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Prof. Dr. Martina Spiess

Prof. Dr. Martina Spiess

Prof. Dr. Martina Spiess

ZHAW School of Health Sciences
Institute of Occupational Therapy
Katharina-Sulzer-Platz 9
8400 Winterthur

+41 58 934 63 57
martina.spiess@zhaw.ch

Work at ZHAW

Position

Professor

Focus

As a rehabilitation scientist, I am interested in the application of new technologies in rehabilitation, especially in how they can be optimally used to achieve the best possible results for clients.

Teaching

  • ZHAW; BSc Occupational Therapy, Focus topic coordinator "Technology in Rehabilitation" (2026 - current)
  • ZHAW; t.BA.WV.CR Introduction to Clinical Research, BSc Medical Informatics, Co-Course Coordinator (2026 - present)
  • ETHZ: D-HEST, MSc Health Sciences and Technology, Course Coordinator "Transfer of Technology into Neurorehabilitation" (2026 - present)
  • ZHAW; MI.MED Fundamentals of Medicine", BSc Medical Informatics, Course Coordinator (2023 - present)
  • ZHAW; Reflected Clinical Practice / Evidence Based Medicine (continued Education), 2021 - present
  • ZHAW; Technologies in Rehabilitation, several modules for the BSc in Occupational Therapy (2021 - present)
  • ZHAW; Supervision of BSc and MSc Theses for Occupational-, and Physical Therapists (2021 - present)
  • BA.XX.311 Scientific Communication, Interprofessional Courses School of Health Sciences, (2021 - 2024)
  • BA.XX.611 Advanced Course on Scientific Methods; Interprofessional education, BSc programs School of Health Sciences (2021-2024)
  • ETH Zurich - Guest Lecturer - D-HEST, MSc in Health Sciences and Technology, Transfer of Technologies into Neurorehabilitation (2017 - present)
  • Guest lecturer Bern University of Applied Sciences CAS Neurorehabilitation (2021 - present)
  • University of Texas at El Paso - Guest Lecturer - Doctor in Physical Therapy Program; Technology in Rehabilitation (2020 - present)

Experience

  • Senior Clinical Research Coordinator
    Hocoma AG, Volketswil
    01 / 2018 - 06 / 2020
  • Clinical Research Coordinator
    Hocoma AG, Volketswil
    06 / 2014 - 12 / 2017
  • Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich
    Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich
    01 / 2012 - 12 / 2014
  • Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich
    Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich
    09 / 2005 - 07 / 2008

Education and Continuing education

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Rehabilitation Sciences
    University of Florida
    08 / 2005 - 12 / 2012
  • MPTSc / Physical Therapy Science
    Universities of Zurich and Maastricht (Joint Program)
    08 / 2002 - 10 / 2005
  • Certified Physical Therapist (Swiss Red Cross)
    Physiotherapy School Leukerbad
    07 / 1996 - 02 / 2001

Continuing Education

  • Certificate of Attendance: Leadership Training, 275h work load
    ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
    06 / 2026
  • Certificate of Attendance: Policy Brief and Stakeholder Dialogue, 14 contact hours
    University of Lucerne, Swiss Health Learning System SHLS
    01 / 2024
  • Certificate: Conducting an Intervention Review
    Cochrane Interactive Learning
    07 / 2023
  • Attended 6 modules on augmentative and alternative communication of 14 contact hours each
    buk - Education for Augmentative and Alternative Communication
    06 / 2023
  • Certificate of Advanced Studies in Digital Learning (12 ECTS)
    ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
    10 / 2021
  • AI for Everyone: Master the Basics
    edX / IBM AI and Data Science Program
    06 / 2021
  • Qualitative Research Methods: Analyzing Data
    edX / Massachusetts Institute of Technology Online Learning Initiative
    06 / 2021
  • Introduction to R
    ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
    12 / 2020
  • Qualitative Research Methods: Conversational Interviewing
    edX / Massachusetts Institute of Technology Online Learning Initiative
    11 / 2020
  • Project management for researchers
    ZHAW - Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften
    06 / 2020
  • Clinical Evaluation of Medical Products
    TÜV Süd
    03 / 2016
  • University of Florida and NeuroRecovery Network
    Locomotor Training Course (28 contact hours)
    06 / 2011

