Michelina Manzillo

Michelina Manzillo is an Italian physiotherapist and rehabilitation specialist known for her contributions to healthcare and rehabilitation sciences.

Personal life and career Born in the province of Salerno, Manzillo was among the first physiotherapists in Italy, graduating in the 1980s from the School of Physiotherapy of Battipaglia with top marks and honors. She later obtained a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Sciences from D'Annunzio University of Chieti–Pescara and a master’s degree from Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele in Milan.

Manzillo was married to Luigi Peccia, the former mayor of Olevano sul Tusciano, who died in 2024.

Manzillo has worked in the field of physiotherapy and neurorehabilitation. She was awarded the title of Knight of the Italian Republic by President Sergio Mattarella. She has also published works focusing on the intersection of inclusivity and life sciences, including collaborations with the Universidade Federal do Norte do Tocantins in Brazil and La Sapienza University of Rome.

Political ideas

She is an official nominator for the Wolf Prize. In 2023, she nominated the street artist Jorit for the Wolf Prize in Architecture, emphasizing the role of street art in revitalizing urban areas and providing visibility to marginalized communities. Following the 2022 provincial elections in Salerno, where only 2 representatives out of 16 were women, she wrote an op-ed raising concerns about the low representation of women in politics.

Manzillo has expressed support for European unity and has written about the achievements of Italian and other European para-athletes at the Paralympic Games.

Honours

80px - Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. “She practices as a physiotherapist with great expertise and is constantly committed to researching new techniques to continuously improve her work.”