PROFESSOR JORGE ESTEVES

I am an osteopath and cognitive scientist. Currently, I am a Professor of Osteopathy and Vice-Principal (Education and Research) at Malta ICOM Educational and an Osteopath at Osteopathy Malta. I am also an Honorary Professor at the University College of Osteopathy in London, Visiting Professor at Universidad Camilo Cela in Madrid, and Instituto Piaget in Silves, Portugal and a researcher with Collaboration for Osteopathic Medicine Research in Italy.

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Previously, I served as the Head of Research at the University College of Osteopathy (previously the British School of Osteopathy) in London, as a non-executive council member of the UK’s General Osteopathic Council, and osteopathy subject reviewer for the United Kingdom’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). I was also a Senior Lecturer in Osteopathy at Oxford Brookes University in the UK and an Associate Professor at Piaget Institute in Portugal where I was instrumental in the development and implementation of the osteopathic provision at those two universities.

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In 2011, I completed my PhD at Oxford Brookes University. The research focused on examining diagnostic palpation in osteopathy and developing neurocognitive models of expertise.

 

My research interests are focused on the re-conceptualisation of osteopathic care under the enactive free-energy principle. This includes a critical consideration of theories and research from ecological psychology, embodiment and enactivism, free-energy principle and predictive coding, interoception and allostasis, chronic pain and persistent physical symptoms, sense of self and agency, person-centred care, and the neurophysiological and psychological effects of affective touch in clinical populations. 

 

I am also an Associate Editor for the International Journal for Osteopathic Medicine, member of the Board of Trustees of the Collaboration for Osteopathic Medicine Research, and I collaborate in a number of research projects and lecture and assess at various schools worldwide.