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Dr. Michelle Spirtos

Head of Discipline (Occupational Therapy)
TRINITY CENTRE, S J H

 spirtosa@tcd.ie

 3531896 3213


Biography

I am an Assistant Professor and Head of the Discipline of Occupational Therapy, Trinity College. I completed a BSc OT and a MSc within the Discipline of Occupational Therapy and a PhD through the School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin. I have worked as an occupational therapist with children and young people in the Central Remedial Clinic, Dublin, The Brooklyn Hospital Centre, New York, The Hospital for Special Surgery, New York and The Board of Education, New York. I have 29 years of experience working and researching with children and young people and in the area of upper limb function. My teaching and research interests primarily relate to children and young people, disability, transition to adulthood and cerebral palsy with a strong focus on driving innovative and progressive practice development and in centralising the voices of children and adults with disability experience. My research has a strong PPI and interdisciplinary focus with funded collaborative projects nationally and internationally. I have published in high ranking journals in my field and present my research internationally.

Research Tags

  Child centred research questions, study design, data analysis   Children, health and disability

Research Projects

 An exploration of the participation of children with fine motor difficulties and the impact of occupational therapy intervention
 The use of digital video resources in occupational therapy education

Representations

Details Date
European Seating Symposium - Conference Abstract Reviewer 2004-2022
Co-Chair of the Scientific Committee, European Seating Symposium 2023

Memberships

Membership of Professional Institutions, Associations, Societies

Details Date From Date To
Irish Association of Hand Therapists 2003 Present
Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland 2003 Present
Pediatric Advisory Group 2015 Present
Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland Practice Education Forum 2021 Present
Registered Member of CORU regulatory body of Health and Social Care Professions Ireland 2016 Present
Walsh-Garcia, S., Spirtos, M., Mockler, D., & Cremin, K., The Impact of Complex Trauma on Occupations and Daily Functioning in Childhood: A Scoping Review., Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics, 2024, p1 - 24, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Walsh-Garcia, S., Cremin, K., & Spirtos, M., An Exploration of Occupational Therapy Practices with Children and Adolescents Experiencing Complex Trauma: An Irish Perspective. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics, 2023, p1 - 23, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Carr, E. & Spirtos, M., 'An Examination of the Operative and Post-Operative Management of Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis in Ireland, Physiotherapy Practice and Research , 2023, Journal Article, IN_PRESS
Kift, S. H., Molloy, E., Gibbs, D., Spirtos, M., Developmental care practices in Irish neonatal units: A parents , 18th World Congress of the World Association for Infant Mental Health, Dublin, Ireland, 15th-19th July , 2023, Poster, PUBLISHED
Kift, S. H., Molloy, E., Gibbs, D., White, A., Spirtos, M., Irish Neonatal Care in Occupational Therapy Study: Parental mental health and self-efficacy scales, 13th Irish Neonatal Research Symposium, Dublin, Ireland, 31st March , 2023, Poster, PUBLISHED
Butler, E., Clarke, M., Spirtos, M., O'Keefe, L.M., Dooley, N., Pregnancy complications and childhood mental health. Findings from the Growing Up In Ireland cohort study, 18th World Congress of the World Association for Infant Mental Health, Dublin, Ireland, 15th - 19th July, 2023, Poster, PUBLISHED
Michelle Spirtos Robbie Gilligan, 'In your own head everyone is staring': the disability related identity experiences of young people with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, Journal of Youth Studies, 25, (1), 2022, p50 - 66, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Walsh-García, S., Cremin, K., Spirtos, M., Occupational therapists' knowledge and practice in relation to children experiencing complex trauma - survey of current occupational therapy practice in Ireland, Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland Annual Conference, Athlone, 7-8th October 2022, 2022, Oral Presentation, PUBLISHED  URL
Carr, E., Spirtos, M., An examination of the operative and post-operative management of trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis in Ireland, Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists , Online, 14th October 2022, 2022, Oral Presentation, PUBLISHED  URL
Curtin, H, Simms, K., Spirtos, M., Reilly, R., Investigating the effect of mobility assistance dogs on gait in children with neurological and physical impairments using 3D gait analysis, Gait and Posture, European Society for Movement Analysis in Adults and Children Annual Conference, Dublin, 19-24 September 2022, 97, (1), Science Direct, 2022, ppS347-, Published Abstract, PUBLISHED
  

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Spirtos, Michelle, The transition to adulthood for young people with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, Making a difference conference, Dublin, 22-23rd March, 2018, Central Remedial Clinic, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED