Professionals

HUDA

An occupational therapist since 2004, Huda's experience spans both the UAE and USA. Raised in the USA and a graduate from James Madison University, she is a native speaker of both English and Arabic.

Huda passionately advocates patient and caregiver training, with the goal of developing effective outcomes aimed at independence. She works with children with ADD, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, Autism, Down syndrome, pervasive developmental disorders, and Asperger’s syndrome.

Huda's certifications include FIM, CPR, (TENS) electrical stimulation, diathermy, ultrasound, paraffin wax, and hot/cold packs treatment. She is also a certified personal trainer and certified corrective exercise specialist with NASM.

KEVINA

Kevina graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2012 from the University of Mauritius.  Since graduating, she has worked in a special needs school, a rehabilitation centre and an early intervention department in Mauritius and UAE. She received her sensory integration certificate in July 2017.

Kevina enjoys being part of a multi-disciplinary team to ensure a holistic treatment for clients. She is passionate about pediatric populations, and her experience includes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing disorders, autism spectrum, cerebral palsy, Sotos syndrome, dyspraxia, learning difficulties amongst others.

She is a compassionate and enthusiastic team member, dedicated to supporting the learning development and academic skills of children. Her aim is to facilitate equal learning opportunities for all children.

MARTA

Marta holds both a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Science (Occupational Therapy) and a Master of Science Applied in Occupational Therapy from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Since 2017 she has provided therapy in pediatric settings including schools and acute care in Canada before moving to the UAE in 2024.  

Marta’s professional opportunities have led her to work with a range of ages and clientele, namely children presenting developmental delays, fine motor difficulties, post traumatic and neurological injuries (traumatic brain injury, fractures, strokes, burns), Autism, and developmental coordination disorder. She values multidisciplinary approaches and aims at creating a safe space for all children to empower them to reach their full potential. 

Her interest in continuing education and new professional experiences guided her to join kidsFIRST Medical Center. She conducts sessions in English, French, and Polish. 

NADINE

Nadine holds a bachelors honor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of the Free State in South Africa. Since graduating, Nadine has worked in a variety of special needs educational settings. Within these settings, Nadine worked with school aged children, specializing in areas of learning difficulties, dyspraxia, sensory processing, ADHD and Autism.  

Nadine has also had her own private practice and has worked within the clinic setting, where she worked with preschool aged children with developmental delays and other pediatric difficulties.

In addition to her skillset, Nadine qualified as an Ayres Sensory Integration trained therapist in 2018. 

Nadine is passionate about the wonderful impact that occupational therapy can make in a child’s life. She finds great joy working closely with educators, parents and the multidisciplinary team to ensure holistic treatment of learners.  “Little steps lead to big ones”

NATALIE

Natalie graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, with a BSc (OT) Honours in 2003. After working a short period of time in South Africa and in London in acute rehabilitation, Natalie began working at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh (2005), where she provided specialist OT assessment and intervention across a number of acute and community specialities, with a special interest in Pediatric Oncology and Neurology. In 2017, Natalie moved to Dubai and joined the kidsFIRST team.

Natalie is certified in Ayre's Sensory Integration and her pediatric experience includes autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, down's syndrome, developmental delay, dyspraxia and learning difficulties, among others.

She is compassionate and caring and feels strongly about enabling children and young people to be 'all that they can be'. Natalie is an enthusiastic team member and enjoys working in a multi-disciplinary team, ensuring patient care is holistic in nature.

REBECCA

Rebecca graduated with a Bachelor of Science with Honours from Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, UK in 2016 and has spent her career working in a range of community, acute and role emerging settings both in the UK for the NHS and in the UAE. Rebecca gained her Assessment of Motor and Processing Skills (AMPS) license in 2018.

Working with people from all ages and backgrounds, Rebecca focuses on how people function in their everyday lives, and considers any barriers they may be facing which prevents meaningful goals being reached. Rebecca has empowered many people to work towards achieving their goals by encouraging positive behavioral changes.

With an interest in pediatric occupational therapy, Rebecca has chosen to explore this area in the UAE following her move here in 2019, with a view to enabling children to reach their potential academically and developmentally.

SHRUTI

Shruti completed her undergraduate degree (B OccTher) at the University of Pretoria in 2006 and her master’s degree (MSc OT) through the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in 2019. Before moving to the UAE, Shruti worked in South Africa. After working for a short period in adult psychiatry, she transitioned to working in pediatrics and has been in the field since 2008. She has provided assessment and treatment services at private clinics and school-based therapy centers. She has also presented informative talks to parents and teachers.

Shruti has been certified in Ayre’s Sensory Integration (ASI) since 2010, as well as Trauma/Tension Releasing Exercises (TRE) since 2021. She works with children and teenagers with sensory processing disorders, dyspraxia, learning difficulties, developmental delays and ADHD, among others. 

Shruti enjoys working within a multidisciplinary team and is passionate about helping children to function well in the context of their families, as well as to reach their full potential at school. She is just as passionate about empowering teachers, parents and caregivers to support children for success.