Msc. Spa. Sonila Bitri | Western Balkans University
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Msc. Spa. Sonila Bitri

Lecturer
Department of Medicine
Faculty of Technical Medical Sciences
Bio
Education
Publications
Sonila Tivari Bitri is an accomplished clinical toxicologist and addiction medicine specialist based in Tirana, Albania. Born on August 30, 1980, she graduated from the University of Tirana's Faculty of Medicine, where she later specialized in clinical toxicology. Since February 2011, Sonila has been a key figure at the American Hospital in Tirana, working in the Addiction Medicine and Check-Up Department.

In addition to her clinical work, Sonila is a dedicated academic. She serves as a lecturer in Addiction Medicine at the University of Medicine, Tirana, and at the Western Balkans University. Her commitment to medical education extends to her role as a consultant expert for the World Health Organization, where she contributed to strengthening the capacities of Albania's national health care quality and safety standards.

Sonila's professional journey is marked by numerous international experiences and trainings, including specialized courses in Motivational Interviewing at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, and Addiction Treatment Curricula at the University of California, San Diego. Her expertise is further enriched by her participation in global conferences and workshops on addiction, toxicology, and health care quality.

Fluent in multiple languages, including English, French, German, and Italian, Sonila is also a prolific researcher and presenter, having contributed to various national and international conferences and publications. Her work spans topics from drug toxicity to the comorbidities of drug and alcohol use disorders.
Sonila's dedication to her field and her broad range of skills make her a valuable asset to the medical community in Albania and beyond.
University Education
  • 1997 – 2004: University of Tirana, Faculty of Medicine, Tirana, Albania
    • Degree: Graduated as General Practitioner 
    • Field of Study: Medicine
  • 2007 – 2010: University of Tirana, Faculty of Medicine, Tirana, Albania
    • Degree: Graduated as Clinical Toxicologist 
    • Field of Study: Clinical Toxicology
  • 31/08/2019 – 14/10/2021: University of Torino, Italy; Aarhus University, Denmark; Middlesex University, London
    • Degree: European Masters on Drug Studies (EMADS) 
    • Field of Study: Political and Sociological Sciences 
    • Department: Cultures, Politics, and Society

Additional Training and Courses
  • 2006: Shkoder, Albania
    • Course: 6-month Training Course in Family Medicine 
    • Organizers: USAID and Ministry of Health of Albania
  • 2006: Tirana, Albania
    • Course: General Approach to HIV/AIDS and STI 
    • Organizers: USAID
  • 2006: Albania
    • Training: Medical Care for Pregnant Women and Newborn Babies 
    • Organizer: Ministry of Health of Albania
  • 2010: Tirana, Albania
    • Training Courses:
      • Health Technology Assessment 
      • Evidence-Based Medicine
    • Organizers: Conseil Sante, Ministry of Health and QKCSA
  • 2020: Albania & University of California San Diego, UNODC, Drug Advisory Program/Colombo Plan
    • Course: Addiction Training Walkthrough on the University Treatment Curriculum for Substance Use Disorders (UTC)
  • 2021: Lisbon, Portugal
    • Course: European Drugs Summer School – Illicit Drugs and Vulnerable Groups 
    • Organizers: IPPS–Iscte - European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction- NIDA
  • 2023: Toronto, Canada
    • Course: Motivational Interviewing Specialist (MI): Introduction and Application Course for Physicians 
    • Organizer: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Certifications and Conferences
  • Attended and presented at numerous conferences and seminars related to addiction medicine, clinical toxicology, and health care quality.
1.      Organophosphate toxicity  and  occupational and  environmental exposure. 10-th  ASAI National  Conference March 26-27, 2010.
2.       Hemolytic anemia   in a patient with  heavy metals poisoning. 10-th  ASAI National  Conference March 26-27, 2010.
3.      Etiology  and  Health’s impacts of pesticide acute poisonings in    Albanian rural  areas.   The third International  Congress on Rural Health inMediterranean  and  Balkan  Countries  September 22-25, 2010, Tirana, Albania. ISBN 978-99956-34-84-1
4.       Mushroom intoxication. National  Conference of Infectious  diseases,  9 April 2010. ISBN 978-99956-07-79-1
5.      Changes of some biomarkers in chronic  alcoholism. The 11-th  ASAI National Conference “Anesthesia, Emergency, Intensive Care,  Pain”.   March 2011, Tirana Albania
6.      Nomogram versus medical history in patients with  Acetaminophen overdose. Where to  be  based on? The 11-th  ASAI Conference, March  2011,  Tirana, Albania
7.      Prevalence of Anti HBsAg and  anti  HCV among intravenous drug  users  in Albania. 6th  Adriatic  Drug  Addiction Treatment  Conference, SEEA, 21-23  June  2012.  Albania
8.      Assessment of Vitamin  D3 status in general population. 14th  European Congress of Endocrinology (ICE/ECE 2012)
9.      Changes of hepatic transaminases in chronic  alcoholism. ICRAE 2013  24-25  May 2013,  Albania.
10.  Achieving  alcohol abstinence in some strange medical conditions. Congress of Global  addiction and  Europad 7-10  May 2013,  Pisa,  Italy.
