Dr. Sarita Dara is an Aerospace Medicine specialist with 25 years of international experience across clinical practice, research, education, and regulation. Her expertise spans Aerospace Medicine, Human Factors Engineering, Occupational Medicine, Diving Medicine, and Public Health. She currently practices in New Zealand, contributing to aeromedical certification and aviation safety with CAA NZ.

She holds an MD in Aerospace Medicine, a PhD in Human Factors Engineering, and a Masters in Space Studies (ISU), and has undertaken Space Medicine training with the European Space Agency. Her professional interests include space medicine, human performance in challenging environments, and the application of human factors to complex sociotechnical systems.

Dr. Dara is actively involved in international collaboration, mentorship, and scientific outreach. She has served as a mentor for the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Space4Women programme, IAASM Affiliate Mentorship Program and WISANZ. She is a Reviewer for the Scientific Program Committee of the Aerospace Medical Association and also contributes as a reviewer for the journals of Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance (AsMA) and Applied Ergonomics (IEA). She is also an Assessor for the Professional Assessment Board of the New Zealand Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Dr. Dara is an Academician since 2018 and is a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association (USA), the Royal Aeronautical Society (UK), and the Australasian College of Aerospace Medicine.

Yael Frenkel Nir is a senior pediatrician and medical administrator and currently serves as Director of the General Hospital at Sheba Medical Center. She has extensive leadership experience in both military and civilian healthcare systems. 

She completed a long and distinguished service in the Israeli Air Force, serving in a variety of command and clinical roles including flight physician, Head of Recruitment Medical Bureaus, Head of Primary Care, Director of the Pediatric Department in the IDF field hospital during the Nepal earthquake relief mission, and Head of Aviation Medicine at the Israeli Air Force Aeromedical Unit. Owing to her expertise in aviation medicine, she is a member of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine. 

During her residency in Medical Management at Sheba Medical Center, she served as Assistant to the Director of the General Hospital, where she played a key role in planning and operating the hospital’s COVID-19 response and leading multiple strategic initiatives. Following her specialization, she was appointed Deputy Director of the General Hospital and Acting Head of the Surgical Division. 

Prof. Frenkel Nir earned her MD from Tel Aviv University and later completed an MSc in Health Systems Management at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. She is board-certified in Pediatrics and Medical Management.

Prof.Dra Vânia E.R>Melhado , MD MSc PhD. Brazilian  physician with a distinguished career spanning more than four decades in medical education, emergency medicine, nephrology, and aerospace medicine. Postdoctoral training in Medicine and  worked for over 25 years in emergency care and more than 30 years in aviation medicine within major Brazilian airlines.

Aeromedical examiner accredited by the FAA, Transport Canada (TC), and EASA, and currently serves as Medical Director of an aeromedical certification clinic in Brazil. Dr. Melhado has been a faculty member at the Santa Casa de São Paulo Medical School for over 40 years, contributing extensively to undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.

Recognized as one of the pioneers of Aerospace Medicine in Brazil, she created the country’s only accredited Medical Residency Program in Aerospace Medicine since 2022, helping to establish and advance the specialty nationally through clinical practice, education, and international collaboration.

Also coordinates the postgraduate program in aerospace medicine since 2020.

Academician of IAASM, Presidente elected for 2027-2029 team of Ibero-American Association , FAAsma.

Prof.Thais Russomano, MD MSc PhD FRSA has +30 years’ experience in Aerospace Medicine, Space Physiology & Digital Health. She has an MD (Brazil), specialised in internal medicine, MSc in Aerospace Medicine (USA), PhD in Space Physiology (KCL,UK).

Thais is academically linked to universities worldwide, an Academician of IAASM and IAA (BoT), Board Member of companies, holds patents, has numerous publications, participated in ESA parabolic flights, ESA Topical Teams, NASA-funded projects, ISS research & acts as the CEO of InnovaSpace (UK).