Shaimaa deserves the honor of being our top contributor for the month of March. She works hard behind the scenes on Physiopedia content pages as well as on Physioplus course pages. She's the first to volunteer on assignments, always attends team meetings, and really has a passion for being a physical therapist and helping others. Shaimaa, thank you for your endless contributions and for your passion for life.
Your Name: Shaimaa Eldib
Time active at Physiopedia: I joined Physiopedia in 2018 after completing the Physiopedia volunteer course. I have been part of the team for 3 years since then.
Current Role at Physiopedia: Basically, my role as one of the members of the content development team is to create new pages and to review and update the existing pages with the best available science. I recently started creating courses in collaboration with the Physioplus team.
Where did you go to university? I received my bachelor's degree from Cairo University and my master’s degree from Sheffield Hallam University in the UK.
Where do you work? At the moment I am on maternity leave to look after my children so that I am not active in a clinical role. But I worked as a physiotherapist in Egypt and Saudi Arabia for many years. I also did a clinical internship with the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK as part of my Masters degree.
Describe your role: After graduating, I had a rotating role in one of the busiest educational hospitals in my region, which gave me the opportunity to work with different case numbers. For example in pediatrics, neurology, orthopedics and intensive care medicine. I also worked in many outpatient clinics in the Middle East for 4 years.
What is the best thing about being a physiotherapist? Personally, I think I help people, give hope and support. As physical therapists, we can spend a lot of time with patients during the rehabilitation process, which makes us extremely important in their lives. It is very rewarding when you can see that your patient is pain free and returning to their normal life and work commitments.
What are some of the more difficult things about being a physiotherapist? I think being a healthcare professional is a challenging job. You need to keep updating your knowledge, learning new things, and supporting yourself and your family. However, it's also motivating and inspiring!
What are some of your professional passions? I am actually interested in health research and am working hard to improve my knowledge and experience in this area.
What are some of your personal passions? In general, I hope that we all stay safe and healthy; especially during this pandemic. Personally, I would like to return to my clinical role and improve my research skills very soon. 
What advice would you give to a newly graduated physiotherapist? My advice to freshly graduated physical therapists is to be patient and try your best to fulfill your dreams and passions.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? It is really a difficult question to answer. But in general, I will work purposefully to achieve my goals.
What's the best part about being a Physiopedia volunteer? In fact, being part of the Physiopedia team is an extremely useful experience. First, it's a safe environment to learn and improve your knowledge. Second, our team has physical therapists from all over the world and this helps in sharing experiences and learning from one another. Finally, Physiopedia helps us connect with people who really need help with rehabilitation by working with international organizations and institutions.
How has it helped you to advance your professional development / career as a volunteer at Physiopedia? When you are part of the Physiopedia team, you can constantly update your knowledge. I am always learning new things! 
What are your hopes and aspirations for Physiopedia? I have only best wishes for Physiopedia and the team. I hope that Physiopedia continues to be among the top platforms helping healthcare professionals and patients around the world.
What is your favorite course at Physioplus? Actually, it is difficult to say because there are many useful courses on Physioplus. In particular, I remember one about motivational interviews and another about encouraging physical activity.
Would you like to say something else? I would like to thank everyone on the team for their help and support. I look forward to many contributions and learning in the near future.
