Postgraduate course in
Airline Medicine for Aviation, Safety, Public Health and Other Professionals
1ST EDITION
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Format
Online course
Duration
53 hours
Coordination
Rui Pombal
David Powell
David Powell
ECTS
6
Application deadline
Price
Download the course brochure to learn all the details
About the course
Airline Medicine is a postgraduate course in in airline health designed to equip professionals with the core knowledge and tools needed to address health-related issues in the airline industry and similar settings. Delivered online through interactive, expert-led sessions, this in-depth course is structured to fit around your professional schedule. You’ll gain first-hand insights from internationally recognised specialists in airline health and related fields.
It is also possible to register exclusively for the two standalone webinars:
Webinar 1: Inflight medical events or Webinar 2: Commercial space travel - without enrolling in the full course.
It is also possible to register exclusively for the two standalone webinars:
Webinar 1: Inflight medical events or Webinar 2: Commercial space travel - without enrolling in the full course.
Your Gateway to Global Aviation Expertise
Whether you're new to aviation, expanding your airline expertise, or seeking stronger industry engagement, this course offers a structured and collaborative learning experience in an international setting
Audience
Professionals working in or interfacing with
the airline, airport and related
environments
For your career
Optional final exam for awarding Post-graduate
course diploma and full ECTS
Course Lessons
Coordination
Rui Pombal
David Powell
Our faculty
Anabela Resende Jorge
Anabela Jorge Resende is the CEO of UCS and a medical specialist in General and Family Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Aeronautical Medicine. Since 2008, she has served as an Aeronautical Medical Examiner and CMA of UCS, carrying out Class 1 and 2 medical certifications for pilots and air traffic controllers.
Anabela Lopes
Anabela Gomes Lopes is the Data Protection Officer for TAP Group, where she leads compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) across TAP Air Portugal, Portugália Airlines, and UCS – the Group’s healthcare unit. Since 2018, she has also been responsible for the Data Privacy Office for the entire TAP Group, ensuring robust governance and privacy standards across all business units.
Ana Lúcia Pereira
Ana Lúcia Pereira is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) physician at ULS Trás‑os‑Montes e Alto Douro and the Clinical Coordinator of the Portuguese Paralympic Committee. She has served as Team Physician for multiple national delegations, including the European Para Championship 2023, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the European Parayouth Championship 2025, and the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics.
André Simões
Aerospace Engineer and devoted Aviation enthusiast with a proven track record in spearheading a significant fleet renewal process. Managed 7 linefit programs, coordinated over 50 new aircraft deliveries and played a key role in the introduction of the A321 neo LONG RANGE, a new business model for the airline, along with the A330 neo as worldwide launch customer.
Ansa Jordaan
Ansa obtained her initial medical degree in 1989, a post-graduate degree in Aerospace Medicine in 1999 and an additional qualification in Occupational Health and Medicine in 2009. She started her career in the South African Military Health Services in the emergency department of the Military Hospital, transferring to the Institute for Aviation Medicine after a few years.
Ben Johnston
Ben is an Occupational and Aerospace Medicine Specialist with twenty years’ experience in the aviation industry. He is currently General Manager, People Safety and Health at Air New Zealand. He has been with the airline fifteen years, previously holding the role of Chief Medical Officer. Ben is an appointed member of the IATA Medical Advisory Group and current chair of the AsMA Air Transport Medicine Committee. Ben has also previously held part-time academic roles in the University of Otago Occupational and Aviation Medicine Unit.
Claudia Stern
Dr. Claudia Stern has been active in aviation and space medicine for over 25 years as a clinician and a researcher. She is an Aeromedical Examiner class 1 and ophthalmologist by training. Currently she acts as the head of the department Clinical Aerospace Medicine at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) which also includes an Aeromedical Center. The main focus of her department lays on the examination of astronauts, aviation personnel and support of research studies such as head down tilt bed-rest studies for the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA.
Duncan Hughes
Dr. Duncan Hughes is the Chief Medical Officer at Virgin Galactic, where he collaborates with a team of experts to democratize access to space. With a comprehensive approach spanning spaceflight requirements, medical standards, and human systems integration, Dr. Hughes draws on his experience in both the Armed Forces and the private sector to advance Virgin Galactic’s mission.
