Prof. Dr. Martina Spiess
Prof. Dr. Martina Spiess
ZHAW
School of Health Sciences
Institute of Occupational Therapy
Katharina-Sulzer-Platz 9
8400 Winterthur
Work at ZHAW
Position
Senior Research Associate and Lecturer
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
- MI.MED Fundamentals of Medicine, BSc Medical Informatics
- Reflected Clinical Practice / Evidence Based Medicine (continued Education)
- Technologies in Rehabilitation, several modules for the BSc in Occupational Therapy
- Supervision of BSc and MSc Theses for Occupational-, and Physical Therapists
- BA.XX.311 Scientific Communication (2021 - 2024)
- BA.XX.611 Advanced Course on Scientific Methods; Interprofessional education, BSc programs School of Health Sciences (2020-2024)
- ETH Zurich - Guest Lecturer - D-HEST Transfer of Technologies into Neurorehabilitation
- Guest lecturer Bern University of Applied Sciences CAS Neurorehabilitation
- University of Texas at El Paso - Guest Lecturer - Doctor in Physical Therapy Program
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: 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
- International Industry Society for Advanced Rehabilitation Technology (IISART; Past-President)
- Swiss Network for Digital Medical Regulation - Board Member
- International Consortium for Rehabilitation Technology (ICRT) - Secretary
ORCID digital identifier
Social media
Media presence
TEDx @ ZHAW April 2025; "How Working Together Works in the Field of Rehabilitation Technology"
Projects
- Data-based Optimization of Outcomes: Successful Technology-Supported Therapy / Co-project leader / ongoing
- Empowering Clinicians: A MOOC Initiative in Rehabilitation Technology / Co-project leader / ongoing
- Technology Supported Education of Informal Caregivers of Individuals Living With Stroke / Project leader / ongoing
- Transforming clinical assessments: Explicitly articulating implicit clinical decision-making to train AI / Deputy project leader / completed
- Artificial Intelligence for Myoelectrically Controlled Cooperative Arm Prostheses: A proof-of-concept Study / Project leader / completed
- Mobile Inclusion Lab / Project leader / completed
- Artificial Intelligence for Myoelectrically Controlled Cooperative Arm Prostheses / Co-project leader / completed
- Tele-Assessment: Leveraging Deep Learning to Assess Upper Limb Kinematics after Stroke with Off-the-shelf Webcams / Project leader / completed
- Linguistic and occupational therapy support for augmentative and alternative communication in young adults / Team member / completed
- Digital Health for parents facing language and cultural access barriers to the Swiss health system / Team member / completed