CEO Martina Fenech dedicates Master’s degree to ‘lifesaver’ Victor Calvagna

Martina Fenech, CEO at Melita Training and Resource Management (MTRM), dedicated her Master of Arts degree in Health, Medicine and Society to her “lifesaver” – the late Puttinu Cares Co-Founder Victor Calvagna.

In light of her recent graduation, Ms Fenech took to social media to pay tribute to the late Doctor, who would have turned 64 yesterday, and give some insight into what spurred her to purse a postgraduate degree in this field.

“A decade ago, in March 2012, I received my cancer diagnosis. Thanks to my family, friends, Puttinu Cares, and Dr Calvagna and his team, including those at The Royal Marsed – Sutton, I survived cancer. Yet, I did not stop there. Perhaps it was part of my own grieving, my own therapy, or anything else that led me to focus my studies on oncology from a social perspective,” Ms Fenech wrote.

“Here I am, a decade later, graduating again, this time in Master of Arts in Health, Medicine and Society, with a dissertation about life after cancer for childhood / teenage cancer survivors. Coincidentally on the day my lifesaver was born,” she added.

Apart from co-founding local children’s cancer support group Puttinu Cares, Dr Calvagna was also a locally renowned paediatrician and oncologist. He tragically passed away on 4th January after succumbing to injuries sustained from a traffic accident.

“Dr Victor Calvagna, I dedicate this Master’s to you, as hadn’t it been for your courage to introduce paediatric oncology to these islands, I wouldn’t be here today with this research close to my heart. I did regret that I did not manage to give you my study for you to read as you requested, but am sure you are witnessing this from heaven with my guardian angels,” Ms Fenech wrote.

“A message for all cancer patients, especially the younger ones: although I had to temporarily stop my education career a decade ago to focus on my treatment, I still obtained not only a degree, but also a Master’s,” she added.

Ms Fenech went on to highlight some of the hardships she encountered when she resumed her academic journey.

“But once I was determined to succeed and, most of all, to study about the different challenges I myself encountered and am still encountering, nothing stopped me from living this day – not even a pandemic. Do not give up. If you loved your life before cancer, do not be afraid of lie after cancer. You will find beauty again,” she concluded.

Ms Fenech has been serving as CEO at MTRM for the past year. She joined the company back in 2019 as an Office Executive, eventually taking on the roles of Assistant Manager and Manager. Since 2012, Ms Fenech has also been volunteering with the Puttinu Cares Foundation.