معرفی
Li Khim Kwah is an Associate Professor and Director of Programmes for the Health and Social Sciences Cluster at Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), holding a part-time appointment with the Ministry of Health's Chief Allied Health Officer's Office as Senior Principal Project Administrator. A registered physiotherapist since 2004, she completed her PhD at the University of Sydney and returned to Singapore in 2018 after senior academic/clinical roles in Australia. Her SIT leadership includes Deputy Cluster Director (2021-2022), Chief Interviewer for Allied Health Admissions, and Physiotherapy Programme Coordinator.
Her educational qualifications include:
- PhD/Doctor of Philosophy, University of Sydney, Australia
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy), University of Sydney, Australia
Kwah's research centers on stroke rehabilitation, with emphasis on improving physical activity levels post-stroke and translating evidence into clinical practice. She employs implementation science frameworks to develop behavior change interventions and clinical practice guidelines, addressing gaps in community rehabilitation. Her work spans acute to chronic stroke phases, focusing on accessibility, task-specific practice, and resource development for diverse populations including young stroke survivors.
Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory in stroke rehabilitation research, with increasing emphasis on community-based interventions (2023-2025), international collaboration (e.g., WSO projects), and mixed-methods approaches combining qualitative insights with RCTs. Key themes include physical activity promotion through co-designed interventions (MOTIVATE trial), measurement tool validation, and adapting care models for low-resource settings.
Her scientific recognition includes:
- Outstanding Research Award (Allied Health) from SGH 25th Annual Scientific Meeting (2024)
- SIT Applied Research Excellence Team Award for MOTIVATE project (2024)
- Best oral presentation awards at Singapore International Physiotherapy Congress (2021) and Australian Physiotherapy Association conference (2011)
- World Stroke Organisation Future Stroke Leaders Fellowship (2020-2022)
- University of Sydney PhD scholarship (2008)
Kwah has secured over $900,000 in research funding, including MOE AcRF Tier 2 grant ($764,000) as Co-Investigator and SIT Ignition Grant ($124,800) as Principal Investigator for MOTIVATE. Her grants focus on behavior change interventions, guideline implementation, and stroke rehabilitation technology. She mentors honours students in Physiotherapy and collaborates with SingHealth, MOH, and international teams including the World Stroke Organisation.
She leads the Clinical Practice Guidelines sub-team under MOH's Community Rehabilitation Transformation Workgroup and co-leads PEDro Singapore satellite centre. Her committee roles include National One Rehab Steering Committee, World Stroke Organisation Rehabilitation Implementation Committee, and President of Singapore Physiotherapy Association (2024-present), driving national rehabilitation strategy and evidence-based practice initiatives.
