School of Rehabilitation Therapy

Digital Storytelling in Action: Graduate Research Fellow shares stories from the UK case in Balancing Act

- 2 June 2026

Samaira Husein joined Balancing Act as an Undergraduate Summer Student Research Fellow in 2025, and went on to work with Principal Investigator Heather Aldersey throughout the 2025-26 academic year while taking the lead on the United States formal support provider interviews portion of the study.

In this video written and produced entirely by Samaira, she reflects on what being a carer means to her.

You can watch it here.

A still from Esther's video, where she is seen sat, facing the camera.

Graduate Research Fellow shares insights from the field in Ethiopia

- 29 May 2026

Esther Odan-Egwurube, who is nearing completion in her Masters of Rehabilitation Science, is also a Graduate Research Fellow in the SSHRC Partnership Grant Balancing Act. Esther has led on the UK formal support provider portion of the study, and recently produced a short video sharing her story and her insights from the case.

Watch along here.

Getachew sits behind the desk at the radio studio where his podcast was recorded.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni Highlight #6: Rediet Getachew Ayele

- 29 May 2026

Getachew Tadese, a Graduate Research Fellow with Balancing Act with a focus on the Ethiopia case study, recently made an appearance on the Grad Chat podcast, where he gave a fantastic overview of our findings from the Ethiopia case, as well as discussing his research methodology and next steps for his PhD project.

Listen here.

Rediet poses, smiling, with a pink blazer and top.

Alumni Profile

Reflections from OT student Valeria on her recent trip to Guatemala

- 18 December 2025

We have been highlighting the careers of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumni. In this edition we focus on Rediet Getachew Ayele, who graduated from the MSc Occupational Therapy program at Queen's.

Valeria stands, holding a microphone, smiling and addressing the group.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni Highlight #5: Rahel Olana

- 23 September 2025

Written by Valeria Acosta, Graduate Research Assistant on the Balancing Act project

"The best research you can do is talk to people." - Sir Terry Pratchett

Rahel Olana stands, wearing a black blazer on top of a green tee. She is smiling at the camera.

Alumni Profile

Using participatory methods to analyze Balancing Act data

- 4 September 2025

We have been highlighting the careers of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumni. In this edition we focus on Rahel Olana, who graduated from the MSc Occupational Therapy program at Queen's.

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A screenshot of the Zoom call between participatory analysis session facilitators (pictured on the top row of the screenshot) and participants in Guatemala (on the bottom row).