Network

Membership of networks

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3945-0282

Social media

Media presence

TEDx @ ZHAW April 2025; "How Working Together Works in the Field of Rehabilitation Technology"

Projects

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

Book chapters, peer-reviewed

Esquenazi, A. et al. (2016) 'Clinical application of robotics and technology in restoration of walking', in David J., R. and Volker, D. (eds) Neurorehabilitation technology. Springer, pp. 223–248.

Written conference contributions, peer-reviewed

Other publications

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

Other publications

  • Supervision of MSc thesis: Sonja Willmann, MSc in Physiotherapy, ZHAW (2026), “Informal caregivers in focus: usability and feasibility study of a Massive Open Online Course for stroke caregivers in Switzerland”
  • Supervision of MSc thesis: Thomas Ebneter, MSc in Physiotherapy, ZHAW (2026), “User-centered telerehabilitation for chronic low back pain: development and evaluation of feasibility and usability in a sequential exploratory mixed-methods study”
  • Supervision of MSc thesis: Madita Hotz, MSc in Physiotherapy, ZHAW (2025) “Improving fall risk assessment in geriatric patients: an exploratory study integrating IMU-based gait analysis in comparison with the Timed Up and Go test”
  • Supervision of MSc thesis: Valeria Mäusli, Master of Science in Physiotherapy (2025), “Informal caregivers in focus: addressing educational needs and technological solutions to support stroke caregivers in Switzerland”
  • Supervision of MSc thesis: Celina Chavez, Master’s in Neurorehabilitation Research, University for Continuing Education Krems (2025), “Evaluation of intrarater reliability in the assessment of compensatory movements in individuals with hemiparesis following stroke”
  • Supervision of BSc thesis: Jeanine Dettling and Natascha Steinmann, BSc in Occupational Therapy, ZHAW (2025); “The functional hand in focus: an evidence-based perspective on therapy”
  • Supervision of BSc thesis: Claudia Meier and Sara Strickler, BSc in Occupational Therapy, ZHAW (2024); “Mastering the transition: occupational therapy approaches to the transition from initial rehabilitation after spinal cord injury back to the home environment”
  • Supervision of BSc thesis: Muriel Angela Monhart and Nadia Spescha, BSc in Occupational Therapy, ZHAW (2024), “Technology and me: professional identity of occupational therapists in the use of rehabilitation technologies in neurology”
  • Supervision of MSc thesis: Pauline Chèvre, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, European Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (2024), “Occupational performance improvement with digital exercises after surgery for distal radius fractures in Switzerland: a preliminary analysis of an ongoing randomized controlled trial”
  • Supervision of PhD thesis: Lena Sauerzopf, PhD in Care and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Zurich and ZHAW (2024), “Asynchronous telerehabilitation after stroke”
  • Supervision of BSc thesis: Laura Burggraf and Marlen Arnold, BSc in Occupational Therapy, ZHAW (2023); “Prosthesis: help or hindrance? Recommendations for occupational therapists working with children and adolescents with a unilateral congenital transverse reduction deficiency distal to the elbow”
  • Supervision of BSc thesis: Corinne Schildknecht and Sandra Strub, BSc in Occupational Therapy, ZHAW (2023); “The functional hand in people with tetraplegia: literature review and best practice in Switzerland”
  • Supervision of BSc thesis: Laura Brügger and Sina Fischer, BSc in Occupational Therapy, ZHAW (2022); “Challenging activities for users of upper-limb prostheses with or without artificial intelligence: review and experiential reports”
  • Supervision of MSc thesis: Nicolas Hankov, MSc in Biomedical Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (2020); “Integration and assessment of targeted electrical spinal stimulation (TESS) combined with medical robotic rehabilitation devices after spinal cord injury”, Industry supervisor