About
Dr. Kessler is an Associate Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen’s University, Canada. She trained as an occupational therapist at the University of Manitoba and received her MSc. at Dalhousie University. She completed her PhD at the University of Ottawa. During her Doctoral studies, Dr. Kessler was the recipient of the CIHR Vanier Canada Scholarship. Dr. Kessler did postdoctoral fellowships in Primary Care at the Bruyère Research Institute and at the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Dr Kessler is a recognized trainer for Occupational Performance Coaching which is a key focus of her research.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ottawa)
Master of Science (Occupational Therapy, Dalhousie University)
Bachelor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Occupational Therapy (University of Manitoba)
Research
Dr. Kessler’s research focusses on understanding the experiences of people living with chronic health conditions, as well as developing and testing of interventions and models of care to improve community reintegration and participation in personally valued activities among people with chronic health conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s’ disease. Her research is centered on interventions and approaches that engage and empower the person to manage their care.
Current Research Projects
Supervision
Dr. Kessler supervises students in the programs listed below. To learn more about her students and alumni, visit the Our Community pages listed below.
Dr. Kessler frequently has opportunities for Master’s, PhD, and Post-doctoral trainees.
Peer Reviewed Publications
For a list of Dr. Kessler’s publications, please refer to her Google Scholar Profile.
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