In 2011, Dr. Hedwig van der Meer graduated as a physical therapist from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA). In 2013, she obtained her Master's in Clinical Health Science at the University of Utrecht and then further specialised in the field of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction and headache disorders at the Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA). In 2022 she successfully defended her dissertation called 'Temporomandibular Disorders and Headaches: Two Pains, One Face' at the University of Amsterdam. Currently, she is working as a postdoctoral researcher at the department of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction at ACTA. Here, Hedwig combines conducting research with clinical work as an orofacial physical therapist. Additionally, she is actively involved in teaching by giving workshops, guest lectures and courses, all in the field of orofacial pain and disfunction and/or headaches. Furthermore, in 2021, she was part of the curriculum committee that wrote the new Orofacial Physical Therapy Master programme at the SOMT University of Physiotherapy. Later, she became the head of this master programme, as well as one of its lecturers. Hedwig has published multiple peer-reviewed papers and co-authored the new competency profile of Orofacial Physiotherapy.

Topics

Temporomandibular disorders
Orofacial pain
Musculoskeletal pain
Chronic pain
Diagnostics
Headache
Evidence-based practice
(orofacial) Physiotherapy