Derya OZER KAYA, PT., Ph.D., Prof., Turkey
To the IFSPT Executive Board Committee,
I would like to submit for the Executive Board (EB) position of IFSPT. Hereby, I would like to express my outlining reasons for nominating for the position, with strengths, skills, knowledge, and how they foresee those enhancing the EB and the IFSPT as a whole.
First of all, I would like to mention my first personal contribution to the General Meeting (GM) of the Federation. I first joined GM in 2011, which was hold in Amsterdam as a delegate of Turkey. I was impressed by the work of all members, and the great effort they put for preparing the articles of the Federation. In addition, the educational, administrative, membership, marketing, and research issues discussed on the meeting were a visional outline for me. At that time, I had been a volunteer to work on the research team. We could not actively do a lot in the research group, but I came to know many friends. We had good collaborations and hosted many colleagues in Turkey for scientific and social organizations. After the first GM, I, personally, joined the meeting in Bern (2015), Belfast (2017), and Nyborg (2022). The meetings with the implantation of the World Congress of Sports Physical Therapy had been a great way of development. Following the meetings since 2011 and having an idea about how the EB works may be a strength for me. From the first meeting, I have a strong feeling to get a part, and work as an active member for the upcoming years.
Secondly, I would like to explain my relationship with the Association of Turkish Sports Physiotherapists and how our association took part for the establishment of IFSP. I have been a member (2002-present) and worked as an Executive Member of the Association.
between 2003-2019. Turkish Association of Sports Physiotherapists has become a member since the establishment of IFSP. As a founding member, the Association of Turkish Sports Physiotherapists has a strong relationship and confidence with the mission and vision of the Federation. My colleagues and supervisors (Gul Baltaci and Nevin Ergun), worked also as EB members, have been a good role model for me. For the last 24 years, Association of Turkish Sports Physiotherapists has been very active not only in Turkey but also in Europe, America, Middle East, and Far Eastern Countries with the activities like congress, courses, seminars, workshops, clinical fellowships, and travels. Those activities generated very well relations, collaborations, scientific information, cultural integration, and great networking. In today’s area, I believe, all of those can be considered as a great value. The Association and I have a great willingness to share our experiences. Moreover, I believe that a member from Turkey may help to strengthen the relationship between east and west.
Lastly, I would like to mention about my background and skills. I was graduated from Hacettepe University, Health Sciences Faculty, and Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation in 2002. I received my Master's Degree in Sports Physiotherapy in 2004, and Ph.D. degree in 2009 at Hacettepe University, Health Sciences Institute. I got Associate Professorship in October 2013 and Professorship in February 2019. I worked as a research assistant at the Sports Physiotherapy Unit at Hacettepe University between 2002-2011. I have been working at Izmir Katip Celebi University as the founder and the head of the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department since February 2014. Moreover, I have been working as the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences since June 2019. I have also been a co-founder of the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Research, Application and Innovation Centre. Briefly, I have been working and studying in the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation area, especially specializing in sports physiotherapy for more than 20 years with the clinic and academic experience, and leading many positions. Sports physiotherapy has always been a growing and wonderful area within the field of physiotherapy, and has always been on top of my scope for learning, teaching, exchanging knowledge, and doing research. I can consider these as strengths. I believe it is worthwhile putting every effort into the development of sports physiotherapy profession. IFSP puts great international effort and holds a leadership for the development of the profession. Being a member of EB, and sharing experience may be a good collaborative work.
Moreover, I believe the concept of “everybody who has a body is an athlete”. Health promotion, education, active life and sports, injury prevention, and leadership have been the focuses in physiotherapy. The services and role of sports physiotherapists in such topics are growing and becoming of utmost importance. In the 21st century era, seeing the system wider, seeking alternatives, learning by doing, initiating change, tolerating uncertainty, building momentum with others across our networks, co-creating and facilitate connections across sectors and disciplines to share and learn from one another have been core concepts. As my personal skills in professional and social life, being adaptable, calm, empathetic, fair, outcome-focused, tenacious, resolute, proactive, imaginative, curious, and reflective may provide creative problem solving and may help to serve as an EB in IFSPT.
Yours sincerely,
Derya OZER KAYA, PT., Ph.D., Prof.