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Kelly Fielden, PhD

  • Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy | MSc Occupational Therapy Programme Lead Institute of Health
  • Institute of Health
  • Health and Wellbeing
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Biography

Kelly joined the University of Cumbria as a Lecturer in Occupational Therapy in December 2015.  She became a Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy in 2020 and is currently the MSc Occupational Therapy Programme Lead. Kelly has a Bachelor of Applied Science from the Queensland University of Technology and a Masters in Occupational Therapy from the University of Sydney in Australia. Kelly became a qualified Occupational Therapist in 2006.  She began her occupational therapy career in paediatrics soon after graduating and remained working in paediatrics for the majority of her professional career until her appointment at the University of Cumbria.

Prior to her appointment at the University of Cumbria she was working for the NHS in Scotland as a community paediatric occupational therapist working with children and young people from 0-19 years. Kelly is passionate about ensuring people from all walks of life experience second to none healthcare, and is excited about having the opportunity to help educate future occupational therapists.

Kelly has a PhD in occupational therapy education, which investigated the role of anatomy education within occupational therapy in the 21st century.

Qualifications and memberships

Academic Qualifications

Jan 2018 - March 2025: PhD in Occupational Therapy Education, University of Cumbria, Carlisle UK

Oct 2016 – Oct 2017:  Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, The University of Cumbria, Carlisle, UK

Feb 2005 –Nov 2006:  Master of Occupational Therapy, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia                   

Feb 2002 - Nov 2004:  Bachelor of Applied Science, Queensland University of Technology; Brisbane, Australia

Current Professional Memberships

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
  • Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
  • Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)

Additional Roles

  • MSc Occupational Therapy Programme Lead

Academic and research interests

  • Anatomy in occupational therapy education
  • Occupational therapy education
  • Paediatric occupational therapy – cerebral palsy, infants and young children, early intervention        

Research supervision

MSc Occupational Therapy research supervisor

Publications

Fielden K, Youngson B, Cox D. (2025) 'Working together: A dual focus on occupation and anatomy'. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. pp.1-2. doi:10.1177/03080226251330755

Book review:

Fielden, K. (2017) CBT approaches for children and young people: A practical case study guide. 21 (1) pp. 27.

Co-opted critical appraiser for:

Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section Children, Young People and Families. (2017) Occupational therapy in neonatal services and early intervention practice guideline.  London: Royal College of Occupational Therapists

Fielden, K. (2016) The transition from clinician to academic. OT news. 24 (12) pp. 36-37