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Megan Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) from the University of Sydney. Following graduation she worked as a physiotherapist in the area of cardiopulmonary physiotherapy at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital and the Royal National Brompton Heart and Lung Hospital before joining the staff at Charles Sturt University in 1999.

Megan held the position of physiotherapy course leader from 2007-2011. She is currently seconded to the position of Acting Associate Dean, professional placements for the Faculty of Science.

Megan is chair of the University Workplace Learning Excellence Committee.

Megan completed a PhD in 2006 examining the impact of contextual factors on clinical decision making in cardiopulmonary physiotherapy. Her research interests are in the area of workplace learning, clinical reasoning, reflective practice and the assessment of student performance in the workplace.

Teaching

The main area of Megan's teaching at CSU has been in the specialty area of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy. Megan has also taught reflective practice and evidence-based practice to undergraduate physiotherapy students. The other area of Megan's teaching expertise is delivery of professional development for workplace learning educators.

Megan supervises PhD, Professional Doctorate, Masters and Honours students.

Research Grants

Professional Memberships

• Member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association
• Member of the Standing Panel of Accreditation Reviewers, Australian Physiotherapy Council
• Deputy Chair of the Western Integrated Clinical Training Network
• Member of the Executive Committee of the Executive Management Group for the ACT Clinical Training Network
• Member of the Executive Committee of the Riverina Integrated Clinical Training Network

Peer Reviewer:

• Physiotherapy Theory and Practice
• Journal of Physiotherapy
• Focus on Health Professional Education
• Physiotherapy Canada

Journal articles

• Ajjawi, R., & Smith, M. (2010). Clinical reasoning capability: Current understanding and implications for physiotherapy educators. Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-disciplinary Journal, 12(1), 60-73.
• Fitzpatrick, S., Smith, M., & Wilding, C. (2012). Quality allied health clinical supervision policy in allied health: a literature review. Australian Health Review, 36(4), 461-465.
•  Flynn, A., Jelinek, H., & Smith, M. (2005). Heart rate variability analysis: a useful assessment tool for diabetes associated cardiac dysfunction in rural and remote areas. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 13, 77-82.
• Patton, N., Higgs, J., & Smith, M. (2012). Using theories of learning in workplaces to enhance physiotherapy clinical education. Physiotherapy Theory & Practice, 1-11. Retrievedfromhttp://informahealthcare.com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/doi/pdf/10.3109/09593985.2012.753651
• Smith, M., & Ellis, E. (2000a). Is retained mucus a risk factor for the development of postoperative atelectasis and pneumonia? - Implications for the physiotherapist physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 16, 65-77.
• Smith, M., & Ellis, E. (2000b). Is retained mucus a risk factor for the development of postoperative atelectasis and pneumonia? - Implications for the physiotherapist. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 16, 69-80.
• Smith, M., Higgs, J., & Ellis, E. (2007). Physiotherapy decision making in acute cardiorespiratory care is influenced by factors related to the physiotherapist and the nature and context of the decision: a qualitative study. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, 53(4), 261-267.
• Smith, M., Higgs, J., & Ellis, E. (2008a). Characteristics and processes of physiotherapy clinical decision making: A study of acute care cardiorespiratory physiotherapy. Physiotherapy Research International, 13(4), 209-222.
• Smith, M., Higgs, J., & Ellis, E. (2010). Effect of experience on clinical decision making by cardiorespiratory physiotherapists in acute care settings. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 26(2), 89-99.
• Smith, M., & Trede, F. (2013). Practical concerns of educators assessing reflections of physiotherapy students. Physical Therapy Reviews. Retrieved from doi:10.1179/1743288X13Y.0000000099
•  Smith, M., & Trede, F. (2013). Reflective practice in the transition phase from university student to novice graduate: implications for teaching reflective practice. Higher Education Research & Development, 1-14. doi: 10.1080/07294360.2012.709226
• Trede, F., & Smith, M. (2012). Teaching reflective practice in practice settings: students' perceptions of their clinical educators. Teaching in Higher Education, 1-13. doi: 10.1080/13562517.2012.658558
• Trede, F., & Smith, M. (2013). Workplace educators’ interpretations of their assessment practices: a view through a critical practice lens. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2013.803026 doi:DOI:10.1080/02602938.2013.803026
• Williams, M., Hardy, F., Tucker, B., Smith, M., & Maxwell, L. (2005). Cardiothoracic Physiotherapy – Levels of evidence underpinning entry-level curricula. Physiotherapy Research International,, 10(2), 72-80.

