Nicola Fearn

Dr Nicola Fearn is a Lecturer in the Discipline of Occupational Therapy at the Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney. Since joining in 2024, she has integrated 19 years of clinical experience in Australian and UK acute hospital, rehabilitation, and community settings with her research on cancer rehabilitation and lymphedema management. She maintains active clinical practice as an accredited lymphoedema therapist.

Her educational background includes:

• Occupational Therapy qualification (2005)
• PhD in breast lymphoedema assessment, incidence, and risk factors following breast cancer treatment (2022)

Dr Fearn's research program addresses critical gaps in cancer survivorship through four interconnected pillars: cancer rehabilitation focusing on long-term quality of life; lymphoedema management (particularly breast-related); neurological upper limb rehabilitation for stroke and brain injury; and implementation science to translate evidence into clinical practice. Her work consistently emphasizes patient-centered approaches and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Analysis of her 11 publications since 2022 reveals dominant themes in constraint-induced movement therapy for stroke rehabilitation (60% of output) and breast lymphoedema quantification/management (30%), with strong methodological diversity spanning systematic reviews, qualitative studies, feasibility trials, and telehealth adaptations. Key trends include integration of behavior change frameworks (Theoretical Domains Framework, COM-B model) and growing emphasis on health equity for diverse populations.

Dr Fearn actively supervises HDR students interested in cancer survivorship and evidence implementation, and has secured the 2024 FMH Start-up Scheme grant. Current projects include SURPASS (patient-centered survivorship care), DIVERSE (supportive care for diverse backgrounds), ReCITE (remote constraint-induced therapy), and telehealth validation studies for rehabilitation assessments.

As a member of the Australasian Lymphology Association, she collaborates with St Vincent's Health Network teams across oncology, neurology, and rehabilitation services to develop clinically relevant interventions that address both physical and psychosocial aspects of survivorship and neurological recovery.