Dr. Maria Ponto is Principal Lecturer in International Curriculum Development and MSc Course Director at Kingston University, UK and Pavlov University, St. Petersburg, Russia, as well as Visiting Professor to Health and Social Care Unit in Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences, Finland. Trained as general nurse and a midwife, Maria has considerable experience in medical and ITU nursing and has been teaching healthcare education for 19 years. Her academic background includes degrees in developmental and health psychology. Maria is managing Bridge 1 Project and alongside Russian colleagues is running an MSc in Healthcare Education and Management. There are currently 24 students on this course.

Dr Maria Ponto presented Collaborative masters in healthcare during the poster presentations.