Betty Hasselkus

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KINESIOLOGY
Occupational Therapy
OT student doing research with child
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Bio for Betty Hasselkus
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Kinesiology
Occupational Therapy (OT)
School of Education (SoE)

Personal Biography

Betty Risteen Hasselkus is an Emeritus Professor of Kinesiology/Occupational Therapy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she served as Program Director for ten years. Prior to her faculty appointment, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy, a Master of Science degree in physical education, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree at UW-Madison.

During her over 40 years of active participation in the profession of occupational therapy, Dr. Hasselkus has focused her research, teaching and practice on the everyday occupational experience of people in the community, with a special emphasis on family care giving for older family members, physician-family caregiver relationships, meanings of everyday occupation to dementia day care staff, and the meaning of doing occupational therapy. She was elected to the American Occupational Therapy Association Roster of Fellows in 1986 and to the American Occupational Therapy Foundation Academy of Research in 1999. Dr. Hasselkus was the invited Wilma West Lecturer at the University of Southern California in 2003, presenting a lecture entitled, “The Voice of Everyday Occupation.” In 2005, she was awarded the AOTA Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award—the Association’s highest award for scholarship--and subsequently gave the award lecture in 2006, “The World of Everyday Occupation: Real People, Real Lives”. Dr. Hasselkus was Editor of The American Journal of Occupational Therapy from 1998-2003. Her international reputation as a scholar has taken her to Australia, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Wales and Northern Ireland where she has provided lectures and workshops on qualitative research methods, critical analysis, writing, and qualitative research opportunities in everyday occupation. Her scholarly career includes over 90 publications in journals and texts. The second edition of her book, The Meaning of Everyday Occupation, was released in January 2011.



 

 

Research Interests

Betty R. Hasselkus is Emeritus Professor of Kinesiology/Occupational Therapy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her phenomenological research focus has been on the meaning of the everyday experience of occupation for older people in the community, with an emphasis on care giving by family members, physicians, adult day care staff, and occupational therapists. A specialized area of research has been ethical care people with dementia.

The following is a representative sample of publications.

Hasselkus, B. (2011). The Meaning of Everyday Occupation, 2nd Ed. Thorofare, NJ: Slack, Inc.
Abstract: See "Everyday Occupation Blog": hasselkus.wordpress.com

Hasselkus, B., & Murray, B. (2007). Everyday occupation, well-being and identity: The experience of caregivers in families with dementia. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 9-20.

Hasselkus, B. (2006). 2006 Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lecture-The world of everyday occupation: Real people, real lives. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 60, 627-640.

Rosa, S., & Hasselkus, B. (2005). Finding common ground with patients: The centrality of compatibility. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 59, 198-208.

Jacques, N., & Hasselkus, B. (2004). The nature of occupation surrounding dying and death. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 24, 44-53.

Hasselkus, B. (1998). Occupation and well-being in dementia: The experience of day care staff. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52, 423-434.

American Journal of Occupational Therapy

Editor, Journal Editor. Period of Service: 1998 - 2003

American Occupational Therapy Association

Chair-Gerontology Special Interest Section. Period of Service: 1986 - 1989

Occupational Therapy Journal of Research

Editor, Associate Editor. Period of Service: 1987 - 1991

The following is a representative sample of awards.

The Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award
Organization: American Occupational Therapy Association
Scope: National
Date(s): 2005

Academy of Research
Organization: American Occupational Therapy Foundation
Date(s): 1999

Lifetime Achievement Award
Organization: Wisconsin Occupational Therapy Association
Date(s): 1999

Roster of Fellows
Organization: American Occupational Therapy Association
Date(s): 1986

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