Aleksandar Milanov is a clinical social worker with professional experience in hospital care, psycho-oncology, public health, patient navigation and the protection of the rights of people with chronic and socially significant diseases. In his clinical work, he carries out psychosocial screening assessments, identifies needs for support and assists in the realisation of health, social and insurance rights. In collaboration with clinical psychologists, he takes part in support groups for patients, relatives and healthcare professionals.
The main focus of his work is the development of integrated, person-centred care that takes into account not only the medical diagnosis but also the impact of the illness on everyday life, the family, professional roles, social relationships, financial security and quality of life.
Aleksandar Milanov is a doctoral candidate at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". His scientific work is focused on clinical social work in oncology, integrated and patient-centred care, psychosocial screening, patient navigation and the role of social interventions in improving treatment and quality of life.
His professional experience includes work with people with oncological and other chronic diseases, people living with HIV, their relatives and families, as well as with healthcare professionals working under conditions of high emotional strain. At CheckPoint Sofia, he takes part in providing support and counselling related to sexual health, HIV and access to health services.
He participates in the development of informational and educational materials for patients and their relatives, including handbooks for people with oncological diseases. He presents the role of the clinical social worker in hospital care at professional and scientific forums and works towards establishing clinical social work as part of multidisciplinary medical care.
Clinical and scientific interests
His professional and scientific interests are focused on:
- clinical social work with people with oncological, chronic and other socially significant diseases;
- psychosocial assessment and the early identification of unmet needs;
- patient navigation and the coordination of complex care;
- the psychological and social consequences of serious illness;
- crisis interventions and work with loss, uncertainty and change in life perspective;
- support for relatives, families and caregivers;
- the social factors that influence access to treatment and adherence to therapy;
- quality of life, resilience and coping strategies;
- patients' rights and advocacy for accessible and equitable health care;
- professional burnout and the psychosocial support of healthcare professionals;
- developmental psychology and psychoanalytic theories;
- integrated models of medical, psychological and social care.