Welcome to the tenth edition of the School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, email newsletter.

The fall has been a very busy season for the School of Rehabilitation Science. We welcomed approximately 115 new students to the Professional Master’s programs in Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy and 7 new students to the Research Master’s programs in Rehabilitation Science on September 6, 2005. Our faculty received research grants and continue to contribute actively to journal articles and texts.

This fall also brought changes to our links through the Northern Studies Stream program (NSS) at Lakehead University, Thunder Bay. As of November 1st, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) took over the administrative and financial management of health sciences programs and the NSS. We look forward to developing an effective working relationship with NOSM.

On November 18th, we celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2005 professional master’s students in occupational therapy and physiotherapy. In June 2006, we are planning to host the 10th and 5th year class reunions of the OT and PT classes of 1996 and 2001 respectively; further announcements for this major event are forthcoming.

As we prepare for the 2005 holiday season, we would like to thank faculty, staff, professional associates, clinical community, alumni and students for their contributions toward a successful academic year, and we look forward to seeing everyone in January 2006.

Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable holiday season!

As always, we welcome your feedback and news - send it to collinsh@mcmaster.ca

Warm Regards,

Mary Law, Associate Dean, School of Rehabilitation Science

TIME TO CELEBRATE! 10 AND 5 YR. CLASS REUNIONS

CHECK your mail! Announcement to arrive shortly!  The SRS and Alumni Office invite the graduates of the OT and PT Classes of 1996 and 2001 to come and celebrate their 10th and 5th year anniversary on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11, 2006.

In preparation for this major event, the Reunion Planning Committee, comprising Susan Brandon, PT ’01, Iona MacRitchie, OT ’01, Liliana Coman, PT ’96, Pam Kjertinge, OT ’96, Laura Stewart, Year 2 PT, Sarah Brunetti, Year 2 OT, Swapnil Rege, Year 1 PT, Marisa Loduca, FHS Alumni Officer,and Helena Collins, OT/PT Program Administrator, have been busy planning and discussing various exciting activities to make this a fabulous event. The announcement and a survey outlining a proposed agenda were sent in early December to the respective classes asking for input and ideas. Suggestions are very welcome! So… graduates of 1996 and 2001 set your creative wheels in motion and send us your suggestions and feedback by January 15, 2006 to Marisa Loduca, Fax: (905) 524-0069; email: loducam@mcmaster.ca

We look forward to hearing from you in January and also look forward to coordinating a wonderful reunion weekend for you this June 2006!

A Special Thanks to our Supporters...

The School of Rehabilitation Science would like to send a warm thank you to our many alumni, faculty, staff and friends who made a contribution to The School of Rehabilitation Science Graduate Bursary this year. We greatly appreciate your generosity and support. All gifts, large and small, are important since they help the bursary fund grow (much like a financial investment fund) creating a greater impact with a larger award for our deserving students.
We are delighted to announce that the Ontario government under its program, the Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS), will provide matching dollars for any funds raised towards our bursary fund. Now, more than ever, gifts to bursaries at McMaster will provide long-term rewards. Donors will have an opportunity to enhance the value of their gift by leveraging these matching funds.
Supporting students through the School of Rehabilitation Science Graduate Bursary is a rewarding way to invest in the future of our outstanding OT and PT students. To find out more or to make a contribution to The School of Rehabilitation Science Graduate Bursary call us at 905-525-9140, ext. 26979 or visit McMaster's secure online giving website at www.mcmaster.ca/ua/alumni/giving. Tax receipts will be issued for all gifts. To qualify for a 2005 tax receipt, gifts must be postmarked on or before December 31, 2005. Thank you for your consideration and support!

AWARDS

Congratulations and Best wishes to the respective recipients on their achievements!

One-Time Entrance Scholarships 2005-2006

Presented by the McMaster Health Sciences Graduate Program, the following Year 1 students received a one-time entrance scholarship of $1000 for academic year 2005-2006:

Occupational Therapy:
Lisa Cosentino
Kim Harding
Lindsay Henderson
Maria Mullally
Julie Park
Erin Robertson
Nadine Russell
Carrie Solomon

Physiotherapy:
Sherri Fry
Melissa Harvey
Leana Marchand
Denise Mortley
Sara Neely
Alexis Officer
Marianne Stevens
Magda Wilczynski

Academic Awards 2005

The 2005 academic awards were presented to the following graduates in the Class of 2005 at the November 18, 2005 Convocation Reception:

• The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists Student Award – Emily Levitt
• The Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists Prize – Michelle Fortier
• The Professional Practica Prize – Antonella Cerrone
  Shari Lowe Book Award – Sally Weeks
• The OT Northern Studies Stream Book Award – Kate Stadnyk
• The Occupational Therapy Innovation Award – Jillian Bullee
  
