Faculty profile

Jan Willem Gorter

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Professor (Part-Time)PediatricsMcMaster University

Research

Dr. Jan Willem Gorter, MD, PhD, has training in rehabilitation medicine (physiatry) and is the inaugural Chair and Head of Pediatric Rehabilitation at the University Medical Center Utrecht, location Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, and Princess Maxima Center (pediatric oncology) in Utrecht, The Netherlands. He also holds a position as Professor of Pediatrics (Part-Time) at McMaster University in Canada. Jan Willem completed his postdoctoral training at CanChild in 2002, has been appointed a Scientist at CanChild in 2008, and served as CanChild Director (2013-2021). He draws on his clinical experiences to conduct studies and to develop healthcare interventions that will have a direct impact on patients, their families and those working in the healthcare system. Therefore, he is a strong advocate of patient and family engagement in research. To make sure youth with disabilities are on a healthy trajectory, he and his team of clinicians and researchers focus on Physical Health, Family Empowerment, and Cognition (autonomy and adaptive functioning) in children and youth with disabilities. Jan Willem’s goals are to further integrate research and clinical care through a lifecourse health development approach, to ensure optimal outcomes for children with disabilities as they grow up.

Research areas, by share of publications

Research areas are derived from OpenAlex topics of their publications.

From the 150 most recent of 385 publications.

01

The family engagement in research course: impact on family engagement in neurodevelopmental disability and child health research two years later

Soper AK, Ali S, Pozniak K, Thomson D, Putterman C, McCauley D, Solomon P, Chambers C, Gorter JW, Cross A

Disability and Rehabilitation20264 citations
02

Stimulating inclusive outdoor play: breaking the vicious circle between physical segregation and lack of social acceptance

Visser K, Beekhuizen R, Bloemen M, Gorter JW, van Ramshorst K, Verhoeven F, de Vries R, Wigmans S, Bolster E

Disability & Society20264 citations
03

Building capacity for leadership in family engagement in neurodevelopmental and child health research: A qualitative evaluation of the Family Engagement in Research Leadership Academy

Soper AK, Micsinszki S, Ali S, Thomson D, Putterman C, Martens R, McCauley D, Phoenix M, Gorter JW, Cross A

20262 citations
04

Transition to adulthood in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: a systematic review with narrative synthesis on health systems, policies, and the role of health care providers

Friedrich S, Willems J, Rodger S, Petropoulos J-A, Ringer D, Wang E, Frei J, Pozniak K, Swain A, Guastafierro E

Frontiers in Public Health20261 citations
05

Cognition in adults with cerebral palsy: A systematic review

Baduni K, Perry B, Warschausky S, Maitre NL, Group TACCPGW

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology20261 citations
06

Gastroenterological disorders and hepatic disease in adults with cerebral palsy: A systematic review

Marciniak CM, Ryan JM, Camacho‐Soto A, Capellari E, Burke J, Sofiany M, Post Z, Sung EC, Brown MD, Ryan JM

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology20261 citations
07

The assessment of stationary and locomotion physical behavior using a single versus dual wearable accelerometer in children who use a manual wheelchair

Engels B, Bloemen MAT, Felius R, Bolster EAM, Wittink H, Melchers IMS, Engelbert RHH, Gorter JW

Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology20261 citationsSenior author
08

Sleep in children with spinal muscular atrophy and their caregivers: Exploring sleep problems and the need for care

van Rijssen IM, Rodenburg S, Alsem M, Hulst R, Gorter JW, Lansink IO, van der Pol L, Veldhoen E, Verschuren O

Research in Developmental Disabilities20261 citations
09

Can You See Us Play? Observing Inclusive Outdoor Play Behaviour Among Children With and Without Disabilities: A Mixed Methods Study

Beekhuizen RQ, Bloemen MAT, Bolster EAM, Visser K, van der Lugt R, Bassa M, Henry NL, Kotte EMW, van Hartingsveldt M, Gorter JW

Child: Care, Health and Development20261 citationsSenior author
10

Understanding strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to organizational-level family engagement in two childhood-onset disability research organizations

Micsinszki SK, Cross A, Soper AK, Thomson D, Putterman C, Martens R, McCauley D, Zwicker J, Reynolds JN, Gorter JW

Research Involvement and Engagement20261 citationsSenior author

Courses taught

1
  • International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health: Theory and Use

    REHAB 722 · last taught 2019

    Graduate
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Subject: Prospective PhD student: Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders Dear Professor Gorter, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "The family engagement in research course: impact on family engagement in neurodevelopmental disability and child health research two years later" (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]
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