Books

• Higgs, J., Smith, M., Webb, G., Skinner, M., & Croker, A. (2009). Contexts of physiotherapy practice. Sydney: Elsevier.
• Loftus, S., Gerzina, T., Higgs, J., Smith, M., & Duffy, E. (Eds.). (2013). Educating health professionals: Becoming a university teacher. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense.

 Book Chapters

• Chadwick, M., & Smith, M. (2009). Working with physiotherapy assistants. In J. Higgs, M. Smith, G. Webb, M. Skinner & A. Croker (Eds.), Contexts of physiotherapy practice. Sydney: Elsevier.
• Croker, A., Grotowski, M., & Smith, M. (2009). Self-management: managing yourself as a physiotherapist. In J. Higgs, M. Smith, G. Webb, M. Skinner & A. Croker (Eds.), Contexts of Physiotherapy Practice. Sydney: Elsevier.
• Duffy, E., & Smith, M. (2013). Major current themes in health professional education. In S. Loftus, T. Gerzina, J. Higgs, M. Smith & E. Duffy (Eds.), Educating health professionals: Becoming a university teacher (pp. 313-322). Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense.
• Higgs, J., Ajjawi, R., & Smith, M. (2009). Working and learning in communities of practice. In J. Higgs, M. Smith, G. Webb, M. Skinner & A. Croker (Eds.), Contexts of physiotherapy practice. Sydney: Elsevier.
• Loftus, S., & Smith, M. (2008). A history of clinical reasoning research. In J. Higgs, M. A. Jones, S. Loftus & N. Christensen (Eds.), Clinical Reasoning in the Health Professions (3rd ed., pp. 205-212). Amsterdam: Elsevier: Butterworth Heinemann.
• Patton, N., Higgs, J., & Smith, M. (2009). Imagining and Imaging: Creativity in qualitiative research. In J. Higgs, D. Horsfall & S. Grace (Eds.), Writing Qualitative Research on Practice (pp. 183-194). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
• Smith, M. (2010). Assessment of clinical learning. In K. Stagnitti, A. Schoo & D. Welch (Eds.), Clinical and Fieldwork Placements in the Health Professions (pp. 171-185). South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
• Smith, M. (In press). Workplace Learning as a strategy to develop a rural health workforce In A. Ragusa (Ed.), Rural Lifestyles, Community Well-being and Social Change: lessons from country Australia for global citizens: Bentham Books.
• Smith, M., Ajjawi, R., & Higgs, J. (2010). Health Professional Education. In J. Higgs, D. Fish, I. Goulter, S. Loftus, J.-A. Reid & F. Trede (Eds.), Education for Future Practice (pp. 297-309). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
• Smith, M., Ajjawi, R., & Jones, M. (2009). Clinical reasoning in physiotherapy. In J. Higgs, M. Smith, G. Webb, M. Skinner & A. Croker (Eds.), Contexts of Physiotherapy Practice. Sydney: Elsevier.
• Smith, M., Burgess, C., & Hummell, J. (2010). Managing real world placements; examples of good practice. In L. McAllister, M. Paterson, J. Higgs & C. Bithell (Eds.), Innovations in allied health education (pp. 75-83). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
• Smith, M., & Coyle, J. (2009). Writing to prepare, preparing to write. In J. Higgs, D. Horsfall & S. Grace (Eds.), Writing Qualitative Research on Practice (pp. 153-160). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
• Smith, M., Finlay, N., Schulz, D., Patton, N., & Walker, A. (2013). Navigating workplace learning placement challenges: Developing placement supervisors. In J. Higgs, D. Sheehan, J. Baldry Currens, W. Letts & G. Jensen (Eds.), Realising exemplary practice-based education (pp. 211-222). Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense.
• Smith, M., & Higgs, J. (2010). Trends in fieldwork education. In L. McAllister, M. Paterson, J. Higgs & C. Bithell (Eds.), Innovations in allied health fieldwork education: a critical appraisal (pp. 29-38). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
