Stefka Petrova

Background

About Stefka Petrova

I am Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the National Center of Public Health and Analyses (NCPHA), Sofia, Bulgaria. Nutritional epidemiology is one of the main areas of my activities. I am a Scientific Director/ Principle Investigator of 6 national surveys on dietary intake, nutritional status and physical activity of Bulgarian population; a national Principle Investigator of 8 international projects. I participate in the development and up-dating of Dietary Reference Values for Bulgarian population, the development of Food Based Dietary Guidelines of different population groups, manuals for nutrition in nurseries, kindergartens and schools. Nutrition policy development and implementation is also an important field of my work. I have been a national consultant at the Ministry of Health on Nutrition and Nutrition Policy for 16 years. I have participated in the development of Bulgarian Food and Nutrition Action Plan (2005-2010) and was a National Coordinator of its realization. I have been elected as an international expert in positions such as: Bulgarian Nutrition Counterpart of WHO - Europe for 16 years; National Representative in High Level Group for Nutrition and Physical Activity at EC for 5 years; member of the Expert Group on Food Consumption Data at EFSA for 7 years, Bulgarian representative in Advisory Forum at EFSA for 4 years. I also have strong interest in academics and have taught nutrition for a large part of my professional career. I am a lecturer on nutrition and participate in post-graduate training in nutrition at NCPHA. I have an international experience as a lecturer in nutrition courses organized by WHO as well as held a position as a Professor of Nutrition in University of Portsmouth for 10 years. I am also a member of Bulgarian Scientific Association on Nutrition and Dietetics, EANS, EASO among others.