• The Canadian Physiotherapy Association Award – Omar Aboelela
• The Hamilton District Ontario Physiotherapy Association Book Prize – Joanna Gorny
• The Canadian Physiotherapy Cardio-Respiratory Society Excellence Award – Omar Aboelela
• The Eleanor Lees Prize – Sarah Sakhuja
• The PT Northern Studies Stream Book Award – Bashir Versi
• The Physiotherapy Professional Advancement Award – Omar Aboelela
• The Canadian Physiotherapy Association – Paediatric Division Award – Melanie St. Amour
  

The George and Alice Rivett Ontario Graduate Scholarships, 2005

Presented to Heather Lawrence, graduate, PT Class of 2005. Through the bequest of George Rivett, the George and Alice Rivett Ontario Graduate Scholarship is awarded to a graduate student as part of an Ontario Graduate Scholarship in any graduate program.

Government of Bermuda Bursary

Presented to Nicola White, Year 1 PT international student. The award of $15,000 over two years, will provide Nicola, a national of Bermuda, the opportunity to pursue international study at McMaster in the Physiotherapy Program.

Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy Therapy Scholarship

Presented to Laura Bradley, Year 2 OT student. The annual scholarship of $2000 is to assist students who wish to enter the field of therapy services for people with physical disabilities.

Catherine Smith Student Award

The Catherine Smith Student Award was established by the SRS to honour the late Catherine Smith, a long time staff member who passed away in the spring of 2005. The award is valued at $500 and will be presented to an OT and PT student in Year 2 who exemplify the characteristics of Catherine Smith. Catherine was loved for her qualities of honesty, integrity, a commitment to hard work and perseverance. She was also feisty and not afraid to question or challenge using a constructive approach. The inaugural award was presented to Kim Hewitt, Year 2 OT student and Tamara David, Year 2 PT student.

State Farm Canadian “Centennial” Scholarship: Professional/Graduate

Presented to Sara Neely, Year 1 PT student. The scholarship of $4000 is awarded to students over two years who successfully satisfy the educational institution’s requirements on the first writing.

The Mohawk College 2005 Alumni of Distinction Award

Presented to Paul Stratford, PT faculty. The Alumni of Distinction Award is presented by Mohawk College to recognize prominent alumni for their unique career achievements, their commitment to help others, and most importantly, the extraordinary contributions they make within their own communities.

Honorary Degree from Laval University

Awarded to Peter Rosenbaum, Professor in the McMaster Department of Pediatrics and Canada Research Chair in Childhood Disability Research. The honorary degree from Laval University recognizes Peter's contributions to the health of children with cerebral palsy.

BEST WISHES TO ....

Sue Berry, Founding Coordinator of the OT/PT Northern Studies Stream at Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, on her recent appointment as Director, Undergraduate Community Learning with the newly established Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) in Thunder Bay. Much success in your new role, Sue!

Congratulations to Heather Colquhoun, Davnielle Levac, Stephen Burnie, Sarah Beech and Jacqueline Minezes, students in the MSc Rehabilitation Science thesis-based program, who have received funding from the QLP-CIHR Training Program in Rehabilitation Research – “Developing and Using Rehabilitation Research Evidence to Enhance Quality of Life.” Each of the trainees have diverse research interests and the SRS is excited about their pursuit of further training in Qualify of Life and Rehabilitation Research.

Well Done Sue Baptiste, Susan Strong and team members! The College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario has adopted their McMaster Model for Functional Assessment and its five stages as the template for Draft Standards for OT assessments. The standards are currently under review throughout the province.

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTS!

Congratulations to the following investigators:

Prkachin K., Solomon P., Canadian Institutes for Health Research, $269.584.00. Cohn J. June 2005 – June 2008. Properties of Pain Expression: Structure and Inference.

Faber K., MacDermid J., Physician Services Inc., $77,600. 2006-2008. An Empirical Model of Disablement following Distal Radius Fracture.

MEET OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER

Greg Spadoni was honored to be chosen as the community profile for the tenth edition of the SRS newsletter. Since 1996, this PT alumnus has not strayed far from his former educational homestead. Greg graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Physiotherapy after a memorable and rewarding two years of study. The relationships that he fostered and the mentorship that he enjoyed played a key role in his future at McMaster.

