Meet the Speakers
26.10.2026
Gender Medicine is Men's Business Too: Why Engaging Men Matters for Better Health
Dr. med. Ruben Fuentes Artiles, University of Bern, Switzerland
Dr. Rubén Fuentes Artiles, MD, is a resident physician in the Department of Cardiology at Inselspital Bern University Hospital. His clinical and research work focuses on cardiovascular medicine, with a particular emphasis on sex- and gender-specific differences in disease presentation, progression, and outcomes.
He completed his medical training at the University of Zurich and holds a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Sex- and Gender-Specific Medicine from the University of Zurich and the University of Bern. His professional experience includes internal medicine training at Limmattal Hospital and an honorary placement at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals in London.
Dr. Fuentes Artiles has contributed to a growing body of research examining the role of sex and age in cardiovascular health, including studies on cardiac rehabilitation outcomes, heart failure, and advanced imaging biomarkers. His work also addresses the integration of gender medicine into clinical practice and explores broader biological and social determinants of cardiovascular disease.
Er absolvierte sein Medizinstudium an der Universität Zürich und verfügt über ein Certificate of Advanced Studies in Sex- and Gender-Specific Medicine der Universitäten Zürich und Bern. Seine bisherige klinische Ausbildung umfasst Tätigkeiten in der Inneren Medizin am Spital Limmattal sowie ein Hospitationsaufenthalt am Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital in London.
Dr. Fuentes Artiles hat zahlreiche wissenschaftliche Beiträge zu geschlechts- und altersabhängigen Einflüssen auf die kardiovaskuläre Gesundheit geleistet, darunter Arbeiten zu kardialer Rehabilitation, Herzinsuffizienz und bildgebenden Biomarkern. Darüber hinaus befasst sich seine Forschung mit der Integration der Gender-Medizin in die klinische Praxis sowie mit biologischen und sozialen Determinanten kardiovaskulärer Erkrankungen.
Understanding and Treating Depression in Men: From Biology to Psychology
Univ.-Prof. Dr. phil. Andreas Walther, University of Graz, Austria
Prof. Walther is a psychologist, psychotherapist, and Professor of Psychotherapy and Psychotherapy Research at the University of Graz. His work focuses on men’s mental health, including depression, suicidality, and the development and evaluation of psychotherapeutic interventions.
He combines clinical practice with research on cognitive behavioral therapy, biological and psychological mechanisms, and gender-related aspects of mental health. His work also addresses male-specific treatment approaches, digital mental health interventions, and the role of masculinity in psychological well-being.
Prior to his current position, he worked at the University of Zurich and TU Dresden, where he contributed to research on psychotherapy processes and outcomes.
The Evolving Field of Boys' and Men's Health
Prof. Dr. John Oliffe, University of British Columbia, Canada
John Oliffe is Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Men’s Health Promotion at the University of British Columbia School of Nursing.
He is the founder and director of the UBC Men’s Health Research Program, which is internationally recognized for its work on men’s mental health, masculinities, suicide prevention, and health promotion.
His research integrates interdisciplinary and global collaborations and aims to advance gender-responsive strategies to improve health outcomes for boys and men.