ESSTS 2024 Speakers

Donatella Comasini

Donatella Comasini is the President of the Italian Tourette Syndrome Association AIST Onlus. Since 2015, she has brought her empathy and a strong desire to dismantle barriers and eradicate the stigma that persists today within the Tourette Syndrome community. As a clinical psychologist with specialized training in Neuropsychology and Digital Psychology, she, along with the entire Board, provides comprehensive support to individuals affected by Tourette Syndrome. Donatella firmly advocates for international collaboration, recognizing its crucial role in achieving shared objectives and fostering a more inclusive society.

Dr. Erika Greenberg

Erica Greenberg, M.D. is a child/adolescent psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School (HMS). Dr. Greenberg is the Director of the Pediatric Psychiatry OCD and Tic Disorders Program at MGH, a Co-Director of the MGH Tourette Association of America (TAA) Center of Excellence, and on the Medical Advisory Board of the TAA. Her interests include Tourette syndrome (TS), OCD, “Tourettic OCD,” ADHD, body-focused repetitive behavior disorders (BFRBs), and other Tourette syndrome spectrum conditions. She has authored several peer-reviewed manuscripts on TS, OCD, and related disorders, and has presented on these conditions nationally and internationally. Dr. Greenberg graduated from Weill Cornell Medical College with Alpha Omega Alpha honors, and completed her general psychiatry residency at Harvard Longwood and her child/adolescent fellowship training at Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean where she served as chief resident in both programs.

Paul Stevenson

Paul is currently working as an Ambassador for Genius Within. Initially, Paul was a social media team member, participating in Zoom meetings and engaging with various online platforms. As time went on, he transitioned into the role of a photographer, capturing images at conferences and events. However, his responsibilities have since expanded, and he now engages in public speaking in the United Kingdom and internationally. Paul’s presentations draw from his personal experiences of living with Tourette Syndrome and co-occurring conditions. This unique perspective allows him to share valuable insights and connect with diverse audiences. Additionally, Paul’s position enables him to collaborate with Tourette associations worldwide and contribute to the research efforts at Nottingham University. For Paul, it is truly rewarding to be part of an organisation that makes a tangible difference in people’s lives. With Paul’s lived experience as someone diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, along with co-occurring conditions, he has encountered various challenges and triumphs that have shaped his perspective. This first-hand understanding of the intricacies and nuances of living with Tourette syndrome and other co-occurring conditions allows Paul to provide empathetic and tailored guidance, offering insights that stem from personal encounters and a deep understanding of the experiences faced by individuals within the ND community.

Paula-Riitta Huttunen

Paula-Riitta Huttunen serves on the boards of both the Finnish Tourette and OCD Association (STOy) and Tics and Tourette Across the Globe (TTAG), an organization she helped found. Previously, she volunteered as a peer group instructor for six years. Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science at the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu, North Karelia, Paula-Riitta has over a decade of personal experience with Tourette’s Syndrome. She is passionate about enhancing inclusion for people with neurological differences and has a background in handling challenging projects within innovative international teams.

Stefano Carrara

Stefano Carrara is the President and co-founder of Tourette Italia. He has a high level of enthusiasm for the work he does with parents, patients, and doctors. He lives and works in Milan and is also the CEO of Leanus, a company he founded 10 years ago. Stefano has a degree in Law and an MBA from Bocconi University. He speaks Italian, English, and Spanish fluently. He believes that successful charities require both the heart of good people and the organization of excellent businesses.

Sven Rüger

Sven Rüger is a seasoned entrepreneur with a focus on startups and venture capital (VC), particularly in the fields of Life Science, Sustainability, and Semiconductor. He has a degree in business management, specializing in accounting, taxation and general management and also is a qualified business coach.

During his most recent career he has held positions as CEO and/or shareholder in multiple international startups. With past experiences residing and working in the United States, India, and various European countries, he is deeply engaged in diverse intercultural and transformational initiatives.

Currently residing in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, he actively serves as chairman of the regional association BioCon Valley. This initiative, established by entrepreneurs, researchers, local authorities, and private individuals, aims to foster networking opportunities between professionals from both business and academia within the region.

As someone touched by Tourette Syndrome (TS), Sven is dedicated to supporting young adults with tics and TS in their professional endeavors. For a number of years he had served on the Board of the German Tourette Association (TGD).

Davide Ursoleo

Davide is a 20-year-old student at the University of Turin, studying languages and cultures for tourism. After graduating from a scientific high school, he began working at the major hotel in Turin, initially as a waiter and now as a receptionist. Energetic and curious, he is always eager to explore new opportunities.

He discovered a passion for the equestrian world a few years ago, which has become a significant part of his life. Despite facing nine challenging years with Tourette’s Syndrome, which shaped him into the person he is today, Davide remains resilient. Supported by a loving family and great friends, he considers himself fortunate and continues to pursue his goals with determination.

Ione Georgakis

Ione is a specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist in the NHS who works part-time as the Therapies and Advocacy Manager at Tourettes Action UK. Using her professional and lived experience of Tourette Syndrome, Ione develops and leads evidence-based CPD-accredited, online and face-to-face training programmes and workshops. Ione provides advocacy and clinical consultations to healthcare professionals, employers, and individuals with TS.

Antonino Ganci

Born in Palermo and raised in Alcamo, Sicily, Antonino later moved to Parma to study Psychology. During Civil Service, he discovered a passion for helping children and young people in difficult situations, managing educational labs for children of incarcerated individuals and studying behavioral techniques.

He became a Psycho-Educational Coordinator and Psychological Supervisor, overseeing therapeutic classrooms at a social cooperative. Antonino earned a Doctorate in Education from the University of Modena and Reggio and specialized in Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy (ACT) at ASCCO, gaining skills in meditation, Mindfulness, and EMDR.

Specializing in neuroatypicality, Tourette syndrome, OCD, and Anxiety, he collaborates with the Italian Tourette Syndrome Association (AIST) to create support groups and raise awareness in Italy. His therapy focuses on building relationships through dialogue and metaphors, using evidence-based strategies tailored to individual needs.