Bio

Hedwig van der Meer, PT, MSc, PhD, is a Dutch orofacial physiotherapist, researcher, and educator internationally recognized for her expertise in orofacial pain, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and headache disorders. She combines clinical practice, scientific research, and teaching, with a strong focus on improving the management of patients with complex craniofacial pain conditions.

She graduated as a Physical Therapist from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA) in 2011 and earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Health Sciences from Utrecht University in 2013. She subsequently specialized in orofacial pain, temporomandibular disorders, and headache disorders at the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA).

In 2022, she successfully defended her PhD thesis,“Temporomandibular Disorders and Headaches: Two Pains, One Face,” at the University of Amsterdam. Her doctoral research focused on the relationship between temporomandibular disorders and headaches, contributing to a better understanding of these frequently overlapping conditions.

Currently, Dr. van der Meer works as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Orofacial Physiotherapist at the Department of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction at ACTA. Her research interests include orofacial pain, headache disorders, and interprofessional collaboration between physiotherapists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.

In addition to her research and clinical activities, she plays an active role in education. She was a member of the curriculum committee responsible for developing the Master’s Program in Orofacial Physical Therapy at SOMT University of Physiotherapy, and later became the Head of the Master’s Program. She regularly teaches workshops, courses, and guest lectures in the fields of orofacial pain, temporomandibular disorders, and headache management.

As the author of numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications, Hedwig van der Meer has established herself as a leading figure in the fields of orofacial physiotherapy, temporomandibular disorders, headache research, and interdisciplinary healthcare collaboration.