Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Health Management, Medical University – Varna, 2005
- Master's Degree in Health Management, Medical University – Varna, 2006
- Master's Degree in Special Education, Sofia University, 2007
- Master's Degree in Social Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Mexico, 2009
- PhD in Social Work and Comparative Social Policy (joint program between UANL and the University of Texas at Arlington, USA), 2013
Additional Training and Qualifications
- Fulbright Scholar, University of Illinois at Chicago (USA)
- UNICEF IMPrESS Evaluation Training (impact evaluation)
- Training in spatial analysis (ArcGIS, GeoDa)
- Training in qualitative methods and data analysis (NVivo)
Professional Experience
- Associate Professor, Department of Social Medicine and Healthcare Organization, Medical University – Varna (since 2020)
- Assistant Professor, same department (2014–2020)
- Data Analyst, MUVE-TEAM Research Project (since 2023)
- Consultant for international organizations, including UNICEF
- Lecturer and researcher in international academic environments (USA, Mexico, Sierra Leone)
Research Experience and Projects
Has experience in designing and implementing scientific and applied research in the field of public health, including roles as principal investigator, co-investigator, and researcher in national and international projects.
As a principal investigator, conducted a study on services and therapies for children with disabilities during COVID-19 (Karin Dom Foundation). As co-investigator and researcher, participated in projects at the Medical University – Varna, including:
- “Nutrition and Neurodevelopment"
- “A Healthier Urban Food Environment"
- “Application of Geographic Information Systems for Health Inequalities Assessment in Bulgaria"
- “Promotion of Healthy Habits and Preventive Measures in Work Environments"
- “Child Mortality in Bulgaria – A Source for New Approaches in Child Healthcare"
Also participated in international projects (USA, Mexico, Sierra Leone), including the Health Literacy Project and UNICEF initiatives.
Has expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods, data analysis, tool development, and program evaluation.
Research Interests
Public health, health inequalities, nutrition and health behavior, mental health, people with disabilities, program impact evaluation, quantitative and qualitative methods.
Author and co-author of scientific publications in international journals in the fields of public health and social sciences.
Scientific publications
Open Access
Selected Publications and Project-Based Research
Nikolova, S. P., Small, E., Velikova, M. S., Ivanova, M. A., Childress, S., & Laleva, K. S. (2026).
Examining the multidimensional structure of stress among international medical students: A construct-based approach. BMC Medical Education, 26, 342.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-026-08667
Nikolova, S., & Aleksandrova, T. (2025). Geospatial Insights into Healthcare Accessibility in Europe: A Scoping Review of GIS Applications. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 13(22), 2865. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222865
Nikolova, S. P., Toneva, A., Small, E., Pancheva, R., & Peneva, P. (2024). Navigating the complexities of care: Exploring quality of life among parents-caregivers of children with neurological impairments in Bulgaria. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450128.2024.2354381
Small, E., Nikolova, S. P., Zhou, Y., & Okumu, M. (2022). Exploring factors associated with HIV secondary stigma among adolescents and young adults in Uganda: A cross-sectional study. Global public health, 17(4), 526–537. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2020.1869286 .
Padilla-Medina, D., Small, E., & Nikolova, S. P. (2022). Exploring help-seeking predictors among Colombian victims of intimate partner violence in different age groups. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801222108830
Nikolova, S. P., Pancheva, R. Z., Yoncheva, N., Vasileva, V., & Cherkezova, B. (2022). Essential elements of a care delivery model for children with neurological impairments during the COVID-19 pandemic: Notes from Bulgaria. Frontiers in Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.932847
Dokova, K., Pancheva, R., Nikolova, S. P., et al. (2022). Nutrition transition in Europe: East–West dimensions in the last 30 years—A narrative review. Frontiers in Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.919112
Zaykova, K., Nikolova, S. P., Pancheva, R., & Serbezova, A. (2022). A survey of knowledge, attitudes and use of antibiotics among Bulgarian population. Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 36(1), 933–941.
Serbezova, A., Mangelov, M., Zaykova, K., Nikolova, S. P., Zhelyazkova, D., & Balgarinova, N. (2021).Knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines amongst medical, dental and pharmacy students: A cross-sectional study from Bulgaria. Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 35(1), 2046–2054. https://doi.org/10.1080/13102818.2022.2041097
Kim, Y. K., Okumu, M., Small, E., Nikolova, S. P., & Mengo, C. (2020). The association between school bullying victimization and substance use among adolescents in Malawi: The mediating effect of loneliness. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 32(5).
Keyes, L., Small, E., & Nikolova, S. P. (2020). The complex relationship between colorism and poor health outcomes with African Americans: A systematic review. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 20(4). DOI:10.1111/asap.12223
Nikolova, S. P., Small, E., & Sharma, B. (2020). COVID-19 and gender in LMICs: Potential lessons from the HIV pandemic. AIDS and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-02932
Small, E., Nikolova, S. P., & Sharma, B. B. (2017). Cultural competency in the global setting: Are social work students prepared to serve in a culturally diverse world? British Journal of Social Work, 47(3), 666–682.
Nikolova, S. P., Small, E., & Mengo, C. (2015). Components of resilience in gender: A comparative analysis of HIV outcomes in Kenya. International Journal of STD & AIDS, 26(7), 483–495.
Nikolova, S. P., Small, E., & Campillo, C. (2015). Geo-social and health disparities among persons with disabilities living in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon and Dallas, Texas. Disability and Health Journal, 8(3), 434–442.
Small, E., Nikolova, S. P., & Narendorf, S. C. (2013). Synthesizing gender-based HIV interventions in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of the evidence. AIDS and Behavior, 17(9), 2831–2844.
