Thomas Bucher

Dr. Thomas Bucher serves as Head of Quality and Knowledge Management at ZHAW School of Health Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). He holds a Dr. phil. in Psychology from the University of Zurich (2002) and a Lic. phil. in Psychology, Psychopathology, and Communication Science (1995). His research focuses on healthcare workforce development, occupational health, and evaluation of health professions education. He has led projects such as the National Survey among Bachelor Students in Health Professions and contributed to studies on musculoskeletal pain among healthcare students and professionals.

Education:

• Dr. phil. in Psychology, University of Zurich (1998–2002)
• Lic. phil. in Psychology, Psychopathology, Communication Science, University of Zurich (1989–1995)

Research Interests:

• Healthcare workforce well-being and occupational health challenges
• Professional development of health professionals through academic pathways
• Evaluation methodologies in healthcare education and prevention programs
• Addressing unconscious bias in healthcare systems

His articles analyze topics like clinical practice expectations of nurses, musculoskeletal pain prevalence in healthcare students, and unconscious bias in healthcare. He has collaborated with institutions like the Swiss Aids Foundation and authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications. His work emphasizes evidence-based strategies to enhance healthcare workforce resilience and equity.

Grants and Projects:

• National Survey among Bachelor Students in Health Professions (Project Leader)
• Swiss Aids Foundation Prevention Program (Head, 2007–2010)

Labs/Teams: Active in the Quality and Knowledge Management unit at ZHAW, focusing on institutional evaluation frameworks and interdisciplinary healthcare research.