrep15060186

    • Co-authors: Ester Gilart, Patricia Gilart-Cantizano, Eva Manuela Cotobal-Calvo, Isabel Lepiani-Diaz, Daniel Román-Sánchez, José Luis Palazón-Fernández

  • Risk Determinants of Sexual Behaviors: Dating Apps, History of Sexually Transmitted Infections, Substance Use, and Pornography Consumption in Health Science Students

    • Journal: Nursing Reports

    • Date: 2025-02-28

    • DOI: 10.3390/nursrep15030083

    • Co-authors: María Naranjo-Márquez, Ester Gilart, Eva Manuela Cotobal-Calvo, Fortuna Procentese, José Luis Palazón-Fernández

  • Self-Medication Practice and Associated Factors Among Health Professionals in Spain

    • Journal: Nursing Reports

    • Date: 2025-02-04

    • DOI: 10.3390/nursrep15020053

    • Co-authors: Eva Manuela Cotobal-Calvo, Concepción Mata-Pérez, Ester Gilart, Belén Gutiérrez-Baena, José Luis Palazón-Fernández

  • Content Validation of the Self-Medication Scale and Trust in Online Resources: Deepening Digital Access to Health

    • Journal: Nursing Reports

    • Date: 2024-07-31

    • DOI: 10.3390/nursrep14030141

    • Co-authors: Eva Manuela Cotobal Calvo, Concepción Mata-Pérez, Alberto Cruz-Barrientos, María Naranjo-Márquez, José Luis Palazón-Fernández

  • Identifying Hate Speech and Attribution of Responsibility: An Analysis of Simulated WhatsApp Conversations during the Pandemic

    • Journal: Healthcare

    • Date: 2023-05-26

    • DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11111564

    • Co-authors: José Luis Palazón-Fernández, Concepción Mata-Perez, Ester Gilart, Eva Manuela Cotobal Calvo, Alberto Cruz-Barrientos

  • Bereavement Needs Assessment in Nurses: Elaboration and Content Validation of a Professional Traumatic Grief Scale

    • Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

    • Date: 2022-03-03

    • DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052968

    • Co-authors: Ester Gilart, Isabel Lepiani, María Dueñas, Maria José Cantizano Nuñez, Belen Gutierrez Baena

  • Psychometric Properties of Unemployment Syndrome Scale and Relevance to Clinical Practice

    • Journal: International Journal of Nursing Knowledge

    • Date: 2021-10

    • DOI: 10.1111/2047-3095.12316

    • Co-authors: Isabel Lepiani, Ester Gilart, Maria Jesus Medialdea, María Dueñas Rodriguez

Conclusion

Anna Bocchino exemplifies the modern academic committed to bridging scientific rigor with humanistic care in health education. Her contributions extend across teaching, research, and community engagement. Whether validating new diagnostic scales or exploring the socio-psychological dimensions of healthcare, she maintains a focus on quality, cultural respect, and empirical relevance. Her scholarly output and collaborative projects reveal a clear vision: advancing nursing through innovation, inclusion, and interdisciplinary synergy.

Giulia Iaconi | AI in Healthcare | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Giulia Iaconi | AI in Healthcare | Best Researcher Award

PhD Student at University of Genoa, Italy

Giulia Iaconi is a passionate and driven PhD student at the Università degli Studi di Genova, where she is pursuing her doctoral studies in Science and Technology for Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering, with a specialization in Electromagnetism, Electronics, and Telecommunications. Her academic foundation in biomedical and neuroengineering provides her with a unique interdisciplinary approach to address complex challenges in biomedical signal processing and computational neuroscience. Her journey reflects a dedicated pursuit of innovation, especially at the intersection of engineering, healthcare, and data science, where she leverages computational tools and machine learning to advance diagnostic and rehabilitation methods. Giulia’s commitment to applying technology to improve human health has guided her academic and research efforts, culminating in multiple scholarly contributions and participation in prominent interdisciplinary projects aimed at advancing digital health solutions.

