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Pani Pantelides is a consultant neonatal physiotherapist and early intervention specialist with over 24 years of experience in neonatal physiotherapy and infant- and family-centred developmental care (IFCDC). She has worked extensively in the NICU in Nicosia, Cyprus, as well as with families and infants at home in the community.
In 2014, she founded the Developmental Care Centre in Cyprus, an innovative initiative providing early intervention services for infants at risk of neurodevelopmental issues from birth. She also designed the programme “Caring for Your Premature Baby After the Neonatal Unit“, which supports the entire family during the first two years at home.
As a senior member of the FINE international team, Ms Pantelides has played a key role in organising and delivering training on IFCDC. She is a founding member and scientific board member of the NGO Thermokitida Agapis in Cyprus. Additionally, she serves on the scientific boards of the NGO Ilitominon in Greece and Birth Forward in Cyprus. Ms Pantelides is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Alliance for Newborn Care (GLANCE).
Since 2022, she has been lecturing in the Postgraduate Studies Programme (MSc) “Current Prevention and Treatment of Paediatric Diseases” at the University of Thessaly, Greece, focusing on IFCDC in the NICU based on the ESCNH.
She is the co-author, along with Inga Warren, of the parents’ handbook “Your Preterm Baby’s Care and Development at Home” (2023).
Pani Pantelides is also a mother to a 13-year-old daughter, who was born preterm.
| Timeframe | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| March 2024 | Seminar for healthcare professionals based on the standard “Family education and training on infant feeding in the unit and after discharge”, in collaboration with Tasos Mokas SPLT and Giannis Lemonis OT. | Limassol, Cyprus |
| January 2024 | Co-author of the ESCNH guest article “Bridging gaps in neonatal care across Cyprus and Greece: ESCNH Ambassadors Dr Vavouraki and Ms Pantelides meet with Cypriot Health Minister Dr Kanaris”. | Online |
| December 2023 | Release of the parent’s handbook, “Your Preterm Baby’s Care and Development at Home”, co-authored with Dr Inga Warren. The book includes several references to the ESCNH. | |
| November 2023 | Organisation of the 1st Cypriot-Hellenic Conference “Life after the NICU”, focusing on educating parents and healthcare professionals about enhancing the development of preterm infants and children post-NICU, with an emphasis on “Follow-up & continuing care”. Initiation of a Meeting with Dr Popi Kanari, the Minister of Health, alongside Dr Eleni Vavouraki (President of Ilitominon and ESCNH Ambassador). | Nicosia, Cyprus |
| May 2023 | Lecture about the standard “Motor and neurological follow-up assessment” in the context of the postgraduate training course NDT-Bobath therapy for infants, at the paediatric clinic of the Attikon Hospital in Athens. In collaboration with the Spastic Protection Foundation. | Athens, Greece |
| February 2023 | Lecture about “The Importance of a Smooth Transition from NICU to Home and the Need for Infant- and Family-Centred Developmental Care of Preterm Infants with Congenital Heart Disease – what the ESCNH suggest”, during the Congenital Heart Disease Conference, together with Giannis Lemonis OT. | Nicosia, Cyprus |
| January 2022 until today | Lecture in the context of the Postgraduate Studies Programme (MSc) “Current prevention and treatment of paediatric diseases” of the Department of Medicine of the University of Thessaly, about the standards “Parental involvement” and “Positioning support and comfort”. | Volos, Greece |
| November 2021 | Interviewed by Tasos Mokas SPLT in the podcast Q&A about preterm birth and the ESCNH, organised by M-Learn.gr. | Ioannina, Greece |
| November 2021 | Lecture on the standard “Parental involvement” as part of the online seminar “Parents and preterm babies. Together for better care”, organised by Ilitominon. | Athens, Greece |
We thank Ms Pantelides for her tireless commitment to raising awareness for the ESCNH. Her work extends beyond her role as a healthcare professional and reaches into the realms of education and political advocacy. She thus contributes to improving the quality of care for vulnerable newborns – not only in Cyprus and Greece, but beyond.
