Mentorship: Collecting information in your Hands practice to use for a Masters/PHD - 8 Nov

Join us for an enriching INSTOPP mentorship session facilitated by Kirsty van Stormbroek, a seasoned occupational therapist, WITS lecturer, and PhD candidate.

Titled "Collecting Information in Your Hands Practice to Use for a Masters/PhD," this session is designed to support hand therapists interested in pursuing advanced research. Kirsty will cover:

a)    the value of routine outcome measurement as part of standard practice,

b)    guide you through conceptualizing a research question,

c)    and provide an overview of postgraduate degree options available for hand therapists in South Africa.

Whether you’re considering further studies or looking to incorporate more research into your practice, this session is a great starting point for your academic journey

• Date: 8 November 2024
• Time: 08:00-09:00
• Points: 1 CEU (applied for)
• Platform: Zoom
• Presenters: Kirsty van Stormbroek

NB// When registering, if you are not an INSTOPP member you need to leave the field blank.

Note: The event link will only be released to attendees the afternoon before the event.

This session is so much more than a one-sided presentation, as it will also include an invaluable Q&A component. This is your opportunity to ask questions and get professional advice from a skilled person who is active in the field, giving you detailed insights and mentoring you through the challenges you are facing in your practice.

Who should attend:

Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists working in Hand Therapy

About the presenter:

Kirsty started her clinical career as an occupational therapist in 2006 in a rural region of South Africa. Following this (with a few other clinical positions squeezed in between) she joined the team at the Martin Singer Hand Unit at Groote Schuur Hospital – where developing competence in hand rehabilitation was hurried along by the busiest out-patient clinic in the hospital. Hand conditions often presented as just symptoms of far greater social problems and inequalities. Through this she came to appreciate the unique contribution that occupational therapy can make to the lives of individuals and communities.

The above-mentioned clinical experiences became the subject for her Master’s dissertation that sought to determine the extent to which novice therapists in South Africa are equipped to treat clients with hand injuries and conditions. This project was completed while working as a Clinical Educator at the University of Cape Town. On completion of this project, she accepted a position as Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand Occupational Therapy Department where she currently serves.

Beyond her interest in hand rehabilitation specifically, her areas of interest include physical rehabilitation, occupation-centred practice, and health service development in rural and remote areas. She recently submitted her PhD which aimed to develop contextually responsive support and development strategies for generalist occupational therapists delivering hand-injury care in the South African public Sector.