Basic Information

Biography

Professor KUISMA returned to Hong Kong in February 2024 after many decades in academic positions in Finland, the UK, Middle and Far East. She currently holds the position of Professor of Practice Physiotherapy at the Saint Francis University.

Raija Kuisma graduated as a physiotherapist in Finland, holds a MSc in Practice of Higher Education (University of Surrey UK) and PhD in community medicine from the University of Hong Kong.

Dr Kuisma has been a practicing physiotherapist in Finland, Sweden, Norway, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. Her teaching career expands over several decades starting from Finland then via Hong Kong and China to UK and back to Finland. She has founded and developed assistant, bachelor and master programs in physiotherapy, supervised and assessed research theses in all levels including doctorate both in the UK and in European countries.

She served as the president of European Network of Physiotherapy in Higher Education (ENPHE) for two terms and has been the chairperson and panel member in several European validation and accreditation panels for higher education institutions and their health and social care programmes.

Her current interest and research foci are on education, including innovation in program development and evaluation, student centred pedagogy, e.g. Phenomenon Based Learning as well as interdisciplinarity in education and practice. Her professional interest is in active and healthy ageing, exercise and movement for health and wellbeing throughout lifespan.

Education & Qualification

Doctor of Philosophy (HKU), Master of Science (Practice in Higher Education) (University of Surrey UK), Physiotherapy Diploma, Community Physiotherapy Diploma and  Physotherapy Teaching Diploma, (Helsinki IV College of Allied Health, Finland)

Memberships

Registered Physiotherapist in Finland, UK

Honorary President ENPHE

Teaching

Involved programs in the past: BSc (Honours) of Physiotherapy, MSc in Rehabilitation, MSc in Physiotherapy, MSc in Active Ageing, Professional Doctorate in Physiotherapy, PhD.

Project director in Development of European Master in Active Ageing funded by ERASMUS.

Project Expert in Developing Master in Healthy Ageing in Chile in partnership of University of Chile, funded by Finnish National Agency for Education.

Research

Current research interest: active ageing, health and wellbeing and activity in ageing, interdisciplinary education and practice, program development and phenomenon based learning, assessment of student learning. Quantitative, qualitative and literature review methodologies.

 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6452-6867

Selected Publications

Wiggin, D.A., Penič, B., Sulopuisto, O., Setti, A. Mali, J., Stitzel, A., Kuisma, R., Baptista, F., Sourtzi. P. & Timmons, S. (2023) Postgraduate education in healthy and active ageing: a systematic scoping review of learning needs, curricula and learning impact, Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, DOI: 10.1080/02701960.2023.2187386

 

Dudonienė, V. & Kuisma, R. (2023). Women's Knowledge and Perceptions of the Effect of Exercise during Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 20, 1822. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031822.

 

Joseph, L., Vasanthan, L., Standen, M., Kuisma, R., Paungmali, A., Pirunsan, U., & Sitilertpisan, P. (2023). Causal Relationship Between the Risk Factors and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Professional Drivers: A Systematic Review. Human Factors, 65(1), 62–85. https://doi.org/10.1177/00187208211006500

 

Marcinski, W. & Kuisma, R.2023. A discursive review of the effectiveness and utility of exercise therapy in the subacute stage of recovery from critical illness. Bulletin or Physical Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43161-023-00138-7.

 

Lista-Paz, A., Kuisma, R., Saleta Canosa, J.L., Sebio García , R & González Doniz, L. (2022) Pulmonary function in patients with chronic stroke compared with a control group of healthy people matched by age and sex, Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2022.2031363

Community Participation and Achievement/Public Service 

• Consultant to develop and prepare Physiotherapy Curriculum for the new program at the Tung Wah College, Hong Kong and Medical Technical University in Hai Dong, Vietnam
• Invited Expert Teacher in several Medical Universities in China.
• Subject Advisor for Physiotherapy Education and Specialist Reader, Higher Education Academy.
• External Examiner Physiotherapy Programmes University of Huddersfield, University of Teesside, Cardiff University, UK, University of Malta and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Caritas Institute Higher Education, HK.
• University Postgraduate Standing Panel for Validation. Sheffield Hallam University. UK
• Academic visitor on Socrates/Erasmus Programme; Finland, France, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.
• External Assessor for Erasmus "Lifelong Learning Programme" for Active Rehabilitation of Elderly by Multidisciplinary Work; Coordinating Institution Lahti Polytechnic, Finland.
• External moderator for several PhD theses, Spain
• International Expert and chair in Quality Review of Physiotherapy education in Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal.

Awards

The UK National Award in the Evidence in Practice category of the Quality of Delivery of Service in Multiple Sclerosis, UK. (Team Lead).

The University of Brighton Award for Excellence in Facilitating and Empowering Learning.