Dr Alexander Merkin, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist at the Department of Addiction Medicine & Psychotherapy, Institute for Advanced Studies (Russia), and Research Associate at the National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, AUT University (New Zealand). Dr Merkin graduated from the Russian State Medical University with a special double university education in Medicine and Biomedical Science. He obtained his postgraduate qualifications in Functional Diagnostics (neuroimaging), Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and completed his PhD dissertation. He also completed the World Psychiatric Association's (WPA) Course on Leadership and Professional Skills Development.

As a practising psychiatrist and a psychotherapist Dr Merkin conducts clinical assessments and develops treatment plans for patients with a variety of mental disorders and psychological problems. Alexandr conducted a number of studies devoted to clinical and non-clinical issues in psychogeriatrics, psychiatry, neuroimaging and psychology, such as research on diagnosis and treatment of delirium and cognitive impairment in the elderly, analysis of burnout syndrome, assessment of EEG responses to diverse stimuli. As an educator, Dr Merkin has developed a number of training programs for students majoring in psychology as well as practising psychiatrists, psychotherapists, psychologists, physicians and nurses. He gives lectures and conducts workshops in a variety of areas of psychiatry and addiction disorders.