Lying at the cross-roads of the Mediterranean, UM has been, over its 400-year history, the hub for international academic exchange on the island. UM is the leading higher education institution in Malta and its structures are in line with the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education area.
At UM we carry out academic research and provide a vibrant higher education setting in the arts, sciences and the humanities as required for Malta’s economic, social and cultural development. Our courses are designed to produce highly-qualified professionals in multiple disciplines. Our alumni community is growing exponentially: well over 3,500 students graduate in various disciplines annually.
We are committed to high standards of research and teaching and every member of staff at UM plays an important role and contributes to an outstanding student experience.
Today UM is composed of fourteen faculties, a number of interdisciplinary institutes and centres, three schools and a junior college. Besides the main campus, situated at Msida, there are three other campuses: Valletta, Marsaxlokk, Gozo.
The language of instruction is English.
The Department of Podiatry at the University of Malta Faculty of Health Sciences, based at Mater Dei Hospital, provides comprehensive education and training in foot health, offering a 4-year B.Sc. (Hons) in Podiatry and postgraduate opportunities. It focuses on clinical practice, research in diabetes and biomechanics, and prepares graduates for roles in both public health and private sectors.
Key Information:
- Location: Department of Podiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
- Contact: +356 2340 1204 | podiatry.healthsci@um.edu.mt.
- Head of Department: Prof. Cynthia Formosa.
- Undergraduate Programme: A four-year full-time B.Sc. (Honours) in Podiatry covering anatomy, dermatology, nail pathologies, and podiatric surgery.
- Postgraduate Studies: The department offers a Master of Science in Podiatry and Ph.D. opportunities, focusing on advanced clinical skills.
- Key Research Areas: Clinical biomechanics, the diabetic foot, podogeriatrics, and podo-paediatrics, amongst others.
AM-HEAL PROJECT
In this project, UM is in charge of Work Package 5, dissemination.
We are creating a website for Am-Heal, together with a Facebook page, LinkedIn and Instagram pages.
University of Malta will be responsible to organize the end of project conference.
Professor Cynthia Formosa PhD, MSc (Brighton) FFPM RCPS (Glasg.), ABPMi (US)
Cynthia Formosa qualified as a State Registered Podiatrist from the Department of Health, Malta in February 1989. Cynthia Formosa is currently working on a full-time basis as a Professor with the University of Malta inside the Faculty of Health Sciences. She was also President of the Association of Podiatrists, Malta for two years. She was also External examiner for two universities one in the UK and another in Ireland She is also Fellow of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow. She is currently a member of the International Federation of Podiatrists. She is also a founder member of the Diabetes Foot Research Group, University of Malta, ENPODHE and Global Podiatry Network. Cynthia has published over 130 research papers in both local and peer-reviewed international journals. She has also contributed to a number of book chapters. She has presented over 200 presentations in leading Podiatry and Diabetes Congresses and Conferences across the globe. She is also a peer-reviewer and editorial board member of a number of local and international journals. Her areas of interest include the diabetic foot, diabetes foot screening, screening guidelines and mixed methods and qualitative research. She has also carried out a number of local and EU funded projects in the area of Erasmus+ KA02 ‘Strategic Partnerships in the field of education, training and youth’.
Alfred Gatt is an Associate Professor at the University of Malta and a Fellow of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow). After 20years managing Podiatry Services in Malta, he focused on academia and research, especially in relation to biomechanics of the diabetic foot. He has published over 120 papers in various peer-reviewed journals and presented in leading Podiatry and Diabetes Conferences internationally. He is founding Chair of the Association of Podiatrists of Malta and the Diabetes Foot Research Group at the University of Malta.
His work is based on 3D motion analysis, medical thermography in diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and CADCAM manufacture of custom foot orthoses. After obtaining several grants, he is currently working on medical devices aimed at diagnosis and management of diabetic foot disease.