unta ) ▁since ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁and ▁was ▁previously ▁a ▁Member ▁of ▁Parliament ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 – 1 9 9 1 . ▁P us ka ▁is ▁a ▁Doc ent ▁for ▁University ▁of ▁Hels ink i ▁and ▁University ▁of ▁Eastern ▁Finland . ▁ ▁Dr . ▁P us ka ▁is ▁considered ▁to ▁have ▁had ▁a ▁significant ▁influence ▁on ▁Finn ish ▁public ▁health ▁research ▁and ▁practice ▁for ▁several ▁dec ades . ▁He ▁spe ar head ed ▁the ▁North ▁K are lia ▁Project ▁( as ▁Director ▁and ▁Princi pal ▁Investig ator ) ▁for ▁prevent ing ▁card i ov asc ular ▁disease ▁ 1 9 7 2 – 1 9 7 7 , ▁during ▁which ▁time , ▁card i ov asc ular ▁disease ▁mort ality ▁fell ▁by ▁ 8 0 ▁per ▁cent . ▁P us ka ▁worked ▁as ▁a ▁director ▁for ▁N CD ▁prevent ion ▁and ▁health ▁promotion ▁at ▁the ▁World ▁Health ▁Organ ization ▁( W HO ) ▁Head quarters ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 1 – 2 0 0 3 . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁he ▁was ▁the ▁Finn ish ▁candidate ▁for ▁the ▁Director - General ▁post ▁of ▁W HO . ▁From ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁he ▁was ▁Chan cell or ▁of ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Tur ku . ▁ ▁He ▁also ▁currently ▁holds ▁the ▁position ▁of ▁President ▁of ▁World ▁Heart ▁Federation ▁( WH F ) ▁and ▁that ▁of ▁Vice - Pres ident ▁of ▁the ▁International ▁Association ▁of ▁Public ▁Health ▁Instit utes ▁( I