An active role in the promotion of the health of athletes to be organised by the Maltese Olympic Committee Medical Commission.
Education on all aspects of sports and exercise medicine is among the principle responsibilities of the Maltese Olympic Committee’s Medical Commission.
With this objective in mind the MOC Medical Commission, in collaboration with the Olympic Solidarity, is once again organising a medical seminar entitled ‘An active role in the promotion of the health of athletes’. This will take place over four days from 29 May to 1 June at the Aula Magna, Old University Buildings, St Paul’s Street, Valletta.
The purpose of the seminar is to continue to raise the awareness of Sports Science for the benefit of athletes, coaches and officials alike, medical professionals, including paramedics and physiotherapists, as well as medical students, physical education teachers and PE students, gym instructors and personnel from the health and leisure industry and of course members of the general public.
Exhibition stands will be open to participants, which will provide information, professional advice and samples. Topics that will be covered include the role of exercise in obesity management, sports and exercise medicine in Europe, the Olympic Movement medical code, anti-doping regulations, exercise testing and evaluation and various topics on injuries including knee, shoulder and the groin.
Speakers will include a number foreign guests who will include: Prof. Fabio Pigozzi, Deputy Rector and director of IUSM – Rome, Prof. Emin Ergen, Ankara University School of Medicine Sports and Prof. Andre Debruyne. Susan Greinig, medical progammes manager for the International Olympic Committee will also be present. Local guest speakers will include Dr Kirill Micallef Stafrace, president MASEM and chairman of the MOC Medical Commission; Dr Lucienne Attard, secretary MASEM; chairperson Doping Commission, Dr Olga Fedotkina Galea; Dr Aaron Formosa, specialist in family medicine and sports and exercise medicine; Dr David Attard, medical chairman of the MFA Medical Committee; Dr Danica Spiteri, senior House Officer Mater Dei Hospital and Triathlete National Champion; Mr Ivan Esposito, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, President MASOT; Milos Stanisavljevic, senior physiotherapist S.E.R.C; John Xerri de Caro, President MAM, physiotherapist.
The subsidised seminar fee through the support of Olympic Solidarity is e35 which includes packs, opening reception and coffee breaks for each participant and e25 for students (offer valid to maximum of 20 students).
The event is also supported by Allcare Insurance Agency and Crystal Finance Ltd, Collis Williams and Allevents. For further information one may contact the Maltese Olympic Committee, National Swimming Pool Complex, Maria Teresa Spinelli Street, Gzira tel: 21332801 or [email protected].
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Profiles of the speakers
Prof. Fabio Pigozzi, Deputy Rector, Professor of Sport Medicine and Director of the Internal Medicine Unit at the University of Rome-IUSM began his career in sports medicine in 1987 and has since become a leader in European Sports and Exercise Medicine with his involvement on Olympic Committees, the European Federation of Sports Medicine Associations and the International Federation of Sports Medicine.
His academic work in sports cardiology is partly responsible for the European position on pre-participation assessment and his other publications on sports cardiology are at the cutting edge of this sub-speciality of sports medicine.
Prof. Emin Ergen is a sports medicine specialist physician. He worked as a visiting assistant at the Italian National Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Centre between 1982-1983. He also completed a post-graduate (MSc) programme in sport sciences at Loughborough University (England) between 1987-1988. Prof. Ergen is currently working at Ankara University School of Medicine Sports at the Sports Medicine Department as a full-time professor.
Prof. Ergen was elected as a member of executive board to the European Federation of Sports Medicine Associations (EFSMA) in 2003 and to FIMS in 2006. Prof. Ergen is also a member of International Archery Federation (FITA) and European Olympic Committees Medical and Sports Science Commissions since 2001.
Susan Greinig is the Medical Prog-
rammes Manager in the Medical & Scientific Depart-
ment of the Inter-
national Olympic Committee where she has worked since 1997. In this capacity, Ms Greinig facilitates the contribution that the members of the IOC Medical Commission (MC), and its three other groups, voluntarily make to promote one of the main IOC objectives: The Protection of the Health of the Athlete, and shares this with the NOCs and IFs.
As part of her responsibilities, Susan manages the Sport Medicine budget, funded by the Olympic Solidarity, for the benefit of the National Olympic Committees, worldwide, and has represented the IOC at many International Congresses and Conventions, as well as at Sport Medicine Courses and Continental Association MC meetings, all devoted to Sport Medicine.
Ms Greinig also concentrates on the IOC MC Group: Women in Sport, promoting inclusion of its work in the IOC Women in Sport Commission’s programme and encouraging a synergy between its work and that of the NOCs’ Women in Sport Commissions. As a member of the Education and Culture Working Group of the Youth Olympic Games, Ms Greinig brings the work of the IOC MC to this important new project.
Prof. Andre Debruyne is a sport physician with a private practice since 1967. He has been associated with the four Flemish University in post-graduate education. The field sports medicine is his favourite activity. He is the accompanying physician of a lot of individuals.
