Associate Professor Pam Gretschel

My research interests are concerned with relevant, responsive and collaborative practice within traditional occupational therapy paediatric practice. I am especially interested in children living with HIV, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and how we understand and respond to their needs in South Africa, with a focus on their significant/extended others, such as parents, caregivers and educators, who play a significant role in the child’s development. More specifically, I am interested in how we understand occupational engagement for children, and how we can merge that with what is put forward as best practice in OT.

I enjoy participatory methodologies and think that these hold potential to equip occupational therapists to be critically-reflexive about how we can connect in ways that help us better understand the needs of children and their families. I also have a special interest in Health Sciences Education, and I supervise both undergraduate and postgraduate students across a variety of topics, predominantly within Childhood Development and Play (CDP).

Qualifications:

BSc Occupational Therapy Stell 

Master’s in Early Childhood Intervention UP

PhD Occupational Therapy UCT

PGDip in Health Professionals Education, UCT.

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7890-3635