After graduation, he embarked on a career in orthopaedic physiotherapy at Proactive Physiotherapy in Hamilton. The focus of his practice is manual and manipulative therapy. He received the Diploma of Advanced Manual and Manipulative Physiotherapy from the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) in 2000. During that time, he also had the opportunity to participate in clinical research, then conducted by Paul Stratford, PT faculty. Work from this study won Greg the Silver Quill Award from the CPA in 1999 for Clinical Research. His work with Stratford encouraged Greg to pursue graduate studies. In 2000, he enrolled in the newly established Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science, a thesis-based graduate program and graduated in 2002 with the degree, MSc(RS). Greg has also served the profession for four years as a member of the Executive of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Therapy and is currently the incumbent President.

Greg acknowledges that “the positive experiences and mentors that I had at McMaster inspired me to become an educator in physiotherapy.” In 1999, he taught continuing education courses for the Orthopaedic Division of the CPA to practicing physiotherapists. His involvement as a clinical preceptor and lab assistant in the Physiotherapy Program laid the groundwork for his aspiration to become a course instructor in the SRS program. In 2002, Greg was recruited as the coordinator and instructor of Unit 2 Clinical Skills for the professional master’s program in Physiotherapy. In 2003, McMaster University granted Greg the appointment of Assistant Clinical Professor (part-time) in the SRS.

Greg writes, “I credit all of my success in Physiotherapy to the support of my family. My wife, Carolyn, and children, Katie and Liam, make for a wonderful home life. Having active children often facilitates the need for treatment of lots of aches and sprains, and dad is currently the proud trainer for Liam’s Atom Hornets hockey team. Go Hornets Go!”

For Greg, McMaster University has been a primary staple in his life since registering in his first undergraduate course in 1984. He enjoys his association with the McMaster SRS, because it provides him with the opportunity to work with academic colleagues of the highest caliber and teach in an innovative and exciting physiotherapy program. Undoubtedly, Greg plans to be affiliated with his home university for years to come, and the School of Rehabilitation Science is extremely grateful to Greg’s continued passion, commitment and dedication in educating future young physiotherapists like himself. Thank you Greg!

ACTIVITIES

Our Global Village

KENYA – As exotic as the term “Rongo” sounds, the small village of Rongo in Kenya, is currently home to Julie Hard, PT ’03 and her partner, Mike. Although internet is unpredictable, Julie has shared the events of her life in Kenya with many of us in the PT program, when cables are up and running. Julie initially visited Kisii, Kitere, and other neighbouring towns in Kenya in August-September 2003, as part of her final clinical placement. Two years late, Julie remains committed to helping the people she has come to know and love in this very remote area of Kenya. In November 2005, Julie and Mike immersed themselves in the community disability program (continuing the work of Sarah Brown and Blythe Dalziel, PT ’05 who participated in this program during their final clinical placement). Work concentrates on treating children with disabilities; generally, Julie does “the physical assessments and treatment programs; Mike takes photos and amuses the children while they wait their turn.” Sometimes, “Mike is required to assist holding the odd child down during stretching exercises, and helping the school at Kitere by fixing their computers.” Multitasking is a given in this part of the world, as is multi cultures. Julie wrote, “missing home and the Halloween season, we decided to also celebrate Halloween here despite all of the strange looks that we received from the Okidis (hosts) and their neighbours… we bought a pumpkin from the market (it was primarily green and white but was the only one with any hint of orange) and made a happy Jack O’ Lantern so as not to scare the kids.” All and sundry were invited: “the watchman’s children, the neighbour’s kids and Mr. Okidi’s cousin’s little ones were invited… they were so cute… when we brought out the pumpkin with a candle inside they were totally in amazement.”

Julie celebrates Halloween with her Kenyan neighbours!

AUSTRALIA - Anne DeNure, OT ’05 completed her final 8-week clinical placement at Tamworth Base Hospital in June – August 2005. Arranged through the University of Newcastle, “Anne provided the local OTs with some interesting insights into the similarities and differences between the Canadian and Australian health systems.” Having completed her previous clinical placements in rural Ontario, including the Northern Studies Stream, Anne was interested in the Australian indigenous experience and “appreciated the time that Amy and Garry Creighton gave her in sharing their cultural perspectives.” Anne enjoyed her “Australian experience” and discovered that “watching out for kangaroos made a change from moose!” We would like to thank the editors of the University of Newcastle Newsletter for sharing Anne’s news with us.

Our Global Links

Mary Edwards, OT Professional Practicum Coordinator recently received greetings from Mohammad Mosayed Ullah, the new Course Coordinator, Department of Occupational Therapy, Bangladesh Health Professions Institute, the academic institute of the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP). Ullah acknowledges that in relation “to the excellent relationship the CRP has with McMaster University ”, the CRP appreciates the “contribution overseas universities like yours make to the development of the Occupational Therapy profession in Bangladesh.” The CRP looks forward to sustain links with the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University , through subsequent clinical placements and sharing of educational activities.