11.  Relationship between  Alcohol consumption  and  serum   liver-derived enzymes in correlation with  some metabolic markers in healthy males Congress of Global  addiction and  Europad, 7-10  May 2013,  Pisa,  Italy
12.  Prevalence of drug  and  alcohol use  among students of Nurse Faculty  of Tirana. Congress of Global  addiction and  Europad, 7-10  May 2013,  Pisa,  Italy.
13.  How to  deal  with  non  cooperative patients: A difficult case  of severe concomitant abuse of alcohol and  lorazepam. Congress of Global  addiction and  Europad, 7-10  Ma 2013, Pisa,  Italy.
14.  Correlation between  Papillary Thyroid  Carcinoma and  Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Conference  of Albanian Surgery, 2013.  Albania
15.  Incidentally Detected of HBsAg positive in Asymptomatic Subjects. The 5th  Eurasia  Congress of Infectious Diseases, EACID, 15-18  May, 2013,  Tirana,  Albania.www.eacid.org
16.  Pharmacologic Approach in opioid  detoxification “First National conference of Alcohol  and  drug  abuse Tirana 21 March  2014” ISBN 978-9928-08-142-1
17.  Alteration of serum   liver-derived enzymes in moderate  alcohol drinkers “First National conference of Alcohol and  drug  abuse Tirana 21 March  2014” ISBN 978-9928-08-142-1
18.  The trend and  the  Mortality in drug abuse patients presented in emergency department of addictology and  clinical toxicology University Hospital Mother  Teresa  during  2009-2012.
“First National conference of Alcohol and  drug  abuse Tirana 21 March  2014” ISBN 978-9928-08-142-1
19.  Does  alcoholism causes changes of Whole  blood parameters? “First National conference of Alcohol and  drug  abuse Tirana 21 March  2014” ISBN 978-9928-08-142-1
20.  Incidence of Thyroid  carcinoma in relation to  gender and  age  in patients with  Thyroid  diseases who  were treated with  total  thyroidectomy.Albanian surgical conference, 31 October 2014.
21.  Metastatic Breast cancer to the  Gastro-intenstinal tract  22 Albanian surgical conference,  31 October 2014.
22.  Myopericarditis in a young subject presented  for a routine visit. A diagnostic dilemma EACID 2014
23.  Thyroid  carcinoma in relation to  gender and  age  in patient who  were treated with  total  thiroidectomy for different thyroid disorders ECE 2015  ISSN 1479-6848
24.  Evaluation of routine basal serum calcitonin measurement for an early diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma ECE 2015  ISSN 1479-6848
25.  Breast Ultrasound in Check-up screening IMCA 2015  ISBN: 9789995651930
26.  An approach to  alcohol use  disorders in American Hospital Albania. IMCA 2015  ISBN: 9789995651930
27.  Concomitant  abuse  of alcohol  and  Lorazepam  IMCA 2015  ISBN: 9789995651930
28.  Thyroid incidentalomas. Prevalence  by Ultrasonography IMCA2015 ISBN: 9789995651930
29.  Gastrointestinal tract metastasis from  lobular  carcinoma of the breast: a case report  and  review of the literature  IMCA2015 ISBN: 9789995651930
30.  Vitamin  D Deficiancy Assessment in Adults Patients  IMCA2015 ISBN: 9789995651930
31.  Is the  Hashimoto  Thyroiditis a Risk Factor  for Thyroid  Cancer? A Retrospective Study  IMCA2015 ISBN: 9789995651930
32.  Changes of Some Blood  Count  Variables in Correlation with  the  Time of Alcohol Abuse.  Journal  of Addiction Research & Therapy ISSN: 2155-6105 Published April 30, 2015
33.  Comorbidity of Alcoholism  with  Other  Nosologies,   Anglisticum, 2013ISSN  1857  -8187,  Impact  factor  6.88
34.  Schmidt’s syndrome – case report, Endocrine  Abstracts  (2016) 41 EP65, DOI:10.1530/endoabs.41.EP65 ISSN 1479-6848 online
35.  PREOPERATIVE Ac ANTI-THYROGLOBULIN COULD BE A POTENTIAL RISK FACTOR FOR DIFFERENTATED THYROID CANCER, Medico Research Chronicles, March  2016  ISSN No. 2394-3971
36.  Thyroid  Nodule and  Thyroid  Cancer  Incidentally Detected by Ultrasonography in Adults  Outpatients with  Unknown Thyroid  Disease, International Journal of Life Sciences, Research ISSN 2348-3148, January - March  2016
37.  The clinical features of papillary thiroid  cancer  in Hashimoto  Thyroiditis patients,  Second  International  Medical Congress in Albania, September 2016,  ISBN 9928-202 - 22-2
