Prof. Constantino Balestra
EDUCATION
1986 Master in sciences (Sports Sciences)1995 PhD (NEUROPHYSIOLOGY) : "Contribution to the understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms of fatigue in humans." (grande distinction)
Annexed Thesis : "Scuba Diving and Disabilities a doppler study in the field." 2004 Pedagogic Habilitation (CAPAES)
2004 Second PhD thesis : Is the Cardiac Foramen Ovale an Increased risk for dysbaric injuries ?
DIVING EDUCATION
DAN Oxygen First Aid Trainers Examiner (1994)PADI MASTER SCUBA TRAINER
IDC Staff Instructor (PADI) (1998)
INSTRUCTEUR C.M.A.S. 3***, Instructor trainer IDEA ; CEDIP 3***.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Since 15/09/2001 Lecturer for the pedagogic habilitation studies (Université Libre de Bruxelles) (Pôle Universitaire de Bruxelles WallonieSince 01/05/2002 Full Time Professor Haute Ecole Paul Henri Spaak. (Pôle Universitaire de Bruxelles Wallonie)
Director of the Environmental & Occupational Physiology Laboratory (Haute Ecole Paul Henri Spaak)
Since 17/05/2000 Special Projects Director for Europe for the Diving Safety Lab (DAN Europe)
Since 20/03/2000 Lecturer for the Belgian Osteopathic College. (Methodology of Applied research).
Since 11/08/1999 International Consultant on disbaric problematics applied on Astronauts.
Since 23/02/1998 School of Medicine University of Belgrade : Visiting Professor at the post graduate studies in Baromedicine.
Since 09/2004 Expert for the Belgian Habilitation Commission C.A.P.A.E.S.
Since 28/06/2004 Part Time Professor at tha Padua University (3 Credits) in Motor Sciences (Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Corso integrato di scienze e tecniche del movimento II, Attività formativa : Principi e metodi di valutazione motoria e attitudinale.
Since 2004 Legal Expertises; National and International on Scuba Diving problematics
Since 15/4/2005 Part time professor at the SCUOLA SUPERIORE Sant'ANNA (Pisa) , Complements of physiopathology of diving. (10 h/yr)
Since 11/12/ 2006 Expert pour la commission Européenne pour l'évaluation des crédits à octroyer.
Since 8/12/2006 Member of the Belgian National Scientific Board for Motor Sciences
SCIENTIFIC AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
2006 : Winner of the Contest Spin Off in Brussels ; winner with the Flomedi project on Flow Mediated Dilation.2004 : Per Zetterström for best Poster at the EUBS Annual Meeting (Ajaccio) 2002 : Award "DAN-EUBS 2002" To foster hyperbaric Medicine and Physiology; together with P.Germonpré.
1988 : Winner of the Prize of the VAN GOETHEM-BRICHANT Foundation for the project : "Pour une une plus grande mobilité des personnes handicapées se déplaçant en chaise roulante".
1996 : Winner of the Prize "KINE 2000" for the study of the permeability of the cardiac foramen ovale in handicapped divers.
1995 "Meritorious Educational Excellence Award for innovation, leadership and professionalism in diving education for the disabled person" (PADI Europe)
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
- Author and co-author of more than 150 Scientific publications- Co-author of 2 Books:
Balestra C, Germonpre P, Marroni A & Cronje FJ. (2007). PFO and the DIVER. Best Publishing, Flagstaff, AZ (USA).
Balestra C, Boancheaux E & Balestra C. (2008). Introduction à la CommuniCaCtion. Die Keure / La charte, Bruges.
- Participation in several Book Sections
- Member of the Editorial Board
European Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine Journal
European journal of Applied Physiology
- Reviewer for : Journal of Applied Physiology
European Journal of Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine
British Journal of Sports Medicine
European Journal of applied Physiology
European Journal Of Neurophysiology
International Journal of Ultrasound Medicine
Applied Physiology & Nutrition
Journal of Sport Sciences