In addition to being professor emerita at the Institute of Health and Society, Department for Public Health Science and Epidemiology, I hold the following positions:
- Research Manager at Beitostølen Health Sports Centre (BHC) https://www.bhss.no/
- Senior researcher in the Norwegian Quality and Follow-up Registry for Cerebral Palsy (NorCP) at the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital www.norcp/siv.no
BHC is a non-profit foundation that through nationwide ongoing benefit agreements with the Regional Health Authorities offers specialized re-/habilitation to children, adolescents and adults. The academic organization, research, innovation, interaction and competence development of BHC are entirely aimed at specialized patient services. BHC is a world leader in its field of expertise in combining the use of adapted physical activity with rehabilitation medicine, pedagogical and social work guidance and follow-up with the goal of the best possible activity and participation throughout life.
My main position has since 1997 been at the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at Oslo University Hospital (OUH), from 2006 as head of The National Cerebral Palsy Follow-up Program (CPOP), and now as senior researcher in NorCP, which is the merged CP Follow-up Program with the Cerebral Palsy Registry in Norway. My position has included both clinical work in the Movement Laboratory at Rikshospitalet (3D computer-based movement analysis) and research, and from 2010 been a 100% research position. As of 2015, BHC has acquired 40% of my position to lead the Department of Research, Development and Education.
I have previously worked for more than 20 years in clinical work as a physiotherapist in the municipal health service and habilitation service for children and adolescents, as well as teaching in special school, as assistant professor in the physiotherapy program at the former Sør-Trøndelag University College (now NTNU) and Oslo and Akershus University College (HiOA) (now OsloMET). From 2012-16 as associate professor II at HiOA and professor II at UiO from 2018-20.
Academic interests
For most of my professional life, my academic interest has been habilitation and rehabilitation in a life-course perspective. As a physiotherapist, the focus has been Human Movement Science – movement, both as an opportunity and prerequisite, as a problem and as a tool. Both in clinical work and in research, the interest has been both participation in various life arenas, including adapted physical activity, and detailed technological analysis of the movements and the forces and dynamic systems that govern them.
Since the end of my PhD in 2004, I have worked to implement the new knowledge about adults with CP in today's follow-up of children. Three adults with CP were co-researchers in the doctoral work, and they emphasized the need for the habilitation services to have a life-course perspective. Both in primary and secondary prevention and in the treatment of children, adolescents and adults with disabilities, the principle of starting early and staying on as long as possible applies.
The Norwegian Quality and Follow-up Registry for CP, NorCP, represents a goldmine for research and knowledge development on CP and services for people with CP in a life-course perspective. NorCP cooperates extensively with similar programs in the other Nordic countries. As a complex and lifelong condition, CP can be regarded as a "model diagnosis" in re-/habilitation, both related to service needs, service provision and research on the effects of re-/habilitation
I am the leader and/or supervisor of PhD and master projects that use both quantitative and qualitative research methods, from participant observation, individual interviews and focus group interviews to randomized controlled trials, method studies and registry research. This has also included systematic development/cultural validation and implementation of habilitation evaluation instruments, such as the Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and digitized version, PEDI-CAT, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS E&R), Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment, Preferences of activities in Children (CAPE & PAC), as well as 3D computer-based motion analysis. Together, these cover all components of the ICF, from specific body functions and -structures to activity, participation, and physical and social environmental factors.
Teaching and supervision
I teach on an hourly basis at OsloMet, the Faculty of Health Sciences, the master's programme in Habilitation and Rehabilitation, the bachelor's programme for orthopaedic engineering education and the master's programme at the Section for Physical Education and Pedagogy, Physical Activity and Disability (FAF programme) at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH). In addition, I teach internally at BHSS. I have been the main supervisor for five completed PhD projects and co-supervisor for 16 completed PhD projects, as well as 17 completed master projects. For the time being I am co-supervisor for six PhD-fellows, three at UiO and three at NTNU.
Background
Education
- 2004 PhD University of Oslo, Medical faculty, Institute of Health and Society
- 1986 Master degree, Institute for drama-film-theater, University of Trondheim
- 1978 Pedagogy 30 credits, Folkeuniversitetet
- 1973 Statens fysioterapihøgskole, Oslo
Awards
- 2005 the CP-prize from the Cerebral Palsy Association in Norway
- 2010 the Cerebral Palsy Association's research prize
- 2022 the Lena Westbom research award from CP Sweden, the Swedish Cerebral Palsy Association
Appointments
International committies
2006-2009 member of the Nordic Council of Ministers' Committee for Habilitation Research.
2006-2007 member of CanChild's expert group in the Delphi process for the development of Gross Motor Function Classification System Extended & Revised (GMFCS E&R) for people with CP from 2-18 years.
2009-2022 member of the Steering Group for the CP-follow-up program in Sweden (CPUP)
2006-2013 National Coordinator for Norway in the European Academy of Childhood Disability.
2014-2019 member of The Nomination Committee of EACD.
2014 -2019 member of The Life Span Care Committee of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM).
Norwegian committees
2008-2010 member of two peer groups in habilitation research for the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services.
2010-2017 appointed to the Research Committee for the Women's and Children's Clinic, now the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, OUH.
2009-2019 appointed to the Professional Council for Habilitation in the Southern Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority
2013-2023 member of the reference group of the National Competence Service of for Children and Youth with Disability.
Expert committees:
I have several times been appointed to expert committees by universities or health authorities nationally and internationally, twice by the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, and by the Danish Health Agency to assess the National Guidelines for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy for children and young people with CP.
From 2011 to 2024, I have been an opponent for 12 PhD candidates at NTNU, Karolinska Institute, Lund University, Gothenburg University in Sweden, MacMaster University and McGill University in Canada, Melbourne University and University of Copenhagen. Further, half-time opponent for four PhD fellows, and member of the evaluation committee for five PhD fellows.