38.  Diabetic muscle  infarction in a 54-year-old female:  a case report  Ema  Lumi1,  Entela  Puca2,  Blertina Dyrmishi4, Sonila  Bitri2, Edmond Puca3,  Petrika Pengo1 & Agron  Ylli3 Endocrine Abstracts  (2016)  41 EP526  DOI:10.1530/endoabs.41.EP526 ISSN: 1479-6848 (on line)
39.  Thyroid cancer treated succesfully with I131: case report ECE 2016 ISSN: 1479-6848 (on line)
40.  Diagnostic accuracy of fine  needle   aspiration  cytology of Thyroid  nodules Second  International  Medical Congress in Albania,  September 2016,  ISBN 9928-202-22-2
41.  Preoperative measurement of Serum thyroglobulin to predict malignancy in Thyroid  nodule  Second  International  Medical Congress in Albania,  September 2016,  ISBN 9928-202-22-2
42.  Unusual atropine regimen in Organophosphate Poisoning Second  International  Medical Congress in Albania,  September 2016,  ISBN 9928-202-22-
43.  Body Mass  index and  fasting glucose in apparently  healthy  patients  Second  International  Medical Congress in Albania,  September 2016, ISBN 9928-202-22-2
44.  Opioid addiction in oncologic patients  Second  International  Medical Congress in Albania,  September 2016,  ISBN 9928-202-22-2
45.  Alcohol Addiction and  Dual  Diagnosis Second  International  Medical Congress in Albania,  September 2016,  ISBN 9928-202-22-2
46.  Effect  of Age and  Alcohol consumption in patients with  severe Alcohol Use  disorders, JADE, ISSN 00901482
47.  Some Features of alcohol  Abuse  in Albania. Which  counts  most?  Addiction Medicine and  Therapy ISSN:2573-2935
48.  PREOPERATIVE Ac ANTI-THYROGLOBULIN COULD BE A POTENTIAL RISK FACTOR FOR DIFFERENTATED THYROID CANCER, Medico Research Chronicles, march  2016,  ISSN 2394-3971
49.  Thyroid  nodule size  and  the  risk of malignancy ECE 2017  ISSN 14796848
50.  What  is the  best approach in oncologic patients  with  opioid  addiction? : J Neurology Neurophysioly, DOI: 10.4172/2155-9562-C1-050  ISSN: 2155-9562 JNN, 
52.  Co-morbidity of alcohol abuse in Albania. Journal of Neurology and Neurophysiology ISSN 2155-9562
53.  Co-occurrence of psychiatric diseases in patients with  cannabis use  disorders. Sonila  Bitri, Albania,  Poster presentation, Lisbon  addiction 2017
54.  Tobacco use  disorders in Albanian population. Poster presentation, Lisbon  addiction 201
55.  Nicotine abuse and  parental influence: are  there sex  differences? Poster presentation, Lisbon  addiction 2017
56.  Do parents affect nicotine addiction of their  offspring’s? International  Medical Congress in Albania  (IMCA) 2017  ISBN 9789928202512
57.  Vitamin  D beyond the  bone - IMCA 2017  ISBN 9789928202512
58.  Metastatic Breast Cancer to the  Gastrointestinal Tract,  IMCA 2017,  ISBN    9789928202512
59.  Lipid profile in chronic smokers, IMCA 2017,  ISBN 9789928202512
60.  Hycalcemia as  a cause of heart   failure, IMCA 2017  ISBN 9789928202512
61.  Co- occurring disorders and  alcoholism. The relationship between alcohol use  disorders and  psychiatric diagnosis IMCA 2017,  ISBN 9789928202512
62.  Does  alcohol use,  or abuse causes changes in different parameters of whole blood count? IMCA 2017,  ISBN 978992820251
63.  Detecting Substance Abuse in the  Emergency Department. IMCA 2017  ISBN 9789928202512
64.  What  are  the  Factors  Affecting GGT Elevation in Patients with  Severe Alcohol Use  Disorders in Albanian Population? J Liver Res Disord  Ther3(5):  00069.  DOI:
65.  Liver toxicity of Naltrexone. a case  study and  review of literature. J Liver Res Disord  Ther.  2018;4(1):  00098.  DOI: 10.15406/jlrdt. 2018.04.00098
66.  Alcohol use  Disorders in Adolescents. The conference of Technical and  Diagnostic Sciences 12-13  April 2018,  Tirana, Albania, ISBN978-9928-4422-8-4
67.  The factors that  effect liver steatosis. What  are  the  changes? The conference of Technical and  Diagnostic Sciences 12-13  April 2018,  Tirana,  Albania  ISBN978-9928-4422-8-4
68.  The heredity of substance addiction. Beyond Genetic. The National Congress of Medical Sciences 5, 20-22  April 2018,  Tirana,  Albania.
