Psychology for Addressing Global Health Challenges

Serena Barello currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Health Psychology at the Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Pavia, where she also leads the Health Unit of the Laboratory of Work and Health Psychology. She is also the national representative for Italy in the International Association for Communication in Healthcare (EACH). In tandem, she serves as Research Associate at the IRCCS Mondino Foundation in Pavia. With a career spanning over 15 years, Serena has emerged as a prominent figure in applied psychology within healthcare settings. Her expertise extends to innovative research and training initiatives, specifically focusing on participatory medicine and the professional development of healthcare practitioners in the realm of medical humanities. Notably, she is recognized for her contributions to measuring the patient experience, promoting healthcare innovation, and sustaining quality and safety service improvement. She actively collaborates with patient advocacy organizations, hospitals, third sector associations and healthcare industries to promote evidence-based, patient-centered innovations, integrating psychology into healthcare decision-making, communication strategies, and policy development. Serena has authored over 150 scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals and has been recognized among the “World’s Top 1% Scientists” in psychology and neuroscience by Stanford University. Through her work, she continues to bridge psychology and public health, advancing equitable, sustainable, and patient-centered healthcare systems.