MEET OUR FACULTY

Penny Salvatori

Penny Salvatori is an Associate Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science. She began her affiliation with McMaster in the early 1980’s as a part-time faculty member in the Department of Medicine, Division of Rehabilitation. At that time, she was a teaching master in the OT diploma program at Mohawk College. She became the Chair of the OT Program at Mohawk in 1985, and was then involved in developing the proposal for two new OT and PT second-degree baccalaureate programs at McMaster. The two new programs were subsequently approved, the Mohawk OT and PT Diploma Programs were phased out, a new School of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy was established at McMaster, and students were first admitted to the new BHSc OT and PT Programs in the fall of 1990. Penny served as the inaugural OT Program Chair at McMaster for eight years until 1998, having led the Program through two successful accreditations.

A well-deserved sabbatical provided Penny with the time to pursue her interests in clinical research related to aging and quality of life issues for people with developmental disabilities, as well as her interests in educational research related to the admissions process, the assessment of clinical competence, ethics education, and interprofessional education.

Since her return from sabbatical in June 2000, Penny’s role within the School has involved a more balanced combination of teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities. She currently devotes the majority of her time to education. In the MSc(OT) Program, she is Term 2 Chair, Term 2 PBT coordinator and tutor, Term 6 Inquiry and Integration course coordinator, Term 6 PBT course coordinator and tutor, and preceptor for role-emerging placements. She also tutors in the Program for Faculty Development workshops on problem-based learning, role of the tutor, and clinical teaching. Most recently, she has assumed a new role as a longitudinal facilitator in the Professional Competencies stream of the new COMPASS curriculum in the MD Program.

For the past several years, Penny’s administrative responsibilities in the School of Rehabilitation Science have included the roles of Department Education Coordinator (which entails managing all the part-time clinical faculty, Professional Associates, and teaching assistants) and Chair OT/PT Admissions Committee. In the Faculty of Health Sciences, at the request of the Associate Dean Academic, Penny led the development of a new interprofessional education (IPE) curriculum for all health sciences students, and she continues to serve on the Interprofessional Education Advisory Committee, chaired by Patty Solomon, which has been charged with implementing the new IPE curriculum. Penny has recently joined the FHS Finance Committee. External to the university, Penny Chairs the Rehabilitation Science Advisory Committee at Mohawk College for the OTA and PTA programs, is a member of the Bioethics Review Committee at Associated Medical Services, and has been involved in various capacities with the Board of Directors of Rygiel: Supports for Community Living which provides residential services in the Hamilton community for individuals with multiple disabilities and complex health needs.

Penny’s research interests continue to be focused in education. She is currently involved in several projects related to the moral development and ethics education of OT and PT students, the predictive validity of the admissions process (particularly the new multiple mini-interview process), the use of reflective portfolios, the value of personal progress testing as a self-directed learning tool, interprofessional communication skills labs, and intraprofessional education in fieldwork settings. Two chapters in a recently published book serve to illustrate Penny’s contributions in the area of educational research and development:

Salvatori, P., & Solomon, P. (2005). Interprofessional Education. In P. Solomon, & S. Baptiste (Eds.), Innovations in Rehabilitation Sciences Education (pp.97-113). New York: Springer.

Salvatori, P. (2005). Evidence-Based Admissions in Rehabilitation Science. In P. Solomon, & S. Baptiste (Eds.), Innovations in Rehabilitation Sciences Education (pp.158-175). New York: Springer.

Patty Solomon

Patty Solomon, PhD. has been with the School of Rehabilitation Science since its inception in 1989, where she was involved in developing the first curriculum for the Physiotherapy Program at McMaster University. From 1996 - 2003 she was the Assistant Dean of the Physiotherapy Program. She is a Professor at the School, teaching and tutoring a number of Units in the Physiotherapy Program. Her research interests are focused on HIV and disability, as well as effectiveness and outcomes of educational processes. Currently she is leading the implementation of interprofessional education within the Faculty of Health Sciences. She is the principal investigator on a Health Canada grant to establish and evaluate a “virtual” Institute for Interprofessional Education.

Patty’s research has also explored how to incorporate people who have HIV into educational programs. One of these studies involved training a number of adults, who have HIV, to be tutors and facilitators in small groups. The research looked at the impact this had on student learning, as well as the impact on the individuals living with HIV. Along with Dr. Seanne Wilkins, Patty has also received a CIHR grant to study participation issues in women living with HIV. For more information on the rehabilitation needs of people who have HIV, go to the Canadian Working Group on HIV and Rehabilitation web site at:www.hivandrehab.ca.

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