Dr Joan O’Donnell

Dr Joan O’Donnell is a lecturer at the University of Notre Dame of Australia and an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Sydney. Joan teaches in undergraduate and post-graduate Occupational Therapy programmes. Joan is a registered occupational therapy driver assessor and Co-Director of The Institute of Driver Health P/L. Joan has a BAppSc(OT) and MSc(Med) from the University of Sydney and a PhD in Clinical Medicine from Macquarie University. During her candidature, Joan was awarded a Post-Graduate Research Fellowship and the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research. Joan’s research focussed on quality of life and medical fitness to drive following neurological disorders and cerebrovascular surgery.

Joan has worked in public and private institutions in neurosurgery, neurology, oncology, orthopaedics, aged care, occupational rehabilitation and driving assessments. Her current research projects include driving after spinal surgery, older drivers’ use of advanced vehicle technology (MOVETech) and cognitive assessments to screen fitness to drive. Joan is a member of the Board of BaptistCare NSW/ACT/WA.