Some of them are famous athletes such as Stefan Everts, 10-times World Champion in motocross; and Luc Van Lierde, two times the winner of the Iron Man Triathlon in Hawaii. In many team sports, he is the team physician including soccer, gymnastics, volleyball, basketball, and indoor soccer. He is also the physician of individuals playing in a team, such as cycling, judo, canoeing.
He served as team physician for the Belgian Youth Table Tennis at the European Championships 11 times. In this capacity, he developed a special technique of taping the knee.
Dr Kirill Micallef-Stafrace, MD, MSc Sports Med (Lond.), FFSEM(I), FFSEM(UK), MIM is the Maltese Olympic Committee Director of Marketing and an elected member of the executive of the European Federation of Sports Medicine Association.
He has also been the Chairperson of the Maltese Olympic Medical Commission for the past 11 years, is the first president of the newly formed Maltese Association of Sports and Exercise Medicine (MASEM), and is the head doctor of Sliema Wanderers FC and various other sporting associations. He is a lecturer in Sports and Exercise Science at the University of Malta and works as a Sports and Exercise Medicine specialist within the private sector.
Dr Micallef-Stafrace has formed part of the medical support team for the Maltese contingent at several editions of the Games for the Small States of Europe, the Olympics, Mediterranean Games and Commonwealth Games.
Dr Lucienne Attard MD, MSc(Bath), FFSEM(I), FFSEM(UK), DSM(RCS), MMCFD is specialised in Sports and Exercise Medicine; and Family Medicine. She is a Fellow of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine of the Royal Colleges of Ireland and the UK.
She chairs the Women in Sport, and Antidoping Commissions of the Maltese Olympic Committee, and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Maltese Olympic Committee. She is also the team doctor for the National Basketball Teams and formed part of the medical support team for the Maltese contingent at several editions of the Games for the Small States of Europe.
Dr Attard is a lecturer at the Institute of PE and Sport at the University of Malta and is employed as Registrar in the Orthopaedic Department of Mater Dei Hospital.
Dr Olga Fedotkina Galea, MOC Functional Diagnostic Laboratory Clinic, is a qualified Sport Specialist in Coaching, Sport Physiology, Sport biochemistry and therapeutic physical exercises. She has been working in this field as a Scientific Senior worker at All-Russian Research Institute of Sport with National athletes of Russia for 13 years and for 14 years with the Maltese National athletes. She also was a Master of Sport in Speed Skating (Soviet Union).
Dr Aaron Formosa MD, MMCFD,FFSEM, MSc (sport med), DSM is a specialist in family medicine and sports and exercise medicine. Has been involved in sport medicine for the past 14 years. Appointed tutor by the University of Bath (UK) in the M.Sc. course in sports and exercise medicine since 2005.
He is a member of the MFA medical committee and from 1995 to 2007 accompanied the national youth football teams as team doctor in their frequent games and tournaments both locally and abroad.
Dr Formosa is involved through the years with various clubs and associations in a number of sports, including responsibility for the Maltese contingent in the Games for the Small States of Europe in 1995.
Danica Spiteri MD, graduated from the University of Malta Medical School in 2004. She is working within the Department of Medicine in Mater Dei Hospital as a Senior House Officer and is also a newcomer to working in the Malta Olympic Committee Functional Diagnostic Lab.
She is currently finishing her membership of the Royal College of Physicians (UK), and also reading for a Masters in Sports and Exercise Medicine (Bath University, UK). Dr Spiteri is no newcomer to the sports scene, having been involved in sports since early childhood.
Today her name is synonymous with Maltese triathlon, having achieved a number of national titles over the past decade. She has achieved various podium positions in the Triathlon Championships of the Small States of Europe, various top five placings in the National Sportswoman of the Year Award. She has also won the Triathlete of the Year Award, Triathlon National Champion, and Sportsmanship Award.
Dr David Attard, MD DOccMed (RCP, UK) DSEM (Cardiff, UK), Specialist in Occupational Medicine and in Sports & Exercise Medicine. Sports Medical training included: Sports Medicine Institute in Frankfurt (Germany), Orthopaedic Medicine (USA), Cardiff University (UK). He has been in sports medical practice for the past 22 years.
He is also the Senior Medical Officer with the Malta Football Association; team doctor for the National ‘A’ football squad besides being the Medical Chairman of the MFA Medical Committee a lecturer on physiology and medical aspects of coaching in UEFA license courses.
Ivan Esposito, MD FRCS (ENG) DSMRCS MFSEM (UK) FFSEM (I), qualified from the University of Malta in 1987. After starting his basic surgical training in Malta he continued his higher surgical training on the Oxford rotation in the UK. In 1993 he was awarded a one year Surgicraft fellowship during which time he carried out research in ACL reconstruction and Chondral resurfacing.
