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Dr. Michelle Spirtos

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

Dr. Michelle Spirtos

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

 spirtosa@tcd.ie

 3531896 3213


I am an Associate 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.
  Child centred research questions, study design, data analysis   Children, health and disability
Project Title
 An exploration of the participation of children with fine motor difficulties and the impact of occupational therapy intervention
From
November 2006
To
November 2007
Summary
Funding Agency
National Disability Authority
Project Type
Research Project
Person Months
12
Project Title
 The use of digital video resources in occupational therapy education
From
June 2003
To
June 2004
Summary
Funding Agency
National Development Plan
Project Type
Teaching and Development Grant
Person Months
12

Details Date
Co-Chair of the Scientific Committee, European Seating Symposium 2023
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
Lawlor, G., Ryan, A., Battault, O., Brown, L., Peppard, D., Mockler, D., Spirtos, M., The Transition to Adulthood From the Perspectives of Young People With Cerebral Palsy and Their Caregivers: A Systematic Literature Review, Child: Care, Health and Development, 51, (2), 2025, pe70036-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Curtin, H., Simms, K., Kiernan, D., Reilly, R.B., Spirtos, M., The Effect of Mobility Assistance Dogs on Quality of Life in Children with Physical and Neurological Impairments, Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 45, (1), 2025, p102 - 115, p13 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Butler, E., Spirtos, M., O'Keeffe, L. M., Clarke, M., Perinatal factors associated with sensory processing difficulties in infancy: Findings from the Etude Longitudinale Francaise depuis l'Enfance (ELFE) French national birth cohort, Early Human Development, 200, 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Butler, E., Clarke, M., Spirtos, M., O'Keeffe, L. M., Dooley, N., Pregnancy complications and childhood mental health: is the association modified by sex or adverse social circumstances? Findings from the `growing up in Ireland" national infant cohort study, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
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
Spirtos M,. Stapleton T., Interventions for sleep disorders in children with cerebral palsy (CP) - a systematic review, AOTI Conference 2024 Book of Abstracts, Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland, 26th 27th September, 2024, pp39 - 40, Oral Presentation, PUBLISHED
Flynn, P., Gibbs, D., Spirtos, M., Parent perceptions and experiences of parent-infant sleep as co-occupation, Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland Annual Conference, Cavan, Ireland, 5th-6th October 2023, 2023, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
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
  

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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