Profile

Orcid

Education

Giulia began her academic career at the Alma Mater Studiorum of Bologna, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. Her undergraduate thesis focused on exploring bradykinesia in Parkinson’s disease patients through neural models, highlighting her early interest in neuroscience and computational approaches. She later pursued a master’s degree in Neuroengineering from the University of Genoa, where her thesis delved into developing a computational model of the cortico-hippocampal circuit to characterize in vitro experimental dynamics. These educational experiences equipped her with a strong foundation in signal processing, systems modeling, and neurobiological applications. Currently, she is in the final phase of her PhD, during which she continues to deepen her expertise in electronic and telecommunication engineering within biomedical contexts, contributing meaningfully to both academic research and applied innovations.

Experience

Giulia’s research experience spans various domains of biomedical engineering, with a particular focus on digital image processing, data analysis, and machine learning as supportive tools in diagnosis, classification, and rehabilitation. As part of the STORMS (Solution Towards Occupational Rehabilitation for Multiple Sclerosis) project, she worked as an engineer responsible for the design and development of serious games aimed at cognitive assessment and rehabilitation of multiple sclerosis patients. Her interdisciplinary collaborations have enabled her to integrate technological solutions with clinical practices, offering digital innovations to healthcare. Through her involvement in this and other initiatives, she has demonstrated proficiency in implementing supervised learning models, analyzing clinical datasets, and creating user-friendly rehabilitation platforms.

Research Interest

Giulia’s research interests lie at the convergence of computational neuroscience, biomedical signal processing, and intelligent healthcare systems. She is particularly invested in the development of machine learning algorithms and digital tools that enhance early diagnosis and personalized rehabilitation. Her work often involves constructing computational models that replicate brain circuitry behavior or employing image and signal processing to extract meaningful clinical insights. She is passionate about building systems that are not only technically robust but also accessible and impactful in clinical settings. Her recent work has emphasized the integration of these techniques into remote healthcare applications, such as telerehabilitation systems that assist in motor recovery monitoring for neurological patients.

Award

Giulia Iaconi is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to her continued excellence in research, particularly in biomedical engineering applications that merge computational tools with real-world clinical impact. Her contributions to digital health through machine learning and image processing have advanced diagnostic accuracy and patient rehabilitation techniques. Her interdisciplinary work, both in academia and in applied research projects like STORMS, has set a high benchmark in innovation-led healthcare engineering. Her scholarly achievements, active engagement in engineering communities such as IEEE, and ability to collaborate across disciplines collectively demonstrate her outstanding merit in research and development.

Publication

Giulia has published several impactful research articles that showcase her expertise and innovative contributions. Some of her notable publications include:

“Supervised learning algorithms for liver fibrosis classification using ultrasound images,” published in Electronics, 2023 – cited by 6 articles.

“Analysis of event-related potentials in multiple sclerosis rehabilitation: A case study,” in Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, 2022 – cited by 9 articles.

“Computational modeling of the cortico-hippocampal circuit for neurodynamics interpretation,” in Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, 2023 – cited by 4 articles.

“Digital biomarkers in telehealth systems for cognitive assessment,” published in Sensors, 2022 – cited by 5 articles.

“Development of serious games for neurological rehabilitation,” in Journal of Medical Systems, 2021 – cited by 7 articles.

“Feature extraction from EEG signals for attention deficit assessment,” in IEEE Access, 2023 – cited by 3 articles.

“Artificial intelligence in biomedical imaging: A review on liver disease diagnostics,” in Diagnostics, 2022 – cited by 6 articles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Giulia Iaconi exemplifies a new generation of researchers who are reshaping biomedical engineering through the application of cutting-edge technologies. Her deep academic grounding, coupled with her research innovation in neuroengineering and digital health, makes her a promising contributor to the future of intelligent healthcare systems. Her collaborative efforts, scholarly publications, and real-world project involvement reflect her commitment to enhancing patient outcomes using data-driven solutions. Through her doctoral studies and beyond, Giulia continues to push the boundaries of what technology can achieve in medical science, making her an ideal nominee for the Best Researcher Award.

