Systematic education
The 4-year, 40-module programme teaches its subjects in sequence, from the fundamentals through to integration.
Academy
About the Academy
4-year osteopathy education on the Osteopathie Schule Deutschland programme in Baku since 2024.
Who we are
The Osteopathy Academy is a teaching centre that provides osteopathy education in Azerbaijan on the programme of the Osteopathie Schule Deutschland (OSD) school in Germany.
The programme is delivered together with the Osteopathic College of Turkey (OCT), OSD's cooperation partner in Türkiye.
The lessons are taught both by OSD teachers invited from Germany and by teachers who come from Türkiye.
The Academy is hosted by ELF Center (ELF Health Center) in Baku. Lessons are held in the centre's building at Rəşid Behbudov küçəsi 112.
Our mission
Our mission
From the very first day, our aim has been to teach osteopathy systematically, step by step, and with teachers who have international experience.
We strive to train specialists who can bring together the connections between the musculoskeletal system, the internal organs and the cranial system in clinical practice — specialists who think, analyse and take responsibility.
Osteopathy is not a matter of learning a few techniques; it is learning to see the body as a whole system. That is why, alongside the techniques, anatomy, clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis and professional ethics also hold an important place in our programme.
Our values
What unites us?
Theory and practice as one
Every topic is learnt through theoretical explanation, the teacher's demonstration and supervised practice by the students.
Safety and responsibility
Recognising conditions that are not suited to the osteopathic approach and referring the patient to a physician in good time is an integral part of the teaching.
Scientific honesty
Alongside the possibilities of osteopathy, the limits of its scientific evidence are also discussed openly.
Respect for copyright
The teaching materials are for our students only.
Community
Our students practise on one another and learn from one another. In the first two years we did not just learn osteopathy — we also became a big family.
History
The Academy's journey
- 2014The Academy's founding partner Dr. Elfanə Süleymanova begins osteopathy education at the St Petersburg Institute of Osteopathy.
- 2021ELF Center opens in Baku, on Rəşid Behbudov Street.
- November–December 2024Free introductory webinars are held for those interested in osteopathy.
- 6–8 December 2024The first group's first module: “Fascia 1” with Beate Siemers.
- 22–24 August 2025The final module of the first academic year and the annual examination. The students progress to year 2.
- 25–26 October 2025The second academic year begins: “Upper extremity” with Hasan Genç.
- July 2026The final examination of the second academic year. The students progress to year 3.
- 19 September 2026The third academic year begins with the module “Osteopathy of the cervical region 2” with İrfan Abdurrahman. An Open Day is held on the same day.
- 2026Registration opens for the new osteopathic manual therapy group.
The team in Azerbaijan
Who represents us in Baku?
The Academy's founding partner and host in Azerbaijan is Dr. Elfanə Süleymanova, internist and osteopath, director of the ELF Health Center. In the practical sessions, the students are supported by teaching assistants in Azerbaijan.
AzerbaijanDr. Elfanə Süleymanova
Physician, internist and osteopath; director of the ELF Health Center
- Examination; integration 4
Learning environment
Lessons are held in the ELF Center hall
On training days the centre's hall turns into a classroom: the theoretical part is delivered as a lecture, and the practical part as exercises in pairs.