Liisa completed her Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Medicine in 1985. She was trained in both Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT), but when a great OT job opened up at B.C. Children’s Hospital in the NICU and in the Neonatal Follow-up Program, she took it, working clinically for almost 20 years. During that time, she received her M.A. specializing in Measurement and Statistics. She then completed her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2004. She joined UBC in 2005 in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy and is an Investigator at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and BC Women’s Health Research Institute.
Bibliography:
Williams N, Holsti L, MacLean K, Collet JP. Calmer: A novel approach for reducing stress in preterm infants. Pediatric Academic Society, E-PAS2016:2881.620. Baltimore USA, May, 2016.
Holsti L, Williams N, MacLean K, Collet JP. Calmer: A novel approach for reducing stress in preterm infants. Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy. Accepted-Platform Presentation. Vancouver, BC. June 23, 2018.
Research Interests
Dr. Liisa Holsti's program of research focuses on developing ways to optimize neurodevelopment in infants and children. Her research includes developing assessment tools, developing and testing technology-based and other developmental interventions.