Elke Kraus

Professor Elke Kraus is a Professor of Occupational Therapy at the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin (ASH Berlin) where she has held a faculty position with significant leadership responsibilities. She serves as Head of the Bachelor's program in Occupational/Physiotherapy (2016-2025) and holds a professorship for Academicization and Professionalization in the Therapy Professions (2022-2027) as part of the BMBF-funded SAGE project. Her institutional roles include membership in the AS Academic Senate (2020-2027), the Research and Young Talents Commission (2023-2025), and the Digitalization Commission as representative of university lecturers.

Dr. Kraus's research interests focus on occupational therapy with particular expertise in handedness and motor skills development, digital diagnostics and assessment tools, school-based occupational therapy, evidence-based practice, and interprofessional collaboration. Her work bridges clinical practice and academic research, with significant contributions to pediatric assessment tools and the digital transformation of therapeutic practices. She has pioneered the development of several standardized assessment instruments including the Händigkeitsprofil (Handedness Profile), PEAP (Pediatric Occupational Therapy Assessment and Process Instrument), and Treffpunkt (Screening for Graphomotor Skills).

Her publication record shows a strong focus on the digital transformation of occupational therapy assessment methods, interprofessional education models, and evidence-based practice implementation. Recent work examines the comparability of digital versus traditional assessment methods, development of online interprofessional healthcare programs, and international perspectives on efficient diagnostics and therapy. She has been instrumental in establishing the German Society for Occupational Therapy Science (DGEW) and serves as co-editor of ergoscience, the only German-language peer-reviewed occupational therapy journal.

Professor Kraus maintains extensive professional affiliations including representation in the Conference of University Presidents' Working Group on Health Sciences (HRK AG-GW), leadership in the Therapiewissenschaften Fachbereichstag (FBTT), membership in the German Society for Occupational Therapy Science (DGEW), and active participation in international networks including ENOTHE (European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education) and WFOT (World Federation of Occupational Therapists).

Her educational background includes a PhD from La Trobe University, Melbourne (2003) with dissertation on handedness development in children, a Post-graduate Diploma in Adult Education from University of Cape Town (1991), and a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from University of Cape Town (1987). She has led numerous research projects including manDAAD (digital assessment of manual skills), dig-TEMA (digital test system for manual actions), and Health Care Professionals (interprofessional online degree program).