• Smith, M., & Higgs, J. (2013). Health professionals becoming university teachers. In S. Loftus, T. Gerzina, J. Higgs, M. Smith & E. Duffy (Eds.), Educating health professionals: Becoming a university teacher (pp. 15-22). Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense.
• Smith, M., Higgs, J., & Ellis, E. (2008b). Factors influencing clinical decision making. In J. Higgs, M. Jones, S. Loftus & N. Christenson (Eds.), Clinical reasoning for the health professions (3rd ed., pp. 89-100): Butterworth Heinemann Elsevier.
• Smith, M., Jull, G., & Grimmer-Somers, K. (2009). Researching physiotherapy. In J. Higgs, M. Smith, G. Webb, M. Skinner & A. Croker (Eds.), Contexts of physiotherapy practice. Sydney: Elsevier.
• Smith, M., & Levett-Jones, T. (2013). Providing clinical education: Working across sectors. In S. Loftus, T. Gerzina, J. Higgs, M. Smith & E. Duffy (Eds.), Educating health professionals: Becoming a university teacher (pp. 103-112). Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense.
• Smith, M., & Loftus, S. (2009). Writing chapters together and alone. In J. Higgs, D. Horsfall & S. Grace (Eds.), Writing Qualiatative Research on Practice (pp. 279-288). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
• Smith, M., Loftus, S., & Levett-Jones, T. (2013). Teaching clinical reasoning. In S. Loftus, T. Gerzina, J. Higgs, M. Smith & E. Duffy (Eds.), Educating health professionals: Becoming a university teacher (pp. 269-276). Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense.
• Smith, M., Meyer, S., Stagnitti, K., & Schoo, A. (2009). Knowledge and reasoning in practice: an example from physiotherapy and occupational therapy. In H. D'Cruz, S. Jacobs & A. Schoo (Eds.), Knowledge-in-practice in the caring professions: multidisciplinary perspectives (pp. 193-212.). Surrey: Ashgate.
• Trede, F., & Smith, M. (2008). Being assertive in teams and workplaces. In J. Higgs, R. Ajjawi, L. McAllister, F. Trede & S. Loftus (Eds.), Communicating in the Health Sciences (2nd ed., pp. 248-254.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
• Trede, F., & Smith, M. (2012). Challenges of assessment in practice-based education In J. Higgs, R. Barnett, S. Billett, Hutchings & F. Trede (Eds.), Practice-Based Education: perspectives and strategies. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
• Uys, P., Brann, J., Klapdor, T., & Smith, M. (2012). Mobile Learning in eHealth: Increasing Learning Options by Supporting the Mobility of Learners in Developing Contexts. In I. Mathias & A. Monteiro (Eds.), Gold Book [digital book]: Technological Inovation in Education and Health. (pp. 573-603). Rio de Janeiro: EdUERJ. Retrieved from http://www.telessaude.uerj.br/goldbook.

Selected Conference Proceedings

• Patton, N., Higgs, J., & Smith, M. (23-26 June 2009). Work integrated learning: Physiotherapy clinical education experience. Paper presented at the 16th World Conference on Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning Vancouver.
• Smith, M., Koschel, A., Underhill, C., Packer, C., & McGough, J. (2011). “Out on a limb”: The evaluation of a physiotherapy student clinic to improve rural access to lymphoedema services. Paper presented at the World Congress of Physical Therapy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• Smith, M., & Trede, F. (2011). Reflective practice in the transition from final year physiotherapy student to novice graduate: Implications for teaching reflective practice Paper presented at the World Congress of Physical Therapy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• Trede, F., & Smith, M. (2010a). Reflective practice as a tool to develop professional practice in the transition from student to graduate. Paper presented at the CSU Ed 2010, Bathurst, New South Wales.
• Trede, F., & Smith, M. (2010b). Reflective practice in the transition phase from final year student to novice graduate: evaluating work- integrated learning. Paper presented at the Australian Collaborative Education Network Conference, Curtin University, Perth Australia.