Punita V. Solanki

Currently, Punita V. Solanki is a Professor & Incharge at D Y Patil Deemed to be University, School of Occupational Therapy, Nerul East, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India since 5^th August, 2023.

She attained her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy in Orthopaedic Conditions in the year 1998 at Seth GS Medical College & King Edward VII Memorial (KEM) Hospital, from University of Mumbai. She also pursued an Advanced Diploma in Clinical Research with first rank and distinction grade, in the year 2013, from Academy of Clinical Excellence (ACE) at Bombay College of Pharmacy, Santacruz West, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

She has registered for her Bachelor’s Degree: BSc (OT) and Master’s Degree: MSc (OT) under the Maharashtra State Council for Occupational Therapy & Physiotherapy Act 2002 in 2009 with Registration Number: 2010/02/OT/000086. She is a registered Occupational Therapist with the Academic Council of Occupational Therapy (ACOT) of the All India Occupational Therapists' Association (AIOTA) in 1996 with Registration Number: 019147.

She has experience of more than 25 years in the field of occupational therapy and musculoskeletal rehabilitation after graduation. After her post-graduation, she gained experience at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children and at Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital, Mumbai, as a clinical occupational therapist, lecturer and then assistant professor from June, 1998 to January, 2013. During her service at this Institute, she also served as a member of Committee for Academic Research Ethics (CARE) for a period of one year. At this teaching institute, she was Maharashtra University of Health Sciences' recognized undergraduate and post-graduate teacher and an examiner. She had been a teacher and dissertation guide for undergraduate and post-graduate students of occupational therapy for 12 years. Later, she tried her hands in private practice career for about one year and four months, from March, 2013 to July, 2014, at a multi-specialty hospital and few nursing homes in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She worked for a period of one year at Capita India Private Limited in Knowledge Services Department from May, 2014 to May, 2015, as a Senior Associate. She later pursued freelance career for a year and a half as a therapist and a research editor and also worked as a visiting consultant Occupational Therapist at AR Orthopaedic & ICU Hospital, Malad West, AR Orthopaedic Clinic, Goregaon West, Kanchi Nursing Home, Goregaon East, NM Medical, Malad West between August, 2015 to March, 2022. She worked as a visiting on-site occupational therapist for a BPO in Malad West, Mumbai from November, 2015 to September, 2016. She also worked as a manager in medical communications at Mool Tatvam Consulting LLP in Goregaon West, Mumbai, from 24^th April, 2017 to 12^th September, 2017.

She worked as a Principal (BOT Programme) from 07.05.2022 to 31.10.2022 (6 months) at National Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Occupational Therapy, Kalletumkara, Thrissur, Kerala. She managed all administrative duties of the college and partly academic/clinical responsibilities during this work tenure.

She has authored two books on multiple choice questions in occupational therapy. Additionally, she has a total of 20 national/international journal publications/editorials, one conference proceeding and one national guidelines project to her credits.

She is a young (mid-adulthood phase of life) Indian women, an occupational therapist by profession, a Virgo by birth and a Virgo by attitude and behavior. Hinduism (Vaishnavism) is a religion which she has inherited but she respects values of all religions in practice. She is well versed with English, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati languages, with Gujarati being her mother tongue. She is O Rh-positive by blood group and positive by beliefs and in practice. She is a resident of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

She is a sincere, hard-working, honest, passionate, dedicated, meticulous, assertive, motivated, observant, and a proactive therapist with versatile hobbies which include: reading, writing, drawing, painting, internet-surfing, cooking, teaching, participating in medical camps, children's sports camps, listening to music, visiting places of professional importance, visiting libraries and book stores, attending academic meetings etc. She has learnt yoga, typing, basic computer skills: MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)

She was a Member of Scientific Program Committee for OTICON’2007 & OTICON’2017 held at Indore, & at Jaipur, respectively and Chairperson, Scientific Program Committee for OTICON’2019 held at Chandigarh. She was a Member of eSouvenir Committee for OTICON'2020 held at Mumbai; Member of Registration Committee for Virtual OTICON’2021 & served in eSouvenir Committee for Virtual OTICON’2022. She has served as Review Board Member and as an Assistant Editor for the Indian Journal of Occupational Therapy (IJOT) from May, 2012 to March, 2016. She was an Associate Editor, the IJOT from April, 2016 to March, 2020. She has accepted the responsibilities as an Editor, the IJOT since April, 2020. She is elected as an Executive Committee Member, the AIOTA, from April, 2020 to March, 2024.

