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

• Creating transformational learning experiences for 21^st century healthcare students through preclinical skills training at a South African university. 2024. A van der Merwe, C Van Vuuren. 2024. BMC Medical Education 24:198.
• Becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable: The tale of adaptability. 2023. A van der Merwe, RY Barnes. South African Journal of Physiotherapy. 79(1), a1889.
• Health sciences educator`s simulation debriefing practice needs: A mixed-methods study. 2023. CN Nyoni, A van der Merwe, B Botha, C Fourie, Y Botma, MJ Labuschagne and R van Wyk. Journal of Education and Health Promotion,12.
• Chronic Ankle Instability and Associated Self-Reported Function in South African Professional Ballet Dancers. 2023. C, Stander; A van der Merwe; M Nel. Journal of dance medicine & science. 27 (1): 20-26.
• Exercise interventions for cancer patients along the continuum of cancer care: a scoping review protocol. 2022. J Nuhu, RY Barnes, A van der Merwe. South African Journal of Physiotherapy. 78(1), a1819.
• The PIER framework for healthcare simulation integration in undergraduate physiotherapy education. 2022. A van der Merwe, RY Barnes, MJ Labuschagne. BMC Medical Education. 22:690.
• From implementation to revising simulation integration into undergraduate physiotherapy training. 2022. A van der Merwe, RY Barnes, MJ Labuschagne. African Journal of Health Professions Education. 14(3):122-128.
• How to plan for simulation integration into undergraduate physiotherapy training. 2022. A van der Merwe, RY Barnes, MJ Labuschagne. African Journal of Health Professions Education. 14(2):60-64.
• Physiotherapy after mandibular condyle fractures: A Delphi Study. 2016. A. van der Merwe and R. Barnes. South African Dental Journal. 71(5): 212-217.
• The need for physiotherapy after mandibular condyle fractures: A needs analysis. 2015. A. van der Merwe and R. Barnes. South African Dental Journal 70(5): 196-199.

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.

• Teaching and learning in healthcare education
• Digitalisation in healthcare and healthcare education
• Healthcare simulation
• Graduate attribute development

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.

Reviewer for the following academic journals:

• South African Journal of Physiotherapy
• Advances in Medical Education and Practice
• Health SA Gesondheid
• BMC Medical Education

• Simulation for Health Professions Educators Short Learning Programme.
• Various workshops and lectures to postgraduate students and staff members within the Faculty of Health Sciences (UFS).