President of Congress
Marco Rodrigues
Occupational Therapist
Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Therapy - Alcoitão Higher School of Health (ESSA);
Master's Degree in Sensory Integration - ESSA;
Postgraduate in Upper Limb and Hand Rehabilitation - Egas Moniz Higher School of Health;
PhD candidate in Rehabilitation Science - University of Aveiro;
Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Association of Occupational Therapists (2025-2028);
Approved member of the Occupational Therapy Europe Register of Experts (a group promoted by the Council of Occupational Therapists for European Countries - COTEC) in the areas of children and adolescents, neurology, and rehabilitation;
Sub-delegate for Portugal to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) since 2017;
Among other things, he has over 13 years of professional experience in a hospital setting, with approaches primarily focused on the rehabilitation of patients with neurological and musculoskeletal conditions, across all age groups;
He currently works as an Invited Adjunct Professor at the School of Health of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria.
Scientific Committee
Claudia Quaresma - President
Occupational Therapist
Cláudia Quaresma is an Occupational Therapist with a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. She is an Assistant Professor at NOVA School of Science and Technology - NOVA FCT and a full member of the LIBPhys Research Center. Currently, she is a member of the Scientific Council of FCT NOVA, the Evaluation and Quality Council of IPBeja as an external member, and the Scientific Council of the Alcoitão Higher School of Health as an invited member. She is also the coordinator of the 3D Printing Center for Health. She is the author of scientific articles and book chapters and holds patents. In the last 5 years, she has coordinated approximately 40 projects in partnership with hospitals and companies and has received 13 scientific, pedagogical, and innovation awards. Her scientific research areas are related to biomechanics and the development of new technologies, with a special focus on rehabilitation.
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Ana Isabel Ferreira
Occupational Therapist
Assistant Professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Beja. She holds a degree in Occupational Therapy and a Master's degree in Neuropsychology. Currently, she is completing her PhD in Biomedical Engineering, with a thesis focusing on the study of visual and motor development in preterm infants.
In clinical practice, she has 15 years of experience in pediatric rehabilitation and aquatic occupational therapy intervention. In teaching, her main experience involves the areas of neuroanatomy, assessment and intervention in pediatric occupational therapy, and therapeutic intervention in an aquatic setting.
Her main research interests include pediatric assessment using traditional "paper and pencil" scales, combined with biosignal data (namely PEV and EDA).
He is an associate member of the Laboratory of Instrumentation, Biomedical Engineering and Radiation Physics of the Department of Physics at NOVA Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the NOVA University of Lisbon. He is also a member of the Ethics Committee of the Portuguese Association of Occupational Therapists and of the Interest Group on Occupational Therapy Intervention in Aquatic Environments.
Ana Paula Martins
Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapist - Alcoitão Higher School of Health;
Postgraduate degree in Neuropsychology;
Master's degree in Health Services Management;
Doctoral candidate in Psychology;
Specialist in Therapy and Rehabilitation – Occupational Therapy;
Invited Adjunct Professor of the Occupational Therapy Degree Course (Department of Health) at the Polytechnic Institute of Beja;
Lecturer at the Egas Moniz Higher School of Health;
Member of the Scientific and Technical Council of the Egas Moniz Higher School of Health:
Coordinator of the Occupational Therapy Department in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service at Garcia de Orta Hospital.
Mafalda Correia
Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapist since 2002, specializing in Family Therapy and with extensive experience in child and adolescent mental health. Sensory integration and its specificities are also areas in which she has pursued further training. Currently, she coordinates the Occupational Therapy service and is responsible for the internal organization of the Day Hospital at the DPSM of HBA. She participates in community outreach projects and is a trainer, supervisor, and author in specialized clinical areas.
Cristina Vieira da Silva
Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapist, licensed in clinical psychology, with a master's degree in Psychopathology and Clinical Psychology and a specialization in Therapy and Rehabilitation – Occupational Therapy. She worked as an Occupational Therapist (from 1988 to 2000) in the Rehabilitation Service of the Júlio de Matos Hospital, at the Loures Ocidental Community Mental Health Association, and in the Rehabilitation Service of the Miguel Bombarda Hospital. Since 2000, she has been a full-time lecturer at the Alcoitão Higher School of Health, responsible for curricular units in the area of personal development, the approach to the adult, and internships. Member of the Scientific and Technical Council of ESSAlcoitão between 2005 and 2024. Member of the coordinating team of the Postgraduate Program in Personal and Professional Development in the Area of Dementia at ESSAlcoitão. Representative of community outreach activities on the Permanent Evaluation and Quality Committee of ESSAlcoitão. Member of the Academic Center for Occupational Therapy of the Academic Network of Health Sciences of the Lusophone World. She was part of the teaching staff that taught in Maputo, at the Institute of Health Sciences (ISCISA), contributing to the training of the first occupational therapists in the country and to the design of the curriculum, within the framework of the SCML/ESSAlcoitão/ISCISA protocol. She supervised undergraduate theses and master's dissertations of students from ESSAlcoitão and other higher education institutions. She participated in scientific events as a speaker, published scientific papers, and worked as a trainer.
