Garay Chingiz Garaybayli

Garay Chingiz Garaybayli was born on June 29, 1967, in Baku. In 1984, he graduated from high school with a gold medal and, in the same year, entered the medical institute (now Azerbaijan Medical University). In 1992, he graduated with honors. From 1992 to 1993, he worked as a senior laboratory assistant in the department of psychiatry at Medical University; from 1993 to 1996, he held the position of assistant; and from 1996 to 2007, he was the Associate Professor.

In 1995, Professor Garay Garaybayli defended his candidate thesis and, in 2007, his doctoral dissertation. In 1997, he received the title of Associate Professor, and in 2012, he became Professor.

Since 2007, he has been the chief psychiatrist of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the national coordinator for mental health.

On April 11, 2016, Garay Garaybayli was appointed rector of Azerbaijan Medical University by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Prof. Garaybayli has 98 publications with a focus on mental health issues from both a clinical and public health standpoint.

In 2009, he was one of the primary developers of the Clinical Protocol for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder and the Clinical Protocol for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression in Azerbaijan. Following the approval and implementation of the Comprehensive WHO Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020, the mental health atlas project was launched, and Prof. Garaybayli contributed to the creation of WHO's Mental Health Atlas 2014.

His recognition as a skilled clinician and educator has enabled him to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, ensuring that medical students not only excel academically but also translate their skills into effective patient care. The far-sighted leadership of Prof. Garaybaylis has resulted in the development of cutting-edge teaching approaches that incorporate technology, interactivity, and cooperation. Under his leadership, the medical institution he oversees has seen dramatic changes in its curriculum, developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and empathic patient engagement among students, and three educational programs have received international accreditation for five years.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to medical education and healthcare, Prof. Garaybayli received the honorary title of "Honored Teacher" in 2014 and the jubilee medal of “100 Years of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918–2018)” in 2019.

As a Rector of the Azerbaijan Medical University, Professor Garay Garaybayli organized and facilitated board meetings, strategic planning sessions, and annual conferences; developed policies, procedures, and short-term and long-term goals for the AMU; collaborated with staff members to ensure operational efficiency of the AMU; established fundraising strategies to increase financial support for programs; and services; created a marketing plan to increase awareness of the AMU's activities in the community; analyzed data from surveys to identify areas for improvement in the AMU's operations; provided leadership and guidance on budgeting decisions to maximize the resources available; managed personnel issues, including recruitment, hiring, training, performance evaluation, and termination; monitored legislative changes that could affect the AMU's operations or funding sources; reviewed reports submitted by department heads to assess progress towards meeting objectives; maintained effective communication channels with all stakeholders involved in the AMU's activities; determined performance goals and offered tactics for achieving milestones; managed and oversaw the leadership team to meet established KPIs and achieve objectives and key results; roadmapped plans to outline benefits and address potential constraints prior to resource commitment; diminished regulatory risks through strict adherence to insurance and safety regulations.

As a Chief Psychiatrist of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 2011-2019, Professor Garay Garaybayli assessed patients' mental health, physical health, and family dynamics by conducting interviews and psychological tests; developed treatment plans for individuals with substance abuse, personality disorders, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues; provided crisis intervention services in emergency situations; provided consultation services to community organizations concerning mental health issues; served on committees dedicated to improving access to quality mental healthcare services; collaborated with nurses, doctors, social workers and psychologist to discuss treatment plans and progress; worked directly with patients suffering from range of mental health problems and provided good standard of practice care.

In August– December 2001, Professor Garay Garaybayli was awarded the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program (post-doctoral award program) at the University of Southern California, California, USA.

On May 13–16, 2016, Professor Garay Garaybayli was certificated at the 18th Annual Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders and the 8th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Affective Disorders in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

On November 13–20, 2016, Professor Garay Garaybayli was certified at the Workshop on Health Management: UK Experience. London, UK.

On June 18–22, 2017, Professor Garay Garaybayli was certified at the 13th World Congress of Biological Psychiatry. Copenhagen, Denmark.

On March 3–6, 2018, Professor Garay Garaybayli was certified at the 26th European Congress of Psychiatry. Nice, France.

On February, 2020, Professor Garay Garaybayli was certified at the Workshop on Knowledge Exchange Between Medical Education England and Azerbaijan. England, UK.

On September 14–16, 2022, Professor Garay Garaybayli was certified at the Magna Charta Universitatum under the theme Universities Engaging with Society in Turbulent Times. Bologna, Italy.

On June 18-20, 2022, Professor Garay Garaybayli was certified at the 1st International Medical Forum. Nakhchivan city, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

On October 7-8, 2022, Professor Garay Garaybayli was certified at the VI Central Asian International Forum on Education Quality Assurance "Transnational Cooperation in the Global Educational Space" in Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan.

On October 8–9, 2023, Professor Garay Garaybayli was certified at the VIII International Conference on Medical Education: Transforming Health Professions Education: Trends, Challenges, and Solutions. Baku, Azerbaijan.