Siraj Sharma, 87, a leader in occupational therapy

Siraj Sharma, 87, of Plymouth Meeting, a native of Hyderabad, India, whose influence in the field of occupational therapy was felt here and abroad, died Tuesday, Jan. 12, of interstitial lung disease at home.

A pioneer in her field, Mrs. Sharma was a member of one of the first graduating classes of occupational therapy students in South Asia and was the first Indian student to receive a Colombo Plan Scholarship to study at the London School of Occupational Therapy in 1952.

She continued to blaze trails after her graduation as the liaison between the Occupational Therapy School in Bombay (now Mumbai) and the United Nations Rehabilitation Team in the 1950s.

She led and managed the occupational therapy department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi from 1962 to 1970.

Once in the United States in 1971, Mrs. Sharma practiced at the University of Pennsylvania's occupational therapy department, Camden County Hospital, Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry, and the VA Hospital in Philadelphia. She retired in 1994.

She went on to conduct groundbreaking research on a team approach to rehabilitation of injured and handicapped people.

She was twice selected to represent the World Federation of Occupational Therapists at the World Health Organization (Southeast Asia) in New Delhi as an expert adviser in occupational therapy.

Mrs. Sharma made many presentations on her research, and she wrote and published widely. Her areas of expertise included rheumatoid arthritis and hand function, treatments for frozen shoulders, and other types of occupational therapy treatments.

"Mrs. Sharma was admired and deeply respected for her lifelong commitment and passion in serving the needs of others, locally, nationally, and globally," her family said. "She inspired many to change their lives in a positive way."

Mrs. Sharma was active with the Indian community in the United States. She served for many years as president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Association of Indians in America, and a member of the Pan Asian Association of Greater Philadelphia, Asian American Congress, and Council of Indian Organizations in Greater Philadelphia.

Gov. Robert P. Casey appointed her to the Pennsylvania Heritage Affairs Commission.

Mrs. Sharma's maiden name was Siraj Syed Ali. She is survived by Satya Sharma, her husband of 57 years; sons Navin and Suhail; five grandchildren; and relatives around the world.

Plans for a memorial gathering were pending.

bcook@phillynews.com

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