Master

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START
19 June 2026

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Academic Collaboration

 

Purposes

The I Level Master in Osteopathic Skills in Childhood and Adolescence aims to train healthcare professionals capable of providing safe, integrated, and evidence-based care for children and adolescents (from birth through adolescence), with a particular focus on primary prevention, early detection (secondary prevention), and integrated management of conditions involving frailty and chronicity (tertiary and quaternary prevention).

Osteopathic treatment in pediatric patients is not simply an adaptation of techniques used for adults: it requires specific knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and the stages of psychomotor development, as well as interpersonal skills and clinical safety protocols. The aim of this master is to provide the tools needed to approach pediatric patients with sensitivity, competence, and professional responsibility, in collaboration with pediatricians and other specialists.

Thanks to a programme that combines theory, practice, and supervised clinical training, participants learn to safely assess and manage somatic and postural dysfunctions typical of childhood, with a focus on functional assessment, referral criteria (red flags), and communication with families.

 

Target Students

The Master is intended for:

• licensed osteopaths, in accordance with the equivalency process, who wish to specialize in pediatrics;
• graduates in Osteopathy who wish to specialize in pediatrics;
• physicians and physical therapists interested in integrating manual therapy and osteopathic assessment skills into their clinical practice with children;
• graduates in health professions (such as, for example, Obstetrics, Nursing, Speech Therapy, and TNPEE).

Admission to and participation in the Master’s program are subject in all cases to compliance with the competencies required by the relevant professional profile and by any professional registry or regulatory body to which the applicant belongs.

 

Career Opportunities

The aim of the Master is to train experts in pediatric osteopathy who are capable of:

• Understanding the biochemical mechanisms underlying the effects of touch.
• Acquiring advanced knowledge of the anatomy, embryology, and developmental physiology of children.
• Applying specific and safe osteopathic techniques for infants, children, and adolescents.
• Assessing and treating common functional disorders (reflux, colic, recurrent ear infections) and postural dysfunctions (scoliosis, flat feet).
• Integrating the osteopathic approach with traditional pediatric care, working in synergy with physicians and physical therapists.
• Developing pediatric osteopathic clinical reasoning, based on observation and functional diagnosis.
• Managing the relationship with the child and family, providing health education and postural advice.
• Practicing according to scientific evidence, understanding pediatric guidelines and the limits of one’s own intervention.

 

Didactics

Blended: synchronous (classroom/streaming) + asynchronous (LMS) + presential workshops + internship

 

Clinical Internship, Credits, and Course Load

The I Level Master in Pediatric Osteopathy provides 60 credits, equivalent to 1500 hours of total student effort. The clinical internship and practical activities are an integral part of the program and, along with classroom instruction, independent study, project work, and the final exam, contribute to the fulfillment of the required course load.

 

Clinical Internship: Characteristics and Competency Objectives

The Master’s clinical internship takes place in an observational, practical, and supervised format at affiliated facilities. Participation in these activities is designed to integrate theoretical learning with case observation, guided practice, and the development of clinical reasoning in the pediatric setting.

 

Internship Characteristics

Aspect	Description
Type	Observational, practical, and supervised.
Locations	Affiliated facilities aligned with the Master’s program’s educational objectives
Supervision	Activities led by tutors and faculty, including case discussions, observation of clinical behavior, and structured feedback.
Assessment	The internship is assessed based on attendance, active participation, the quality of clinical observation, the ability to integrate observations into the portfolio, and the achievement of competency objectives.

 

Expected Competency Objectives

• being able to observe children at different stages of development, noting posture, motor skills, interaction, regulation, and relevant clinical signs;
• recognizing common clinical presentations in pediatric osteopathy and distinguishimg cases that require referral or collaboration with other professionals;
• applying pediatric osteopathic assessment procedures in a guided and appropriate manner, adapting observation and contact to the child’s age and clinical condition;
• integrating elements related to neurodevelopment, oral functions, asymmetries, autonomic regulation, the musculoskeletal system, and visceral components into clinical reasoning;
• document cases and training experience through portfolio tools, guided discussion, and structured learning feedback;
• developing professional conduct appropriate to the pediatric setting, with attention to safety, communication with the family, teamwork, and supervised practice.

 

Master’s Diploma

The final exam consists of the preparation and defense of a project based on a real-world case study, to be presented in person before a committee. Upon successful completion of the exam, the Master’s degree will be awarded.

 

Tuition Fee

The tuition fee for the master is € 3.900,00

Students who wish to enroll may schedule an appointment with the Orientation Office by calling +39 06 3400 6000.

 

Faculty

The Internal Faculty faculty consists of university professors and professionals with many years of proven clinical and scientific experience in the disciplines covered by the program, ensuring a high standard of education and a seamless integration of research, teaching, and clinical practice.

 

Scientific Director

• Dr. Maria Roberta Rocchi
  Pediatrician

Scientific Board

• Maria Roberta Rocchi
  Pediatrician, faculty member at a school of osteopathy

• Anna Mirella Taranto
  Head of Communications, ISS

• Roberto Ieraci
  Infectious Disease Specialist - Vaccinologist - Consultant to the Ministry of Health

• Tommaso Ferroni
  Physical Therapist - Osteopath in the Departments of Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology, and Hematology-Oncology at Meyer Children's Hospital - Florence

• Giuseppina Carolei
  Obstetrician

• Oliviero Bonetti
  Physical Therapist - Biologist - Osteopath

Teaching Staff

• Maria Roberta Rocchi
  Pediatrician, faculty member at a school of osteopathy

• Anna Mirella Taranto
  Head of Communications, ISS

• Alessandra Amici
  Psychomotor therapist

• Arianna Bernardini
  Psychologist - Neuropsychologist

• Tommaso Ferroni
  Physical Therapist - Osteopath in the Departments of Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology, and Hematology-Oncology at Meyer Children's Hospital - Florence

• Giulia Soccorsi
  Speech-language pathologist

• Laura Ruzzini
  Specialist in Pediatric Orthopedics, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital – Rome

• Oliviero Bonetti
  Physical Therapist - Biologist - Osteopath

• Simona Nasponi
  Osteopath

• Paolo Fassi
  Osteopath

• Rosaria Maria Pareo
  Pediatric Urologist - Instructor at a school of osteopathy

• Michela Cerrone
  Osteopath

• Simone Proietti
  Osteopath

• Alessandro Befera
  Dentist - Orthodontist - Osteopath

• Alessandra Anzidei
  Biologist and Nutritionist

• Giuseppina Carolei
  Obstetrician

• Roberto Ieraci
  Infectious Disease Specialist - Vaccinologist - Consultant to the Ministry of Health

PROGRAMME

Synchronous Lessons (30 CFU)

Asynchronous Lessons (12 CFU)

Intensive in-person internship (3 CFU)

Final Project Work (15 CFU)