Elections for the

1
Council Meeting 2008

• Elections for the
• Administrative Committee

2
Nominations for President

• John Xerri de Caro

3
John Xerri de Caro, 32

• Graduated as a physiotherapist in 1998, and works
  with the Department of Health and a part-time
  lecturer at the University of Malta. Currently
  pursuing a research degree leading to a Doctorate
  in Professional Studies (Health and Social Care)
  at the Sheffield Hallam University, UK.
• In 2003, obtained a M.Sc. in Sports Injuries and
  Therapy from the Manchester Metropolitan
  University, having studied at the Alsager campus
  presenting a Master thesis entitled The use of
  mobilisations with movement in the treatment of
  shoulder pain in overhead throwing athletes.
• Since March 2007 has been the President of the
  Malta Association of Physiotherapists, a post
  that has taken far more out of him than imagined.
  
• Previously also very active on the MAP,
  representing Malta in Yokohama as voting delegate
  for our inception into the World Confederation
  for Physiotherapy.
• Recently nominated on the EU-Working Group of the
  European Region WCPT for the term 2008-2010.
• Projects for the future Professional
  Development, International Policies and EU
  Directive Implementation, Legislative Frameworks,
  Research and Research Governance, ICF, Vision
  Task Force, Physiotherapy Promotion
•  

4
Nominations for General Secretary

• Maria-Louisa Busuttil
• Laura Schembri

5
Maria-Louisa Busuttil, 30

• Graduated from the University of Malta, Institute
  of Health Care in 2001 and employed as a senior
  physiotherapist, with a special interest in
  Neurology and Gerontology.
• 2 year working experience as lecturer and
  examiner in an international school for
  aestheticians.
• Member of the Malta Association of
  Physiotherapists since student days. Previously
  involved in MAP committee between 2001-2004 as
  International Relations Liaison Officer,
  alternate voting delegate at the General Meeting
  of the ER-WCPT in 2002.
• Currently the General Secretary of MAP. This
  role mainly involves co-ordination of every MAP
  activity including website, newsletter, CPD
  events, Awareness Campaigns, social events,
  international matters, members relations,
  preparation of meetings both on national and
  international level, attending meetings and also
  keeping records of all the above.

6
Laura Schembri

• Laura Schembri is a senior physiotherapist based
  at the St Lukes Out-patients Department. She
  graduated in 2000 from the University of Malta
  after studying as a mature student. She has a
  back ground in dance and fitness and qualified as
  an exercise instructor at the YMCA in central
  London in 1990.
• Since graduating as a physiotherapist she has
  worked tirelessly to promote physiotherapy and
  health related issues to her patients and the
  general public. She has written articles on back
  pain and on Modified Pilates as taught by
  physiotherapists as well as giving talks and
  appearing on local television to promote the
  profession.
• Laura has continuously striven to improve her
  skills as a physiotherapist and has also done her
  best to help others develop their skills too, by
  organising courses and practising techniques with
  her colleagues on a regular basis. She is
  currently organising a core kinetic course which
  will be held later this month. She is also
  conducting a study on low back pain at the
  department and has been co-ordinating courses for
  the London-based Australian Pilates and
  Physiotherapy Institute in order to keep Maltese
  physiotherapists at the forefront of their
  profession. It is Lauras desire to see
  physiotherapy in Malta develop and become
  renowned for excellent standards.

7
Nominations for Vice - President

• Victoria Massalha
• Josef Pace

8
Victoria Massalha

• Ms. Victoria Massalha became state registered as
  a physiotherapist in Malta and London in 1986.
  She manages Physiotherapy services at Zammit
  Clapp and Karin Grech hospitals and holds the
  post of Assistant Lecturer with the Physiotherapy
  Division at the University of Malta. She became a
  member of the Maltese Association of
  Physiotherapists in 1994 and the Chartered
  Society of Physiotherapists in England in 1996.
  She holds a post-qualification diploma and
  Masters degree in Health Services Management.
  Special interests include adult rehabilitation
  moving and handling of patients and professional
  practice and management.
• Head Physiotherapist at Zammit Clapp Hospital /
  Karin Grech Hospital

9
Josef Pace, 30

• Qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2001 from the
  University of Malta. Works as a senior
  Physiotherapist in the Musculoskeletal
  Out-Patient Department SLH. 2003 presented the
  undergraduate dissertation General
  Practitioners Perception of Physiotherapy in
  Malta at the 14th World Congress of the World
  Confederation for Physical Therapy in Barcelona
  Spain. 2005 elected on the
  Appeals Committee of the Council for Professions
  Complementary to Medicine, a post occupied till
  2007. 2007
  awarded Masters of Science in Orthopaedic
  Medicine through Middlesex University in
  collaboration with the Society of Orthopaedic
  Medicine.
  
