Josefa Domingos

Josefa Domingos is a Physiotherapist specializing in Parkinson's with almost 20 years of working exclusively with people with Parkinson's & other movement disorders. Josefa's career has focused on creating and implementing specialized care for people with Parkinson's. In 2005, she played a pivotal role in introducing Parkinson's disease specialized Health Services in Portugal and has since founded numerous specialized services for people with Parkinson's across the country. Her expertise and commitment have significantly impacted the lives of countless individuals within the Parkinson's community. Josefa Domingos currently holds the position of National Health Coordinator at the Portuguese Parkinson Patient Association (APDPk). Furthermore, she is a co-founder of Young Parkies Portugal (YPP). As an educator, clinician, and researcher, she is currently finishing her Ph.D. on the Practicalities of Community-based exercise in PD at Radboud University Centre (The Netherlands) under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Bas Bloem and Prod. Dr. Joaquim Ferreira. On an international scale, she is the current president of Parkinson’s Europe and has been serving as a board member of Parkinson's Europe since 2019. Josefa also contributes her expertise as a member of the scientific committee of the Davis Phinney Foundation and actively participates in the Wellness Group of the Movement Disorder Society (MDS). She is also part of the Scientific Board of the Portuguese Gerontology Society since 2012 and is a member of the scientific committee of Parkinson's Europe. Her involvement in these esteemed organizations highlights her dedication to advancing Parkinson's research, advocacy, and support nationally and internationally. She was the National Coordinator of the PD-specialized Health Services of the Portuguese National Parkinson Disease Association from 2005 to 2015. She founded six national physical therapy PD-specialized services nationwide throughout the Association's branches. She received her MSc in neurological rehabilitation in 2010 at the Portuguese Catholic University of Lisbon. She has undertaken continuous specific training in movement disorders. In 2007, she took the Allied Team Training for PD through the National Parkinson Foundation USA. In 2008, she received a post-graduate specialization in Aquatic NeuroRehabilitation through the International Halliwick Association in Holland. In 2009, she undertook a three-month Cognitive Rehabilitation internship at the Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón in Spain. She participated in the annual Teaching Course in Movement Disorders (a specialized course for neurologists) at the Neurological Clinical Research Unit/Institute of Molecular Medicine from 2008 to 2015. In 2010, She was invited to the writing group of the European Guideline for Physiotherapy in Parkinson's Disease (2010-2013) organized by the Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy (KNGF), Association of Physiotherapists of Parkinson's Disease in Europe (APPDE) and Movement Disorders Society. In 2011 she won the American Club Award 2011 with the project: Improving the Quality of Allied Health Care in Parkinson's Disease (PD) in Portugal. She has also been invited as a reviewer of the International Parkinson's Disease Summer School for Health Care Professionals. Josefa has certifications in Lee Silverman Voice Treatment BIG therapist certification (Berlin, 2011), Parkinson Wellness Recovery training certification (USA, 2011), Mark Morris Dance Group's Dance for PD ® Method (Madrid, 2014), ZUMBA GOLD (Portugal, 2013) and on the Ronnie Gardner Method ® International Course (UK, 2014), Boxmaster ® training (Cologne, 2015) and BOXERCISE ® certification (UK, 2016). She has been developing and researching multitask exercise programs for PD, for example, the Moving Voice Program, COGweb Move Program, Triad Program, and, more recently, boxing programs for PD in Portugal and Sweden. Additionally, she has been developing and researching dual-task cognitive and motor exercise programs for PD, adapting this concept to different exercise modalities (in-person & online https://dualtaskforparkinsons.com/). Furthermore, for over 12 years, she has been developing, organizing, and facilitating national and international rehab retreats/boot camps specifically designed for individuals with Parkinson's in Portugal, the UK, Sweden, and the USA.