About the region

The South America region comprises physiotherapy associations from 11 countries/territories.

The member organisations are working on a number of projects related to developing physiotherapy in the region, including projects about the entry level educational programmes, advanced practice and continuing education.

Message from the chair

Physiotherapy in this region is well established in some countries and emerging in others. For example, Brazil produces 92% of the research papers of the whole region, and without any doubt we should promote research in the other countries.

As chair of the region, I am deeply committed to encourage and prioritise the development of accreditation standards, continuous education, and create regulations and strategies to give people direct access to physiotherapists. As many countries of the region are included in Mercosur, we must develop regulations to make professional mobility real, according to the signed agreements.

We are working on a strategic plan that will help us shape our priorities for the region.

South America region executive committee

• Chair: Oscar Ronzio, member of Argentine Kinesiology Association
• Vice Chair: Maria del Rocio de la Rosa Alvarado, member of AMEFI National College of Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy-Mexican
• Secretary: Viviana Pérez Zumbado, member of Physical Therapy Commission of the Therapist Guild of Costa Rica
• EC member: Maria Jose Paredes, member of Ecuadorian Society of Physiotherapy

Webinars and events in 2023

The South America regional executive committee organises a series of webinars. Each webinar is only open to members of World Physiotherapy member organisations in the South America region.

• August
  • Webinar: First contact physiotherapy 
• November
  • Webinar: Physiotherapist education framework in South America region 

For more details about meetings and events in the region, please contact Heidi Kosakowski at [email protected]