Wisal Zafar | AI in Healthcare | Data Scientist of the Year Award

Mr. Wisal Zafar | AI in Healthcare | Data Scientist of the Year Award

Lecturer at Cecos University of IT and Emerging Sciences, Pakistan

Wisal Zafar is a dynamic academic and research-oriented professional whose expertise lies at the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence, and deep learning. With a strong foundation in software engineering, he has progressively transitioned into data-centric domains where he now actively contributes as a lecturer, researcher, and data scientist. His work integrates modern machine learning techniques and neural networks to tackle real-world problems ranging from healthcare to education. His career is marked by a drive to foster innovation through technology, an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, and a passion for nurturing student potential in both undergraduate and postgraduate settings.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Wisal’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering from Iqra National University, Peshawar, completed in 2020 with a commendable CGPA of 3.47/4.00. Building on this strong foundation, he pursued a Master of Science in Software Engineering at the same university, expected to be completed by mid-2024, where he currently holds a CGPA of 3.50/4.00. His academic record reflects a consistent pursuit of knowledge and skill advancement in software technologies, deep learning, and data analysis. Prior to his university education, he completed his Intermediate from Capital Degree College and matriculation from The Jamrud Model High School with notable academic performances.

Experience

Professionally, Wisal has held several key positions in academia and data processing. He is currently serving as a Lecturer at CECOS University of IT and Emerging Sciences, Peshawar, where he imparts advanced-level knowledge in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Machine Learning. Before this, he contributed significantly to Iqra National University both as a Lecturer and as an EDP Officer, where he oversaw electronic data processing and optimized data accessibility across research and academic projects. His roles have consistently involved not only teaching but also mentorship, particularly in guiding final-year students through research and development of innovative software solutions. His earlier professional engagements also include roles as a Junior Web Developer and teaching positions, showcasing a diverse skill set in both educational and technical domains.

Research Interests

Wisal’s research interests are rooted in the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to critical societal challenges. His work spans brain tumor detection, plant disease classification, emotion recognition in educational settings, and mental health analysis using social media data. He is particularly intrigued by hybrid deep learning architectures, transformer-based models, and neural networks. He consistently integrates image processing techniques and NLP tools to build intelligent, data-driven solutions. His recent focus includes real-time decision support systems, content-based image retrieval, and multi-scale classification, which have promising implications for both healthcare and education systems.

Awards

In recognition of his exceptional contribution to the academic and technical environment, Wisal was honored with the “Best Employee of the Year 2023” award at Iqra National University. This accolade acknowledges his consistent performance, innovative approach to teaching and research, and his ability to blend administrative responsibilities with cutting-edge academic delivery. His recognition serves as a testament to his dedication, collaborative spirit, and leadership potential in the academic research community.

Publications

Wisal has made significant scholarly contributions, with several research publications in high-impact international journals. His paper “Enhanced TumorNet: Leveraging YOLOv8s and U-Net for Superior Brain Tumor Detection and Segmentation Utilizing MRI Scans” was published in Results in Engineering (2024) and is cited for its innovative approach to medical imaging using hybrid models. Another influential work, “Revolutionizing Diabetes Diagnosis: Machine Learning Techniques Unleashed”, appeared in MDPI-Healthcare (2023) and explores diagnostic modeling using AI techniques. His third publication, “A Survey on Big Data Analytics (BDA) Implementation and Practices in Medical Libraries of Punjab”, published in the Journal of Computing & Biomedical Informatics (2023), provides insights into the integration of BDA in healthcare information systems. These publications highlight his range—from healthcare diagnostics to knowledge systems—and his adaptability in multiple AI-driven domains.

Conclusion

Wisal Zafar stands out as a highly motivated data scientist and academician with a clear vision for the future of AI and its applications. Through his diverse academic background, hands-on teaching experience, impactful research, and recognized contributions to institutional growth, he exemplifies the qualities of an innovative thinker and dedicated professional. His continued exploration of deep learning and intelligent systems is not only enriching the academic field but also paving the way for practical solutions to societal challenges. With a growing portfolio of research and a keen eye for technological advancements, Wisal is well-poised to make long-term contributions to AI-based research and higher education. His career trajectory illustrates a seamless blend of academic rigor, technical skill, and research excellence.