Elisabete Rute Santos
Elisabete Santos is a Clinical Psychologist and has a joint PhD in Psychology and Public Health by the University of Lisbon and the Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. She has a specialization in Aviation Psychology by the European Association for Aviation Psychology and a Specialization in Clinical and Occupational Health Psychology by the college of Psychologists.
Ian Hosegood
Over 30 years experience in Aerospace Medicine, Occupational Medicine and Medical Administration including time in military, commercial aviation, aviation regulatory medicine, and aeromedical retrieval. Career includes leadership positions for the Royal Australian Air Force, Emirates Airlines (UAE), Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Australia), Royal Flying Doctors Service (Queensland) and Qantas Airways (Sydney).
Jim Chung
Dr. Jim Chung is Air Canada’s Chief Medical Officer, overseeing employee and passenger medical regulatory compliance, pilot medical certification, corporate disability management, and the wellness program Unlock the Best in You (UBY). A graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine and McMaster University, he served as a medical officer in the Canadian Forces, including deployments to Bosnia and Turkey.
Jóna Björg Jónsdóttir
Jóna Björg Jónsdóttir is a Registered Nurse with extensive Emergency Room experience and a strong background in aviation safety and medical training. Alongside her clinical work, she has served as Icelandair cabin crew, First Aid Instructor, and Subject Matter Expert, contributing to crew preparedness and emergency response standards. She is an Advanced Life Support (ALS) Instructor and certified European Resuscitation Council (ERC) Instructor. Jóna previously held the role of Health Manager at Icelandair, overseeing health operations and employee wellbeing.
José Restolho
I have a graduation in Chemistry, a Master’s in forensic medicine and a PhD in Pharmacy (all by the University of Lisbon – Ulisboa). With more than 15 years of experience in the field of forensic toxicology. Currently I work at Eurofins Forensic Services (UK) as Technical Advisor for Workplace Drug Testing and at Eurofins ChemTox (France) and Eurofins TMFI (NL) as expert in Forensic Toxicology. I’m an active member of several scientific societies, like the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT), The International Association of Forensic Toxicology (TIAFT), the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) and the European Workplace Drug Testing Society, of which I’m currently the President.
Keith Petrie
Keith Petrie is a Professor of Health Psychology at Auckland University Medical School. His research group studies patients’ perceptions of illness, treatment adherence, as well as the placebo and nocebo response. He has been involved in airline pilot selection for Air New Zealand as a scientific advisor for Air New Zealand’s fatigue management programme.
Linda Porter
Linda Porter is the Senior Manager – Health, at Virgin Atlantic Airways. With 30 years of experience in the aviation industry. She leads a 24/7 health advisory and risk management team and the passenger medical clearance department.
Linda has introduced several innovations at Virgin Atlantic including advanced resuscitation procedures for Crew, co-authored a study on alternative chest compression techniques for confined spaces, with the findings incorporated into national guidelines. She has implemented 3 generations of telemedicine systems and medical simulation training, optimising Crew skills, CRM and reducing unnecessary medical diversions. During the pandemic Linda and team stood up a novel COVID-19 molecular testing centre, testing al crew before all flights, reducing risk of overseas quarantine. Outside of work she enjoys hiking, skiing and ‘Parkrunning’ with her rescue dog, Cooper.
Maurice Formal
Maurice is a senior
aviation operations leader with 20+ years of experience across airport and
airline operations, airport strategy, supplier and ground-handling
partnerships, workforce planning, industry and regulatory affairs, and safety
& security.
He is currently Head of
Auckland Airport at Air New Zealand, leading the airline’s principal hub and
a ground-handling business supporting 11 customer airlines.
Prior to Air New Zealand,
Maurice held senior leadership roles at LATAM Airlines Group, Copa Airlines,
and American Airlines, including global airport responsibilities across large
multi-site networks. He holds a Global Executive MBA from EADA Business School
and École des Ponts Business School.