69.  Are we missing substance use  disorders diagnosis in the  emergency department? HARCP Vol.20  • No.  NS1 • May 2018 ISSN 2531-4122 on line
70.  Alcohol use  disorder and  heroin addiction. What  are  the  challenges? HARCP Vol. 20 • No.  NS1 •May 2018 ISSN 2531-4122 on line
71.  Co-Occurrence of Psychiatric Diseases in Patients with  Alcohol Use  Disorders and  Psychiatric Treatment  Discontinuation, International Journal of Psychiatry ISSN: 2475-5435, 31 Aug 2018
72.  Management of Obesity IMCA 2018,  ISBN 978-9928-202-85-7
73.  Adherence to  treatment, Albanian context, IMCA 2018,  ISBN 978-9928-202-85-7
74.  How much determinant is mental health related to  alcohol abuse? Familial  predisposition versus environmental predisposition. IMCA 2018,  ISBN 978-9928-202-85-7
75.  Cannabis versus Cocaine abuse. What  are  the  differences? IMCA 2018,  ISBN 978-9928-202-85-7
76.  Some enzymatic changes in AUD patients in Albania,  IMCA 2018,  ISBN 978-9928-202-85-7
77.  Delirium Tremens during  with  drawl  in patients with  Alcohol Use  Disorders, IMCA 2018,  ISBN 978-9928-202-85-7
78.  Body Builiding Supplements Toxicity  3-rd International Conference on Applied Biotechnology-Book of Abstract  23 Nentor 2018 ISBN: 978-9928-237-33-0
79.  Heavy Metal Toxicity. What are the Challenges 3-rd International Conference on Applied Biotechnology-Book of Abstract  23 Nentor 2018 ISBN: 978-9928-237-33-0
80.  Microbiological Quality of Bathing Waters in Shengjin, Velipoja and Tale during YEAR 2017 3-rd International Conference on Applied Biotechnology-Book of Abstract  23 Nentor 2018 ISBN: 978-9928-237-33-0
81.  Papillary Thyroid cancer and primary hyperparathyroidism-a rare coincidence: case report ECE 2018 ISSN 1479-6848 (on line)
82.  An overview of urinary tract  infection in diabetic patients Endocrine  Abstracts  (2019) 63 P982  | DOI: 10.1530/e ndoabs.63.P982  ISSN1479-6848 (on line)
83.  The incidence of pancreatic cancer in diabetic patients Endocrine Abstracts (2019)  63 P985  | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.63.P985 ISSN1479-6848 (on line)
84.  Somatization and  the  recognition of psychiatric disorders in primary care.  What  are  we missing?! European  Psychiatry, Volume 56, April 2019,  E-Poster Presentation  56S (2019)  S3–S444,  ISSN: 0924-9338, 5-Year  Impact  Factor:  4.268, Impact factor 2022 7.8
85.  The Role of Procalcitonine in Septic  Patients Chapter 1. An e-book  on Sepsis ISBN: 978-93-87500-50-1
86.  The association of vitamin B12 deficiency with  metformin uses,  Endocrine  Abstracts  (2020) 70 AEP489 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.70.AEP489   ISSN 1479-6848 on line
87.  How supportive and  understandable are  health care  practitioners toward people who  use  drugs in Albania?  Addict  Relat  Clin Probl 2021;  23(3):51-53 ISSN 2531-4122 on line 2022 Impact factor JCR Clarivate :0.9; 2022 Scopus Cite scoore:1.5
88.  Drugs and Pleasure, 6th Eastern European Conference of Mental Health, 13-15 October 2022, Zagreb, Croatia ISSN 2734 – 7443 ISSN-L 2734 – 7443
89.  .A rare case of death from snake bite poisoning. International Journal of Ecosystems and Ecology Science (IJEES) Volume 11, issue 3, 2021 https://doi.org/10.31407/ijees
90.  How tiny Albania became the continent’s Drug trafficking headquarters. What is the best prevention policy? Presentation in conference “Lisbon Addiction” 24 November 2022.
https://www.lisbonaddictions.eu/lisbon-addictions-2022/presentations/how-tiny-albania-became-continent%E2%80%99s-drug-trafficking-headquarters-what-best-prevention 
91.  Tigecycline as a ausative agent of severe hypoglycemia ECE2023, Endocrine Abstracts (2023) 90 EP1103 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.90.EP1103 ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)
92.  Drug use between deviant behavior and rational choice models, 7th Eastern European Conference of Mental Health In and Out of Your Mind  12-15Tetor 2023 ISBN: 978-606-11-8217-6