As a lecturer at the University of the Free State within the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SoHRS), Dr van der Merwe, a registered physiotherapist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, is directly involved in undergraduate teaching and learning both within the SoHRS and as a guest lecturer in other departments. As the Undergraduate Programme Lead in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences she remains directly involved in undergraduate teaching and learning, as well as supervising and examining postgraduate students. In a rapidly changing healthcare and tertiary education milieu, she continues to explore the acceptance, impact, and sustainability of healthcare simulation and digitalisation in enhancing healthcare teaching practices. Additionally, investigating the digitalisation of healthcare both in content creation and intervention provision. Being passionate about teaching and learning, she is also involved in curriculum development and revision, focusing on graduate attribute enhancement through interprofessional engagement.
Dr van der Merwe remains an active member of the Southern African Association of Health Educationalists (SAAHE), and her research has led to the publication of several research papers in national and international scientific peer-reviewed journals (nationally and internationally) and national and international conference presentations. She remains actively involved in collaborative teaching and learning research projects within the Faculty of Health Sciences and on an interfaculty level.
Current research focus investigates the digitalisation of healthcare to provide sustainable healthcare communication and interventions. Other projects include investigating the creation of an interactive, interprofessional space for preclinical skills training for healthcare students, the development of a simulation-based educational intervention for improving librarians’ professional communication as well as the development of a simulation debriefing programme for health sciences educators. Her passion for teaching and learning and the improvement of the student experience remain her focus in both her day-to-day and research endeavours.
Qualifications
Doctor of Physiotherapy (PhD in Physiotherapy)- University of the Free State
Master of Science in Physiotherapy (MSc Physiotherapy)- University of the Free State
Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy (BSc Physiotherapy)- University of Stellenbosch
Other Education
Transforming the Professoriate Programme (UFS)
Advanced Teaching & Learning Fellowship Programme (Centre for Teaching and Learning, UFS)
Basic Life Support Instructor certification (active)
Simulation for Health Professions Educators Short Learning Programme
Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy Diploma
Current research projects include:
Investigating the creation of an interactive, interprofessional space for healthcare training
Development of a simulation-based educational intervention for improving librarians’ professional communication
Development of a simulation debriefing programme for health sciences educators.
Digitalisation of healthcare through to make healthcare more accessible and sustainable through digital communication and intervention.
Interprofessional modules including undergraduate students from Physiotherapy, Optometry, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics and Biokinetics:
- SHRS1500
- SHRS2600
- SHRS3700
- SHRS4800 (commencing in 2025)
Guest lecturer for other research-based undergraduate- and postgraduate lectures.