He is currently a Consultant at Mater Dei Hospital and has a special interest in major trauma, sports trauma and soft tissue reconstruction of the knee. Mr Esposito is a lecturer at the University of Malta, vice-president of the Maltese Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine and President of the Association of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeons of Malta.
Milos Stanisavljevic, Physiotherapist, S.E.R.C. is a senior physiotherapist with SERC Sliema and is the official physiotherapist for the Malta Handball Association, Premier League Club Sliema Wanderers FC; Second Division Club Balzan Youths and San Gwann FC and is the technical director of Aloysians Prominent Handball Club and managing director of D Handball school.
He is also national coach of the Malta Handball Federation. He was the official physiotherapist for the Malta Team at the Olympic Games Athens 2004 and the Games of the Small States of Europe Malta 2003, Andorra 2005 and Monaco 2007, in addition to the Malta National handball Team Challenge Cup, Malta 2004, Sliema Wanderers Champions League/UEFA/Competitions Yugoslavia 2000, Slovakia 2001, Poland 2002, Lithuania 2003, Letwa 2004, Moldavia 2005, Romania 2006, Bulgaria 2007.
John Xerri de Caro, BSc (Hons), Pg Cert. (Sports Science), MSc (SIT), SRP; graduated as a physiotherapist in 1998, and works with the Department of Health; and a part-time lecturer at the University of Malta. Currently he is pursuing a research degree leading to a Doctorate in Professional Studies at the Sheffield Hallam University, UK.
For the past 10 years has been the physiotherapist for the Malta Team of Waterpolo. He participated in two editions of the Games for the Small States of Europe as physiotherapist with the MOC during the San Marino 2001 and Malta 2003 Games.
In 2003, he obtained an MSc in Sports Injuries and Therapy from the Manchester Metropolitan University, having studied at the Alsager campus; presenting a Master thesis entitled ‘the IFSM Congress in Paris. Main interests in Sports Medicine focus around rehabilitation. Current research focus is in Physiotherapy Educational processes.
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MOC Medical Commission Seminar
29 May – 1 June
Venue: Aula Magna, Old University Buildings, Valletta
Programme
Thursday 29 May
OPENING SESSION
18:00 – Registration
19:00 – Introduction – Dr Kirill Micallef Stafrace
MOC President – Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco
Minister
19:15 – Role of Exercise in Obesity Management – Dr Kirill Micallef Stafrace
20:00-20:15 – Sports and Exercise Medicine in Europe: The Way Forward – Prof. Fabio Pigozzi
20:15-20:30 – IOC MC Scientific Activities – Susan Greinig
20:45 Reception
Friday 30 May
18:30-19:00 – The Olympic Movement Medical Code – Susan Greinig
19:00-19:45 – The preparation for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games – Prof. Fabio Pigozzi
19:45-20:30 – A sports medicine potpourri-from fatigue to psychology of injured athlete – Prof. Emin Ergen
Saturday 31 May
09:00-11:00 – Taping – Prof. Andre Debruyne
11:00-11:30 – Coffee Break
11:30-12:15 – Team Malta Beijing Olympic Games Medical preparations – Dr Lucienne Attard/
Milos Stanisavljevic
12:15-13:00 – Knee injuries – Ivan Esposito
13:00-14:30 – Lunch Break
14:30-15:30 – Open Paper Presentations
15:30-16:15 – Exercise testing and evaluation (VO2 max and lactate curve) – Dr Olga Fedotkina
16:15–16:45 – Field Tests – Dr Danica Spiteri
Sunday 1 June
09:00-09:45 – Field side assessment, evaluation, and initial treatment in sports injuries – Dr Aaron Formosa
09:45-10.30 – Groin pain in athletes – Dr David Attard
10:30-11:00 – Coffee Break
11:00-11:30 – Shoulder injuries – John Xerri de Caro
11:30-12.30 – Open Paper Presentations
12:30 – Formal distribution of certificates and Closing ceremony – Dr Kirill Micallef Stafrace
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MIA Olympic Special – What’s On
MIA Olympic Special is aired on Thursday’s on TVM at 5.15pm, on Fridays on E22 at 9pm, Sundays on E22 at 10am (RPT) and on Mondays on E22 at 2.30pm (RPT).
This week’s MIA Olympic Special will feature the final part of the second edition of the Mediterranean Friendship Games, Malta which took place from the 1 to 3 May and were organised by the MOC as part of its celebration activities for its 80th anniversary and in collaboration with 12 affiliated sports federations.
The disciplines involved included badminton, dancesport, fencing, golf, karate, pool, snooker, table football, triathlon and weightlifting; in addition to beach volleyball and mountain biking. A maximum of two female and two male athletes from both the Maltese and Sicilian sides competed. Following two days of competitions, find out how our athletes faired at these games.
The schedule is available every week on: www.nocmalta.org and on The Malta Independent newspaper every Tuesday.
Produced in collaboration with E22.