Obituary Dr. Małgorzata Fuchs

In memoriam

With deep sorrow, we announce the death of Dr. Małgorzata Fuchs, who passed away on 14 January 2026 after a severe illness, surrounded by her family.

Dr. Małgorzata Fuchs held a PhD in Physical Culture Sciences and was a specialist in medical rehabilitation. She completed her studies in physical rehabilitation in 1994 at the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice. From that same year, she was professionally affiliated with the University Clinical Hospital in Opole, where for many years she worked in the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care for Children and Newborns. Her clinical work was devoted primarily to the youngest patients, including premature infants and children with severe neurodevelopmental disorders.

She had been associated with the Vojta method since the late 1990s. She participated in the first Vojta method training course in Poland, held in 1999, and belonged to the first generation of Vojta therapists in the country, co-creating the foundations for its implementation and development in Poland. After completing the assistant training pathway between 2007 and 2015, she obtained certification as a Vojta method instructor and, from 2015 onward, actively took part in the education of therapists. The Vojta method constituted the central element of her clinical, teaching, and mentoring activities. As an instructor, she conveyed not only knowledge and practical skills, but also high ethical standards and a strong sense of responsibility inherent in working with patients.

In 2007, she was awarded a PhD in Physical Culture Sciences on the basis of her dissertation entitled “The Influence of Vojta Therapy on Lower Urinary Tract Function in Children with Myelomeningocele.” She participated in numerous scientific conferences and symposia, presenting her experience in pediatric physiotherapy, with particular emphasis on Vojta therapy. She also took part in meetings of certified therapists in Poland, including in Wrocław, Zabrze, and Warsaw.

In 2002, she obtained the title of Specialist in Medical Rehabilitation (Level I), and in the years 2004–2007 she completed Level II specialist training in physical rehabilitation, concluded with both theoretical and practical examinations.

Until 2018, she was a member of the academic staff of the Opole University of Technology, where she taught courses in pediatric physiotherapy. She also participated in postgraduate education, teaching in postgraduate programs in pediatric physiotherapy. At the same time, she trained future physiotherapy specialists during clinical classes conducted at the University Clinical Hospital in Opole.

Dr. Małgorzata Fuchs was a highly respected therapist, teacher, and mentor. She was distinguished by a high level of professional competence, consistency in her work, and the ability to combine academic rigor with an empathetic approach toward patients, their families, and colleagues. For many therapists, she was an important point of reference and a source of professional support.

The Internationale Vojta Gesellschaft bids farewell to Dr. Małgorzata Fuchs as a long-standing instructor of the Vojta method and a person who made a significant contribution to its development and dissemination in Poland. She leaves behind a lasting professional legacy and the memory of a person deeply committed to her work.

With gratitude and respect, we will cherish her memory.