Our Team
We’re incredibly grateful to all the team members contributing to this project—bringing their expertise, knowledge, and passion from a wide range of disciplines. This collaboration is built on shared values: a commitment to equity in sportand a belief that all women, no matter where they are in the world, deserve access to safe, evidence-based support.
Together, we are working to better understand the unique context of women’s football in Central and Eastern Europe, and to build meaningful, lasting change through partnership, respect, and a shared vision for progress.
Team Leads
Dr Paulina Kloskowska
Dr Kloskowska is a specialist sports physiotherapist and visiting lecturer at King’s College London, with a clinical, academic and research focus on women in sport, lower limb biomechanics, and injury prevention. She works internationally across research, education, and elite sport, with a commitment to advancing equitable, evidence-based care for female athletes - with current focus on women in Central and Eastern Europe.
Dr Monika Grygorowicz
Dr Grygorowicz is a physiotherapist, researcher, and expert in musculoskeletal health and injury prevention in elite sport. Based in Poland, she leads research and implementation projects in football and is actively involved in advancing evidence-based strategies to improve athlete health, with a focus on female footballers and performance care systems in Eastern Europe.
Advisory Board
Prof Kay Crossley
Prof Crossley is Director of the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre and a globally recognised expert in joint injury and osteoarthritis prevention. She is passionate about improving the health of women and girls in sport—particularly through injury prevention—and advancing the careers of women in sport and exercise medicine..
Dr Jo Kemp
Dr Kemp is a specialist sports physiotherapist and researcher at La Trobe University, with deep expertise in hip and groin pain, injury prevention, and translation of evidence into clinical practice. She has a strong track record in research that directly benefits athletes and clinicians.
Dr Andrea Bruder
Dr Bruder is a biomechanist and senior lecturer at La Trobe University, whose research focuses on lower limb mechanics, injury prevention, and rehabilitation. She brings expertise in movement science and data analysis to support context-specific injury prevention strategies.
Dr Brooke Patterson
Dr Patterson is a physiotherapist and research fellow at La Trobe University, with a strong focus on knee injuries and return-to-sport strategies. Her research aims to improve long-term outcomes and quality of life for athletes through better rehabilitation and implementation of evidence-based care.
Local Research Teams
Azerbaijan
Zarifa Kamilova is a healthcare professional and PhD student at University College London, researching the use of Azerbaijani national dance in cardiac rehabilitation. With experience in healthcare management and leading JCI accreditation in major hospitals, she has worked to improve service quality and patient safety in both private and public sectors. She is passionate about bringing world-class, evidence-based healthcare to Azerbaijan, with a strong focus on women’s health and rehabilitation.
Rauf Aliyev is a sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist based in Baku, Azerbaijan, serving at ASAPES. With a medical degree from the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Education and Sport, he brings a strong background in healthcare tailored to athletic populations. He is passionate about bringing evidence-based healthcare to Azerbaijan, dedicating his expertise to improving injury management and rehabilitation to support safe sports participation in the region.
Croatia
Ana Staresinic is a Croatian medical doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. She is currently a resident at Dom zdravlja Ozalj and serves as the team doctor for the Croatian national women’s football team. Ana is passionate about advancing women’s health and sports medicine, with a focus on improving rehabilitation practices for female athletes. Her commitment reflects a dedication to promoting equitable access to high-quality care for all.
Estonia
Kai-Riin Tomera is a sports physiotherapist and the physiotherapist for the Estonian Women's National Football Team.She also serves as the Coordinator of Vocational Rehabilitation and Manager at NGO Risti-Rästi. Kai-Riin is passionate about advancing women's health and sports medicine, with a focus on improving rehabilitation practices for female athletes. She is committed to advancing equitable, high-quality healthcare specifically for women in sport, helping to support their health and performance at every level.
Latvia
Anastasija Oprisnaka
Slovenia
Dr Eva Uršej is a Slovenian physiotherapist specializing in sports and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. She holds a PhD in Kinesiology and is an Assistant Professor at the Angela Boškin Faculty of Health Care and University Alma Mater Europaea. She leads the Section for Sports Physiotherapy and the Committee for Professional Development at the Slovenian Association of Physiotherapists. Dr. Uršej has supported the Slovenian National Olympic medical team at major international events and is an Associate Instructor for FIDN Dry Needling. Outside work, she enjoys teaching aerobics and promoting Telemark skiing in Slovenia.
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