Andrej Belák, MSc. (1979) left his undergraduate studies in philosophy (University of Vienna & Charles University in Prague) for natural science, eventually earning a degree in biology (Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, Charles University in Prague). Having along the way performed extensive ethnographic research focusing on the understanding of health within a segregated Roma settlement in Slovakia, he has, however, remained interdisciplinary. Currently, along with his Health Sciences PhD studies at the University of Groningen, he is finishing his PhD in social anthropology at the Department of General Anthropology, Charles University in Prague. With his follow-up qualitative research revolving around Roma health (so far among health-care providers and in a developmental program) he before all seeks and tests possibilities for close cooperation among medical anthropologists, epidemiologists and public health-practitioners in the region. His primary role is that of a qualitative and mixed-methods consultant. Lately, he also started to serve as an external expert consultant regarding Slovak Roma health issues for varied engaged institutions (e.g. Government Office of Roma plenipotentiary, Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, International Organization for Migration).
Selected scientific activities and projects:
| 2014 – 2015 | Ethnographic research within the Healthy Communities health-mediation project |
| 2013 – 2014 | Qualitative research among physicians on behalf of Biennial collaborative agreement (BCA) 2012–2013 between WHO/Europe and Slovakia |
| 2011 – 2014 | Follow-up qualitative research among Slovak Roma and their physicians |
| 2006 – 2011 | Pharmaceutical industry laboratories in Ireland – Schering- Plough, Merck Quality Analyst roles |
| 2004 – 2006 | Medical-anthropological research within rural Romani settlement in Central Slovakia |
| 2004 – present | Member of European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA), Czech Association for Social Anthropology (CASA) |
Publications:
COHERENT 