Ms Heather Talberg

Senior Lecturer and Undergraduate Programme Convener

 Senior Lecturer and Undergraduate Programme Convener  

Other

  • Third year programme convenor,
  • Movement Science lll Course convenor
  • Physiotherapy Student Support Representative for Faculty Undergraduate Student Development and Support Committee
  • Departmental Space Committee chair and rep on Faculty Physical Planning Committee
  • Member of Departmental Undergraduate Education Committee
  • Co-Lead Divisional Curriculum Review

Qualifications

  • B.Sc. Physiotherapy (UCT) (1992)
  • Diploma in Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy (OMT)  (1997)
  • M.Phil (Higher Education Studies) CHED UCT. 2012. Thesis title: Investigating Professional Identity in Undergraduate Physiotherapy Education.
  • SAFRI – South African Faimer Regional Institute : Medical Education Fellowship : Completed 2015

Introduction

I have a clinical background in Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal therapy. having worked in state and private practice for many years., I have been involved with UCT since 2001 both as a part-time lecturer and clinical educator. In 2008, I was appointed as a permanent Clinical Educator within the Division. In this capacity I have pursued an interest in Health Science Education completing a Masters in Higher Education Studies  I was promoted to Senior Clinical educator in 2013 . As a clinical educator I was particularly  interested in improving the clinical experience for our students by ensuring that our clinical curriculum is aligned and that our clinical educators are empowered with the right skills to facilitate learning at clinical sites. I was convenor of the clinical programme for several years, facilitating the expansion of clinical learning beyond the CT metro. Since 2017, I have moved back into a academic teaching position. I currently teach in the MSK cluster from 1 to 3rd year, with a focus on the foundational principles underpinning MSK physiotherapy and Spinal pathologies.

Teaching areas

  • Musculoskeletal Therapy
  • Orthopaedics
  • Community Physiotherapy
  • Rehabilitation

Research focus areas

  • Clinical management of the orthopaedic patients; both in and outpatients
  • Physical activity and exercise

Health Science Education and Undergraduate Student experiences:

  • Improving clinical reasoning skills in UG students
  • Understanding the student experience on community and longitudinal placements
  • Students understanding of professionalism and issues related to professionalism
  • Use of feedback and strategies in clinical teaching to enhance student learning and reasoning

 

Selected Publications

H.Talberg: D. Scott: Do physiotherapy students perceive that they are adequately prepared to enter clinical practice? An empirical study. African Journal of Health Professions Education 2014;6(1):17-22.