Anna Wallisch, PhD, OTR/L

Professional Background

Dr. Anna Wallisch, PhD, OTR/L is an occupational therapist and Assistant Professor in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Sciences in the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Wallisch earned her PhD in Therapeutic Science and her clinical degree in occupational therapy at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Kansas' Juniper Gardens Children's Project.

• BS, Occupational Studies, University of Kansas
• MOT, Occupational Therapy, University of Kansas Medical Center
• PhD, Therapeutic Science, University of Kansas Medical Center
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Autism, Juniper Gardens Children's Project, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS

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Research

Overview

Dr. Wallisch's research is driven by her clinical experiences as an occupational therapist and answering the concerns of families. Her research focuses on: 1) examining mechanisms underlying challenging eating behaviors in young children with autism to develop future interventions, 2) utilizing technology for advancements in intervention delivery and contextually relevant measurement, and 3) the early identification of children with neurodevelopmental conditions.

• High impact models of early intervention support: Accelerating child outcomes and systems recovery, Institute of Education Sciences

• Wallisch Anna, Little Lauren M, Dean Evan, Dunn Winnie. 2018. Executive Function Measures for Children: A Scoping Review of Ecological Validity. OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 38 (1), 6-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/1539449217727118
• Little LM, Pope E, Wallisch A, Dunn W. 2018. Occupation-Based Coaching by Means of Telehealth for Families of Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 72 (2), 7202205020p1-7202205020p7
• Thompson Kelsey, Wallisch Anna, Nowell Sallie, Meredith Jessica, Boyd Brian. 2023. Short report: The role of oral hypersensitivity in feeding behaviors of young autistic children. Autism, 27 (4), 1157-1162. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221135091
• Wallisch Anna, Behrens Sarah, Salley Brenda, Jamison Rene, Boyd Brian. 2021. Brief Report: Predicting Sex Differences and Diagnosis from Early Parent Concerns. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51 (11), 4160-4165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04866-w
• Bakula DM, Wallisch A, Slosky L, Dean K, Davis A, Edwards S. 2023. Prevalence of Parent Mental Health Problems in an Interdisciplinary Feeding Clinic: Short Communication.. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
• Killian Haley J, Bakula Dana M, Wallisch Anna, Swinburn Rebecca, Fleming Kandace, Edwards Sarah T, Bruce Amanda S, Chang Chi-Ning, Mousa Hayat, Davis Ann M. 2023. Pediatric Tube Weaning: A Meta-Analysis of Factors Contributing to Success. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 30 (4), 753-769. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-023-09948-2
• Wallisch A, Boyd BA, Hall JP, Kurth NK, Streed, Jr CG, Mulcahy A, McMaughan DJ, Batza K. 2023. Health Care Disparities Among Autistic LGBTQ+ People.. Autism in adulthood : challenges and management, 5 (2), 165-174
• Boyd Brian A, Stahmer Aubyn C, Odom Samuel L, Wallisch Anna, Matheis Maya. 2022. It’s time to close the research to practice gap in autism: The need for implementation science. Autism, 26 (3), 569-574. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211064422