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Profile
Rebecca is an Assistant Professor within the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster. She completed a bachelor degree in Occupational Therapy at Queen's University, and a master’s of science and doctorate degree at the University of Toronto in Rehabilitation Science. As part of her doctoral studies, she also completed a collaborative program through the CHSRF/CIHR Ontario Training Centre in Health Services and Policy Research. Her master’s thesis was a qualitative study on how consumers of community mental health services come to understand their potential for work. Her doctoral dissertation explored the construction and implementation of recent changes to ODSP employment supports, and its impact on employment services for individuals living with mental illness. She received funding for her graduate work from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada and the Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation.
Rebecca has been involved in research exploring disability in the workplace, work and community participation for individuals living with mental illnesses, and the impact of policy on service delivery. She is currently developing a program of research around employment, community participation, and policy with a focus on services for individuals living with mental illnesses. Rebecca is a co-investigator on a SSHRC funded study exploring how benefit systems and work needs intersect for individuals living with episodic mental illnesses. She is also involved in research exploring the relationship between occupation, health and wellbeing, and positioning the concept of occupation in the public health domain.
Research Specialty
Rebecca has been involved in research exploring disability in the workplace, employment among individuals living with mental illness, and supported housing for persons with mental illnesses. Her focus is on how social and structural issues impact community participation and the delivery of services.
Fun Fact
When she is not working, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her family.
Taking Graduate Students
Taking graduate students in the coming year.
Courses Taught
MSc OT, McMaster University
2010-2011
Year I: Mental Health Stream Coordinator
Term 1: Wellness, Health & Occupation: Inquiry & Integration, PBT Tutor
Term 3: Disability, Development & Occupation: Inquiry & Integration, Large Group Seminar Coordinator at the McMaster Site and Term Chair
2009-2010
Term 1: Wellness, Health & Occupation: Inquiry & Integration, PBT Tutor
Term 2: Person, Environment & Occupation: Inquiry & Integration, Large Group Seminar Coordinator
Term 3: Disability, Development & Occupation Term: Inquiry & Integration, Large Group Seminar Coordinator at the McMaster Site
2008-2009
Term 3: Disability, Development & Occupation: Inquiry & Integration, Co-coordinator, Problem-Based Tutorial component of the course
Recent Research
Project Title: Episodic Disabilities in the Canadian Global Economy
Investigators: Ernie Lightman and Andrea Vick, Kirsh, B., Gewurtz, R., Yoshida, K. (and others)
Funding Agency: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada
Amount: $235,000 (Total Standard Research Grant, 410-2010-0178)
Funding Period: 2010-2014
Project Title: The Canadian Guide to Occupation, Health and Well-being: Consulting with Stakeholders
Investigators: Gewurtz, R., Moll, S., Krupa, T., Law, M.
Funding Agency: Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation
Amount: $5,000
Funding Period: July 2010-June 2011
Project Title: Towards the Development of an Education Framework for Mapping PBL and Professional Competencies
Investigators: Gewurtz, R. & Coman, L., Dhillon, S., Jung, B., MacIntyre, N., Solomon, P.
Funding Agency: Internal Grant – School of Rehabilitation Science Educational Research Fund
Amount: $3,000
Funding Period: August 2010 - January 2012 |
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Book Chapters
Kirsh, B. & Gewurtz, R. (2011). Organizational culture and work issues for individuals with mental health disabilities. In I.Z. Schultz & E.S. Rogers (Eds.), Handbook of work accommodation and retention in mental health. New York, NY: Springer.
Law, M., & Gewurtz, R. (2010). Productivity: Work and volunteer work outcomes. In M. Law & M.A. McColl (Eds.), Interventions, effects, and outcomes in Occupational Therapy (pp. 119-143). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Incorporated.
Law, M., & Gewurtz, R. (2010). Psycho-emotional outcomes. In M. Law & M.A. McColl (Eds.), Interventions, effects, and outcomes in Occupational Therapy (pp. 261-283). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Incorporated.
Journal Articles
Kirsh, B., Krupa, T., Cockburn, L., & Gewurtz, R. (2010) A Canadian model of work integration for persons with mental illnesses. Disability and Rehabilitation. 32(22)1833-1846. doi: 10.3109/09638281003734391
Gewurtz, R. & Kirsh, B. (2009). Disruption, disbelief and resistance: A meta-synthesis of disability in the workplace. Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation, 34 (1), 33-44. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2009-0900
Kirsh, B., Stergiou-Kita, M., Gewurtz, R., Dawson, D., Krupa, T., Lysaght, R., & Shaw, L. (2009). From Margins to mainstream: What do we know about work integration for persons with brain injury, mental illness, and intellectual disability? Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation, 32(4), 391-405. doi 10.3233/WOR-2009-0851
Krupa, T., Kirsh, B., Cockburn, L. & Gewurtz, R. (2009).Understanding the stigma of mental illness in employment. Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation, 33(4), 413-425. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2009-0890
Gewurtz, R., Stergiou-Kita, M., Shaw, L., Kirsh, B., & Rappolt, S. (2008). Qualitative meta-synthesis: Reflections on the utility and challenges in occupational therapy. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(5), 301-308. |
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