Andrea D. Fairman, Ph.D., MOT, OTR/L, ATP, DRP began her career working in human services providing training for persons receiving public assistance benefits to help them get back to work while earning her bachelor’s degree at Duquesne University. At Duquesne, she learned about occupational therapy and decided to apply to their weekend program designed for working adults. Upon receiving her bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences, she worked as a case manager for persons with serious mental illness while earning her entry-level master’s degree (MOT) in occupational therapy. While working in community mental health, it became clear that occupational therapy was the perfect fit for her interests.
In 2003, she decided to return to school to eventually earn her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Pittsburgh 2013 — ten years later! During this time, Fairman continued to work in clinical and administrative roles, gaining new skills and experiences along the way with a variety of populations and settings, including home health, school-based services, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. She served as the Executive Director of the Spina Bifida Association of Western Pennsylvania before entering academia full-time in 2010. Her doctoral dissertation included the development, usability testing, and a randomized controlled trial to look at the impact of the Interactive Mobile Health and Rehabilitation (iMHere) system to improve self-management in adults with spina bifida.
She has continued her research in mobile health and assistive technology with grants from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Centers for Disease Control, as well as several foundation grants. A list of her publications can be found at: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6dIGoBwAAAAJ&hl=en
Continually seeking to learn new skills, Dr. Fairman, has earned her Assistive Technology Professional (ATP), and more recently, earned her Drivers Rehabilitation Professional (DRP) credentials. In addition to her role at the University of Pittsburgh, she owns her own private practice, The Driving Doctor: Adaptive Driving and Rehabilitation Solutions. This allows her to utilize a wide variety of her skills related to clinical practice, administration, and advocacy.
Current Project(s):
Project Leader, Mobile Access Assessment
Fun Tech Fact Questions & Answers:
Q: Mainstream tech device you can’t live without? Why?
A: The smartphone. Portability to be able to access information whenever and wherever. Although, I have been trying more often to leave it from time to time to disconnect.
Q: What was your first cell phone?
A: I was provided a pager and cell phone for my car when I worked as an Intensive Case Manager in 1999--23 years ago!
Q: What mainstream tech device is at the top of you wish list?
A: Hmmm. I don't really hold back on buying a device if I am wishing for it.
Q: Or what new tech can you not get enough of?
A: Fitness trackers. I find the personal data to be very motivating. I have also found that I don't really want to have all the features of a smartwatch when I am working out.
Q: If you were a mainstream tech device, what would you be, and why?
A: Well, I am sort of a task-master. Some (my husband and daughter) might call it "nagging," but I like to think of it as providing helpful "reminders." Many mainstream tech devices have the capability to provide reminders. I would probably be a smart speaker since my reminders tend to be auditory and I can talk a lot.