Melissa Snider Adler
Dr. Melissa Snider-Adler is a board-certified Addiction Medicine physician and Medical Review Officer (MRO) with extensive expertise in workplace substance use, impairment assessment, and drug testing interpretation. She serves as Chief Medical Review Officer at DriverCheck Inc., is a co-author of the 2025 OEMAC Cannabis Position Statement, a subject matter expert for the Canadian Model, a board member of the Medical Review Officer Certification Council (MROCC), and a committee member with the National Safety Council - Alcohol, Drugs & Impairment Division (NSC-ADID).
Paulo Alves
Dr. Paulo M. Alves graduated from the Faculdade de Medicina of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). He also completed Medical Residency and Master of Sciences in Cardiology at the University Hospital of UFRJ. He worked for many years at the University Hospital of UFRJ and at the National Institute of Cardiology and for a few years an Assistant Professor in Cardiology for the Faculdade de Medicina of the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF). Paulo started working for VARIG Brazilian Airlines from 1983 to 2006, the 10 last years in the position of General Medical Manager.
Quay Snyder
Dr. Quay Snyder, MD, MSPH is President/CEO of Virtual Flight Surgeons, [Aviation Medicine Advisory Service] providing medical certification and aviation safety guidance for pilot and air traffic controller unions as well as business and general aviation pilots. Dr. Snyder has been the Air Line Pilots Association, International Aeromedical Advisor since 2010, after serving as Associate Aeromedical Advisor since 1994 where he helped create its first peer support program. Since 2015, he has served as the FAA / ALPA HIMS Program Manager, hosting seminars training over 700 pilots and physicians annually in addiction and mental health, and has over 30 years' experience sponsoring and monitoring substance addicted pilots.
Reino Pieterse
Dr. Reino Pieterse is a Sports Physician and General Practitioner with more than three decades of experience spanning aviation medicine, occupational health, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and sports medicine. He is currently the Senior MSK Doctor and Clinical Lead at Emirates Group Medical Services in Dubai, where he conceived, developed, and leads an in-house rehabilitation unit supporting flight and ground operations. His role includes clinical leadership, workplace injury management, aviation medical examinations, and oversight of a large multidisciplinary clinical team.
Richard Pleus
Dr. Richard C. Pleus is the chief toxicologist/pharmacologist and managing director of Intertox, Inc., with over 30 years of experience specializing in neuroscience and aerospace toxicology. Throughout his career, Dr. Pleus has led health assessments of a broad spectrum of chemicals, ranging from those considered benign at common exposure levels to highly potent chemical warfare agents. His work includes studying human exposure to chemicals in aircraft construction and post-crash fire scenarios.
Sara Souter
Occupational and Aviation Medicine Specialist with 20+ years providing medical leadership and industry-based aviation and occupational health services with a focus on the aviation industry, with more than 10 years experience within the airline industry specifically. Current CASA Designated Medical Examiner for medical certificate holders under Australian civil aviation regulations.
Stephen Houston
Dr Stephen J. Houston is a Senior Consultant Occupational Physician at British Airways Health Services, specialising in Aviation Medicine and serving as a UK CAAapproved Aeromedical Examiner. He brings a rare dual background as both a former Airbus A320 commercial pilot with over 7,000 flying hours and a highly qualified physician with advanced training including the Diploma in Aviation Medicine and MSc in Occupational Medicine. His work focuses on pilot and cabin crew health, regulatory medical certification, and safetycritical decision making.
Tânia Fernandes
Tânia Fernandes da Gama holds a Master of Law & Business (2014) and an Undergraduate Law Degree (2012) from Universidade Católica Portuguesa. She is admitted to practice Law in both California and Portugal, holds active In-House Counsel Registration with the State Bar of Arizona and is certified as a CIPP/E Privacy Professional. Having lived and worked in Portugal, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, Tânia brings a uniquely global perspective to legal strategy, market expansion and risk management.
Tobias Dingwerth
Physician at Lufthansa Group Medical Services & Health Management since 2017. Board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Infectious Diseases. Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, University of Liverpool (UK). Certified Aeromedical Examiner (AME), Class I and II.
