Valeria Azevedo de Almeida | Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Valeria Azevedo de Almeida | Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Valéria Azevedo de Almeida is a Brazilian physiotherapist and researcher with expertise in neuroengineering, maternal and child health, and neonatal care. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Physiotherapy at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), where she also completed her undergraduate studies. Valéria holds a Master’s in Neuroengineering from the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neurosciences and has extensive experience in hospital and academic settings. Her research contributions focus on neonatal neural activity and pediatric urological sequelae linked to congenital infections like Zika virus. She has served in both clinical and academic roles across various Brazilian institutions, including UFRN, ISD, HU-UFGD, and HRG. Fluent in Portuguese and proficient in English, she also acts as a journal referee and participates in numerous collaborative health projects. Valéria has earned distinctions for her dedication to education and contributions to neonatal physiotherapy research and care.

Profile

Education 🎓

Valéria Azevedo de Almeida is completing her Ph.D. in Physiotherapy (2021–2025) at UFRN, under Dr. Silvana Alves Pereira. She earned a Master’s in Neuroengineering (2018–2020) at the Edmond and Lily Safra Institute, supervised by Dr. Reginaldo Freitas Jr., with a CAPES scholarship. Previously, she completed a specialization in Maternal and Child Health through a multiprofessional residency at UFRN (2016–2018), also under Dr. Pereira. Her undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy (2011–2015) was completed at UFRN with CNPq scholarship support. Complementary education includes over 20 short courses in areas like public health, intensive care, clinical pilates, neonatal care, and professional development, offered by institutions such as FIOCRUZ, CEDEP, UFMG, and the Albert Einstein Institute. These reflect her commitment to continuous learning and interdisciplinary training in health care and leadership. She also completed a 240-hour English language course and has participated in multiple training programs since 2009, enhancing her clinical and academic capacities.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Valéria has accumulated rich experience in public health, academic research, and clinical physiotherapy. Since 2022, she works at the University Hospital of Grande Dourados (HU-UFGD/Ebserh) as a government-employed physiotherapist. She has concurrently held research and academic roles at UFRN since 2021. Her past positions include clinical roles at Hospital Rio Grande, Hospital Municipal de Campanha, and UPA Esperança, and academic/research posts at Instituto Santos Dumont (ISD), where she contributed to projects on Zika-related pediatric sequelae. From 2016 to 2018, she was a research fellow at the Regional Hospital Dr. Mariano Coelho. Her early experience includes a scholarship-based position at Hospital Universitário Ana Bezerra. She’s also an active participant in ongoing projects at Instituto Fernandes Figueira and ISD. Valéria’s work combines hands-on physiotherapeutic care with clinical research, specializing in neonatal, neurological, and urological rehabilitation, making her a key contributor in multidisciplinary health teams.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Valéria received an Honorable Mention in 2018 from the Escola Multicampi de Ciências Médicas do RN for her contribution to the first class of the multiprofessional residency in maternal and child health. In 2015, she won first place in the area of Neonatal and Pediatric Physiotherapy at the III Northeastern Congress of Cardiorespiratory and Intensive Care Physiotherapy (CONEFIR), highlighting her excellence as a student-researcher. These awards recognize her early and continued dedication to improving clinical physiotherapy practice in neonatal and pediatric populations, as well as her commitment to rural health education and service delivery. Her leadership in education and practical training programs, especially in underserved areas, has been widely acknowledged. These honors underscore her impact on both the academic and practical dimensions of physiotherapy and affirm her growing reputation as a committed clinician, researcher, and mentor in Brazil’s evolving healthcare landscape.

Research Interests 🔬

Valéria’s research focuses on neonatal neurophysiology, pediatric rehabilitation, and health impacts of congenital infections such as the Zika virus. At UFRN, her Ph.D. work investigates the relationship between neural activity and visual processing in premature newborns. Through the Instituto Santos Dumont and Instituto Fernandes Figueira, she has contributed to long-term studies on urinary and intestinal dysfunctions in children with congenital Zika syndrome. She integrates neuroengineering principles into pediatric physiotherapy to enhance diagnostic and rehabilitative outcomes. Her interdisciplinary approach includes neurodevelopmental monitoring, urological sequelae analysis, and intervention design for affected children. In addition to field research, she is involved in designing care protocols, training health professionals, and evaluating public health strategies. Her work bridges neuroscience, physiotherapy, and maternal-child care, aiming to improve outcomes for vulnerable pediatric populations. She also serves as a peer reviewer, contributing to the advancement of evidence-based practices in neurorehabilitation and child health.