She is a Reviewer for Journal of Medical Thesis, Indian Journal of Pain, Journal of Novel Physiotherapy and Physical Rehabilitation etc.

She was an EC Member of Society for Hand Therapy (SHT), India, from January, 2015 to December, 2019. She is elected as a Secretary of Society for Hand Therapy (SHT), India, from January, 2020 to December, 2024.  She served as a Chairperson, Scientific Committee, Chairperson, Scientific Sessions & Editor, eSouvenir for the 4th Annual National Conference of SHT, India, held on 12th and 13th December, 2015 at Pune, Maharashtra, India. She served as a Co/Joint Organizing Secretary, Chairperson, Scientific Committee, Writer and Editor, eSouvenir and a Moderator for Panel Discussion for the 6th Annual National Conference of SHT, India held on 22nd and 23rd September, 2017 at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She served as Promotion and eSouvenir Committee Incharge for Virtual SHTICON’2021. She has gained experience in organizing workshops/conferences, as a faculty for workshops/conferences and as a judge and reviewer for conference papers.

She had certifications as Youth Fitness Trainer from International Sports Sciences Association, level I Mat Foundation Pilates Teacher by Pilates Institute of America & Theraband Academy Instructor. She has certifications in foundation aquatic therapy by Aquatic Therapy Network of India.

She is a member of the All India Occupational Therapists' Association (AIOTA): https://www.aiota.org; member of Mumbai Branch of the AIOTA and Kerala Branch of the AIOTA and a member/associate member of many other national associations such as Gosumec Alumni Association of the Seth GS Medical College; Childhood Disability Group of Indian Academy of Pediatrics; Paediatric Orthopedic Society of India (POSI): https://posi.in/; Indian Association of Sports Medicine (IASM): http://www.iasm.co.in; Bombay Orthopedic Society (BOS): https://bombayorth.in/; The Indian Society for Surgery of the Hand (ISSH): https://issh.org/; Society for Hand Therapy (SHT), India, Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR): https://www.iscr.org/; Indian Academy of Cerebral Palsy (IACP): https://iacp.co.in/ Aquatic Therapy Network of India (ATNI): https://atni.in/; Forum for Ethics Review Committees in India (FERCI): http://ferci.org/ etc.

She takes keen interest in adult and pediatric orthopedic (musculoskeletal) rehabilitation, hand therapy, preventive health education, primary and secondary clinical research, medical writing and editing. She has special interest in documentation of case-specific health data.  

Awards and Honors

1. In appreciation and recognition of the academic and professional achievements, the honored award of “Fellow of Academic Council of Occupational Therapy” was conferred upon her on 16^th February, 2018 during the inaugural function of the 55^th Annual National Conference of AIOTA i.e. OTICON’2018 organized at Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, at the hands of Dr. Viral Kamdar, President, Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Institute of Medical Sciences and Human Resources and a well known Pediatrician from Nagpur in the presence of the President AIOTA Dr. Anil K. Srivastava and other Dignitaries on and off the Dias. This honor was also awarded to three other fellow colleagues from India: Dr. Shailaja S. Jaywant, Mumbai, Dr. Manjusha Vagal, Mumbai and Dr. Kamal Narayan Arya, New Delhi.

2. Conferred with the AIOTA’s Professional Excellence Award during the inaugural function of the 56^th annual national conference of the All India Occupational Therapists’ Association i.e. OTICON’2019 held at GMC & PGIMER, Chandigarh, India on 8^th February, 2019, at the hands of Sri V. P. Singh Badnore, Honourable, His Excellency, the Governor of Punjab and Administrator, Union Territory Chandigarh, in the presence of the President, AIOTA Dr. Anil K. Srivastava Sir (Robust Leader of OTIndia) and the dignitaries on and off the Dias, Friends, Colleagues, Faculties and Students of Occupational Therapy in India. Senior colleagues from the field of Occupational Therapy from SVNIRTAR, Cuttack Dr. Subrata Kumar Halder and CMC, Vellore Dr. Sanjeev Padankatti were also honoured by “Professional Excellence Award” for the year 2019 for their excellent work in the field of occupational therapy in India.

To know more about her continuing professional education participation/attendance in workshops/courses/seminars/educational programs, etc. to continually update her clinical and research knowledge, skills and aptitude: Please visit the link: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshows/cotepunita-v-solankifebruary-2024pdf/266380393

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