  2007 elected vice chairman of
  the Steering Committee of the Malta Health
  Network, a network aiming to give a voice to
  patients, and in October of that same year was
  elected Treasurer on the Executive Committee of
  this Network. Currently occupies the post of
  Council Member on this network.
  2008 nominated for a post on the council of the
  Society of Orthopaedic Medicine currently still
  awaiting results.
  Actively involved with the
  Malta Association of Physiotherapists first as a
  student associate member on the council, and
  later occupied the posts of International Liaison
  Officer, Vice President and now jointly occupies
  the post of CPD Liaison Officer.

10
Nominations for Financial Controller

• Corinne Fiorini
• Victor Grixti

11
Corinne Fiorini, 30

• Graduated from the University of Malta, Institute
  of Health Care in 2000 and currently a senior
  physiotherapist at Sir Paul Boffa Hospital
  working in the oncology and palliative care
  department. Active member of the Malta
  Association of Physiotherapists since student
  days. Previous involvement in the MAP committee
  included the posts of students representative in
  1999 and General Secretary in 2000. In 2008
  rejoined the committee following the resignation
  of a Liaison Officer and was involved in the
  organisation of various events and general
  committee duties.

12
Victor Grixti, 36

• Graduated as a physiotherapist in 1992. Obtained
  a M.Sc in Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation from
  the University of Dundee in 2000. Currently
  employed as an Assistant Principal at the
  Musculoskeletal Out Patients Unit in St. Lukes
  Hospital.
• Since 2004 employed with the University of Malta
  as a part time Lecturer in the Physiotherapy
  Division.
• Is an elected member on the Council of
  Professions Complimentary to Medicine (CPCM)
  since 2003 and also chairs various sub committees
  within the Council. Active member of the Malta
  Association of Physiotherapists (MAP) since 1993
  and at present is the Government Liaison Officer
  of the MAP. Since 1998 is also a member of the
  Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP).
• Since 2001 works as a Director in one of Maltas
  private clinics and his main role is the
  management of the accounts department . In the
  past was entrusted with the role of financial
  controller of various other associations always
  on a voluntarily basis.

13
Nominations for Educational Officer

• Pauline Fenech

14
Pauline Fenech

• Graduated from University of Malta in 2002. Has
  been elected to MAP as a CPD liaison officer in
  March 2007, and since then she has organised
  monthly CPD talks , coordinated Human factors
  Course in November 2007 and November 2008. She is
  currently also involved, as a representative of
  MAP in EU workshops for NGOs. Besides CPDs she
  has contributed in other areas of the committee
  according to needs arising.
• Currently working at St. Lukes
  Hospital-orthopaedic outpatients, were she has
  been contributing in the organisation
  preparations of Kinetic Control courses by Sarah
  Mottram in April 2008 and November 2008.
• Outside work, she is involved in sports first
  aid, Pilates and private practice.
• A strong believer in the importance of continuous
  professional development amongst
  physiotherapists, she has carried out several
  courses and currently studying for the diploma in
  orthopaedic medicine.

15
Nominations for Communications Officer

• Karl Spiteri
• Elaine Zammit

16
Karl Spiteri, 23

• Academic background Graduated in physiotherapy
  from the University of Malta (UM), Institute of
  Health Care in 2007, followed by a Postgraduate
  Diploma in Geriatrics and Gerontology in 2008
  from the European Centre for Gerontology, UM.
  Currently reading a Masters Degree in Geriatrics
  and Gerontology with the same centre.
• Professional history Currently employed with the
  Department of Health on rotation as a
  physiotherapist.
• Professional interest Interested in geriatrics
  and musculoskeletal and also getting interested
  in palliative care.
• Personal interests sport and computer software.

17
Elaine Zammit, 34

• Graduated from the University of Malta, Institute
  of Health Care in 1996 and currently a senior
  physiotherapist in Orthopaedic Rehabilitation at
  St. Lukes Hospital. In 2004 obtained a M.Sc. in
  Sports Injuries and Treatment from the Manchester
  Metropolitan University with a publication
  Ultrasound therapy in the management of acute
  lateral ligament sprains of the ankle joint in
  the journal Physical Therapy in Sport in August
  2005.
• Since March 2007 has occupied the post of
  Treasurer on the Administrative Committee of the
  Malta Association of Physiotherapists and
  participated at the General Meeting of the
  European Region WCPT in Athens, 2008 as
  alternate voting delegate.