Publications

Neriman Temel Aksu | Physiotherapy and Rehabilitataion | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Neriman Temel Aksu | Physiotherapy and Rehabilitataion | Best Researcher Award

Neriman Temel Aksu is an Assistant Professor and Doctor Physiotherapist at Akdeniz University Faculty of Health Sciences, Antalya, Turkey. She completed her undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Istanbul University. With seven years of clinical experience at Antalya Anadolu Hospital, she later pursued a master’s degree in Movement and Exercise Sciences at Akdeniz University. She further specialized in Pulmonary Rehabilitation during her second master’s degree and earned her Ph.D. in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation from Süleyman Demirel University. Her research focuses on pulmonary rehabilitation, sleep quality in post-lung resection patients, and the effects of kinesiology taping and Qigong training. She has published numerous research articles and books and is an active member of various professional organizations, including TÜSAD, Türk Toraks Derneği, and the European Respiratory Society. Dr. Aksu is recognized for her contributions to physiotherapy and rehabilitation, particularly in respiratory function and post-surgical patient care.

Profile

Education 🎓

Neriman Temel Aksu completed her undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Istanbul University. She pursued her first master’s degree in Movement and Exercise Sciences at Akdeniz University, where she explored innovative rehabilitation techniques. Recognizing the significance of respiratory physiotherapy, she completed her second master’s degree in Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Akdeniz University, deepening her expertise in respiratory function and post-surgical recovery. She then obtained her Ph.D. in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation from Süleyman Demirel University, where she conducted advanced research on the effects of Qigong exercise training on patients’ shoulder and respiratory functions. Her academic journey reflects a strong commitment to evidence-based physiotherapy practices and patient-centered rehabilitation. Throughout her education, she integrated both clinical and research perspectives to enhance therapeutic outcomes, specializing in pulmonary rehabilitation, pain management, and exercise interventions for post-thoracic surgery patients. Her academic qualifications have significantly shaped her contributions to physiotherapy education and practice.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Dr. Neriman Temel Aksu has extensive experience in physiotherapy and rehabilitation, combining clinical practice, research, and academia. She worked as a specialist physiotherapist at Antalya Anadolu Hospital for seven years, where she gained hands-on experience in patient rehabilitation and pain management. She later transitioned to academia as a Research Assistant at Akdeniz University Faculty of Health Sciences, contributing to physiotherapy education and clinical research. After completing her doctorate, she was appointed as an Assistant Professor at Akdeniz University, where she continues to teach and mentor students while conducting research in pulmonary rehabilitation. Her expertise includes evaluating the effects of exercise therapy, kinesiology taping, and relaxation techniques on respiratory function and post-operative recovery. She has published extensively in high-impact journals and authored several books on physiotherapy. Her academic and professional journey showcases her dedication to advancing physiotherapy practices and improving patient outcomes through innovative rehabilitation approaches.

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Neriman Temel Aksu’s research primarily focuses on pulmonary rehabilitation, respiratory function improvement, and post-operative recovery strategies. Her studies have evaluated sleep quality in lung resection patients, highlighting the role of progressive muscle relaxation exercises. She has investigated the effects of kinesiology taping on pain and respiratory function in thoracotomy patients, contributing to non-invasive rehabilitation techniques. Her doctoral research on Qigong exercise training explored its impact on shoulder mobility and lung function, providing new insights into integrative therapy for post-surgical recovery. Additionally, she has analyzed the benefits of connective tissue massage on pain relief, quality of life, and hospital stay duration. With nine peer-reviewed journal publications and multiple research projects, her work significantly influences clinical rehabilitation protocols. She actively collaborates with national and international respiratory societies to enhance physiotherapy interventions. Her research aims to advance evidence-based practices that improve patient outcomes in post-surgical and chronic respiratory conditions.

Dr. Neriman Temel Aksu has received multiple accolades for her contributions to physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Her research in pulmonary rehabilitation and post-surgical recovery has earned her recognition in national and international physiotherapy forums. She has been nominated for the Best Researcher Award, highlighting her impactful work in respiratory physiotherapy. Additionally, her studies on sleep quality, kinesiology taping, and Qigong training have been acknowledged by professional organizations such as TÜSAD and Türk Toraks Derneği. She has published seven books with ISBN, contributing significantly to physiotherapy education. Her publications in SCI and Scopus-indexed journals reflect the high caliber of her research. She is an esteemed member of the European Respiratory Society, where she actively participates in collaborative research. Through her dedication to evidence-based practice and continuous contributions to physiotherapy, she has established herself as a leading researcher in rehabilitation sciences, particularly in pulmonary and post-surgical patient care.

Publications 📚