A Busy Summer and an Exciting Autumn Ahead!

| 1 September 2015 | 172 views

As the days shorten and the air becomes crisp, autumn brings with it fresh beginnings and an end to a busy summer for the School of Rehabilitation Therapy. During the summer months we welcomed new faculty, prepared for the upcoming academic year, launched new programs, and laid the groundwork for some exciting initiatives!

All of us at the School were pleased to welcome two new faculty members, Dr. Nora Fayed (Occupational Therapy) and Dr. Vince DePaul (Physical Therapy). Along with new faces, the School’s two research centres moved into new spaces. The Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) moved from Botterell Hall to Kingston Hall, and the International Centre for the Advancement of Community Based Rehabilitation (ICACBR) moved from its previous location on Albert Street to the office that CIMVHR vacated in Botterell Hall.

In late July, the second Functional Anatomy Boot-Camp provided an opportunity to meet many of the fall’s incoming students who, in addition to participants from other universities and programs, travelled from as far as Newfoundland to get a head start on the 2015-16 academic year! In addition to preparing to welcome the fall’s incoming students – 74 in Occupational Therapy, 74 in Physical Therapy and 11 in Rehabilitation Science, including 3 international PhD students who are part of the QEII Scholars project, we also welcomed the first cohort of Aging and Health students – 15 in total – at a four day on-site intensive in August.

he new Aging and Health programs, which include a Graduate Diploma and Master of Science, received provincial approval in May. These innovative programs build on the expertise in aging and health that exists across Queen’s University and will prepare students to help address the needs of the growing population of older adults in Canada. The multi-disciplinary programs, housed at the School of Rehabilitation Therapy, focus on aging with an emphasis on health and healthy living, and are delivered in an executive-style blended format that includes intensive-onsite sessions and online components. For more information on these new programs, visit: http://rehab.queensu.ca/programs/aghe.

Throughout the summer, we have also been busy planning for October’s Homecoming festivities as well as our upcoming 50th Anniversary celebrations. The 3rd Annual Homecoming Brunch and Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony will be held at the Donald Gordon Centre on Saturday, October 24th. The Alumni accepting awards this year are: Neil Pearson (PT 1985), Richard Lenard (OT 1995), and Yvonne Chan (RHBS 1997). The Brunch is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with classmates and learn more about what is happening at the School; everyone is welcome to attend. More information on Homecoming and to purchase Brunch tickets, please visit: https://rehab.queensu.ca/about/homecoming

As 2017 and our 50th Anniversary approach, we are excited to be working with volunteers from the first graduating class (1970) who have delayed their 45th reunion in order to celebrate in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary! Anyone who is interested in being involved in the planning activities, please feel free to contact me via email: marcia.finlyason@queensu.ca

In short, a busy summer full of hard work and accomplishments makes way for an exciting autumn full of new opportunities!

Welcome to our new students and faculty and warm wishes for a successful year,

Dr. Marcia Finlayson

School of Rehabilitation Therapy