Joana Gomes
Occupational Therapist
Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy in 2013, from the School of Health Technology of the Polytechnic of Porto, currently the School of Health;
Master's student in Management of Third Sector Organizations at the School of Management and Technology of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto;
She works at the Psychiatry and Mental Health Clinic of the São João University Hospital Center, currently at the Elysio de Moura Residential Unit for young people with eating disorders and borderline personality disorders, and at the UADI Socio-Occupational Unit for the psychosocial rehabilitation of people with severe mental illness.
Berta Moraga
Occupational Therapist
Graduated in Occupational Therapist from the University of Castilla la Mancha (Talavera de la Reina). Currently, an associate professor at UCLM, I teach in the Occupational Therapy degree at the Francisco de Vitoria University (Madrid) and develop my clinical practice as an Occupational Therapist at the Castilla la Mancha Health Service (SESCAM).
She is a member of the Scientific Committee of the III Iberian Congress of Occupational Therapy.
Montserrant Vazquez
Occupational Therapist
Graduated in Occupational Therapy from the University of La Coruña and doctorate from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in the neurological pathology program. Currently a full professor at the University of Burgos, teaching both at the Occupational Therapy level and in related masters. Coordinator of the research group Technology and Occupational Therapy at UBU.
She is a member of the Scientific Committee of the III Iberian Congress of Occupational Therapy.
Organizing Committee and Secretariat
Joana Pinto - President
Occupational Therapist
Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy - Alcoitão Higher School of Health;
Training in the field of Geriatrics and Dementia;
Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Association of Occupational Therapists (2013-2016);
Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Association of Occupational Therapists (2017-Present);
Currently working in the Diagnostic and Intervention Unit of the Geriatric Psychiatry Service at ULS São José;
Invited Adjunct Professor in the Occupational Therapy Course at the Polytechnic Institute of Beja.
Cátia Jesus
Occupational Therapist
Holds a degree in Occupational Therapy from the Alcoitão Higher School of Health;
Master's degree in Sensory Integration from the Alcoitão Higher School of Health.
Halliwick and Bad Ragaz Ring Method Course - Vales Klinik Study Centre
Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Association of Occupational Therapists (2025 - Present);
Currently working at the Santa Maria Local Health Unit.
Joana Videira
Occupational Therapist
Holds a degree in Occupational Therapy from the Leiria School of Health;
Specialization Course in Palliative Care;
Member of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Association of Occupational Therapists (2021-2024);
Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Association of Occupational Therapists (2025 - Present);
He works at the Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Arganil.
Coordinator of social and community intervention projects.
Nilzo Fialho
Occupational Therapist
Holds a degree in Occupational Therapy from the Alcoitão Higher School of Health;
Master's degree in Management from the Open University;
Postgraduate degree in Public Administration - Public Management from the University of Minho;
Postgraduate degree in Health Unit Management from the University of the Azores;
Member of the Deontological and Disciplinary Council of APTO;
He works at the Social Security Institute of the Azores, IPRA.
Beatriz Santos
Occupational Therapist
Holds a degree in Occupational Therapy from the School of Health of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto. Currently, she works in the field of Pediatrics, as part of the Kids and Family - Therapeutic Center team.
Lucas Moreira
Occupational Therapist
Holds a degree in Occupational Therapy from the Leiria School of Health. Has worked in the field of physical rehabilitation, focusing on the integration of 3D printing and artificial intelligence in therapeutic contexts. Also focuses on the development of personalized intervention devices, namely assistive products created through 3D printing, promoting accessible, adapted, and person-centered solutions.
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Tânia Nunes
Occupational Therapist
Holds a degree in Occupational Therapy from the School of Health of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto;
Master's degree in Special Education: Multiple Disabilities and Cognitive Problems from the Higher School of Education of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto;
Professional experience in a private clinic setting and at a Center for Activities and Training for Inclusion. Teaching experience at Higher Schools of Health and at the CRIAP Institute. Currently working as an occupational therapist at the Porto Association for Cerebral Palsy.
Denise Gomes
Occupational Therapist
Holds a degree in Occupational Therapy from the Higher School of Health of Beja, and a postgraduate degree in Neurological Rehabilitation in Acquired Brain Injury from the Higher School of Health of Porto.
Working as an Occupational Therapist at CMRSul since 2015. Sub-coordinator of the Occupational Therapy service at CMRSul since March 2025.
My areas of interest include intervention in cases of traumatic brain injury, post-intensive care cases, and the study and training of assistive products/technical aids.
She has been a member of the APTO governing bodies since 2017.