CV Synopsis

Maria Dulce das Neves Gomes holds a PhD in Education, specialising in Supervision and Assessment, from the University of Aveiro. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the School of Health Technologies of Porto, a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the Alcoitão School of Rehabilitation, a postgraduate qualification in Health Services Management and Administration, and the Specialist Title in Therapy and Rehabilitation.

With an extensive professional background in healthcare and higher education, she began her hospital career in 1985, working in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Alcoitão Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre and at Hospital Nossa Senhora do Rosário in Barreiro, where she remained until 2009. During this period, she developed specialised expertise in assessing and intervening with individuals experiencing occupational performance limitations associated with upper-limb function. She also gained international experience as a volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross in Fredericton, New Brunswick, working in assistive products. Her professional responsibilities included coordination and deputy coordination roles within the Occupational Therapy Department, as well as membership of the Hospital Technical Council.

Throughout her clinical career, she maintained a strong commitment to continuing professional development, contributing to the introduction and implementation of innovative techniques, procedures, and assessment and intervention protocols in Occupational Therapy. Her work advanced rehabilitation practices and enhanced the quality of care provided to people undergoing rehabilitation. She was also actively involved in organising and delivering specialised training programmes, particularly in hand therapy, facilitating the participation of internationally recognised experts in Portugal.

Since 2009, her professional activity has focused primarily on higher education and on the development of Occupational Therapy at the current University of Leiria and Oeste. She has played a key role in establishing, consolidating, and continuously improving the Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy, contributing to its scientific and pedagogical development. Her academic work encompasses teaching, research, innovation, and knowledge transfer. This includes creating ATOPlab (Assistive Technology and Occupational Performance Laboratory) and developing and registering trademarks associated with academic and scientific initiatives, including CeramiTer®, GeronTer®, HumaniTer®, ComuniTer®, Revista Portuguesa de Terapia Ocupacional®, and ACPC®.

Internationally, she served on the ENOTHE Tuning Task Force (2022–2024), contributing to the development of European reference frameworks for Occupational Therapy education. She has also led the international accreditation of the Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), covering the accreditation periods 2018–2025 and 2025–2032.

Her academic and scientific interests focus on Occupational Therapy education, quality assurance and accreditation in higher education, curriculum development, pedagogical supervision, rehabilitation, occupational participation, and health innovation. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to strengthening Occupational Therapy education, advancing professional practice, and promoting quality and innovation in healthcare and higher education.