Dr. Kirsten Smith PhD, MSc(OT), OT Reg. (Ont.)
MOT Program Chair and Assistant Professor, School of Rehabilitation ScienceDr. Smith is an interdisciplinary health researcher and occupational therapist with 17 years of clinical experience in pediatric care. She has completed specialized training in animal-assisted therapy and hippotherapy, which formed the basis of her clinical work. Her research aims to enhance accessibility of evidence-based interventions and address systemic ableism in health services. Relatedly, her research examines health professional training programs to ensure students are prepared to recognize and combat ableism, to foster equitable and inclusive care, particularly for people with childhood-onset disability. A final research interest, arising from her extensive clinical work, focuses on animal-assisted approaches to rehabilitation, including hippotherapy. Her research prioritizes participatory approaches with families, communities, and people with disabilities.
Research Area(s)
- Qualitative methodologies
- Participatory research
- Childhood onset disability
- Mindfulness
- Accessibility of evidence-based interventions
- Ableism
- Health professional education
- Animal-assisted therapy