College of Rehabilitation Sciences looks ahead at Homecoming event

Community life and technology were among the top themes as alumni gathered for the College of Rehabilitation Sciences Homecoming dinner and reception on Sept. 20. The event, held at Canada Inns Health Sciences Centre, featured presentations of research interests by four of the College’s newest faculty members.

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Study connects U of M to international physiotherapy database

A new study at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences will represent Canada in an international database that aims to help physical therapists detect abnormalities in neck movement in order to better understand causes of neck pain.

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College researcher, interns pilot high-tech safety program for dementia patients

Two engineering students from northeastern France worked at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences this summer on an innovative research program that aims to benefit the safety of patients with dementia.

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Their work was also highlighted on CTV News in July. Click to watch the report.

College of Rehabilitation Sciences partners with March of Dimes Canada to focus on stroke survivors

The College of Rehabilitation Sciences and March of Dimes Canada in May announced a partnership through which they will serve and meet the needs of people with disabilities across the country, with a specific focus on stroke survivors and caregivers.

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Leslie Johnson honoured with STRR award

Occupational therapy instructor Leslie Johnson was the first department of occupational therapy faculty member to be awarded at the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning Students’ Teacher Recognition Reception (STRR).

The award gives outstanding graduating students the opportunity to honour those teachers who have made important contributions to their education. The student is asked to recognize two teachers – one from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and one from their years at the U of M. MOT student Andreea Alexandrescu was selected to represent CoRS and recognized Johnson, who she called a professional role model.

“I have never had a teacher as nurturing and supportive as Leslie. Whether it is 8:00 a.m. on a Monday morning or 5:00 p.m. on a Friday afternoon, Leslie is always standing at the front of the class with a big smile on her face, excited to teach us. Her positivity and uplifting energy makes every class she teaches a warm, safe and comfortable space,” Alexandrescu said.

Interprofessional Experience on First Nations opens Rady students’ eyes, builds collaboration

Courtney Silvari, who is entering her second year of occupational therapy, is one of 25 Rady Faculty of Health Sciences students that took part in the Interprofessional Experience in an Indigenous Community this summer.

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Student Research Symposium educates, inspires

Over 50 projects, with topics ranging from HIV stigmatization to the health effects of electronic cigarettes were covered at the CoRS Student Research Symposium on June 19 at the Bannatyne campus.

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Inuit teens explore health careers at U of M

On Aug. 15, a group of Winnipeg-based Inuit teens  visited Bannatyne Campus as part of Manitoba Inuit Association’s (MIA) Inuit Education Connections Program. The program, which helps increase Inuit student graduation and enrollment in post-secondary education, is in its third year and has been designed from an Inuit perspective. 

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Science writers tour college

In May 2019, the College of Rehabilitation Sciences hosted 16 science experts from across Canada as part of the 2019 Science Writers and Communicators Conference.

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Fresh air

Respiratory therapy assistant professor Dr. Louise Chartrand was profiled in the summer 2019 issue of RadyUM. She is leading the way as one of the only tenure-track academics in Canada in a respiratory therapy program.

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MPT student takes first-place award

Congratulations to second-year MPT student Chelsea Scheller for winning first-place overall in the undergrad/master’s category of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management Research Day student poster competition.

Moni Fricke

Dr. Moni Fricke, part-time faculty member with the department of physical therapy, was appointed as director of the Office of Interprofessional Collaboration (OIPC), effective Aug. 1. The mandate of the OIPC is to develop learning activities for collaborative care that can be used in classroom, simulation and clinical and/or practice settings based on a conceptual model/framework that embeds the principles of inter-professional collaboration and patient-centred care; and reflects a continuum of learning and assessment of inter-professional collaboration. Click to read more.

Leanne Leclair

Dr. Leanne Leclair, department head for the occupational therapy department, was elected as president of the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy University Programs (ACOTUP) in May. ACOTUP is a national organization of Canada’s 14 university programs in occupational therapy.

Natalie Macleod Schroeder

Dr. Natalie Macleod Schroeder, director of clinician assessment programs and OT instructor, was recently appointed as committee chair for the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists Conference Scientific Program.

Mike McMurray

Physical therapy instructor Mike McMurray was one of six therapists selected from across Canada as a core Physiotherapist for the Canadian Medical Team for the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. He spent 23 days in July and August attending to elite athletes competing in bowling, sailing and judo.

Jacquie Ripat

Dr. Jacquie Ripat, associate professor in the department of occupational therapy, was appointed to the Accessible and Inclusion Sub-Committee for the City of Winnipeg’s Human Rights Committee of Council in July. The committee was established in 2018 to provide a public perspective on human rights, equity, diversity, immigration, age-friendly, access and disabilities, and peace-related issues affecting the community and civic operations.

Congratulations to the College of Rehabilitation Sciences faculty members on the research and scholarly accomplishments that have been reported to us over the past few months.

GRANTS

University of Manitoba Research Grants Program (2019-2020) – Webber, S.C., Thille, P., Wittmeier, K., Cain, P. Physical Therapist’s Beliefs about Bodies and Health. ($8,416)

College of Rehabilitation Sciences Endowment Fund (2019-2020) – Webber, S.C., MacNeil, B., Lavallee, R. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Admissions Requirements in the Master of Physical Therapy Program. ($5,912)

Canadian Institute for Health Research Project Grant (2019-2022) – Strachan, S., Jung, M., Ahmed, R., Ferguson, L., Fortier, M., Kowalski, K., McGavock, J., Webber, S.C., Orr, M. Community Partner: Reh-Fit Centre. Examining the impact of a self-compassion intervention on physical activity behaviour among people with prediabetes: A pilot and feasibility study. ($145,000)

Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research (MCNHR) (2019-2021) –Collaborative Research Grant Program. Strachan, S., Lobchuk, M., Hoplock, L., Webber, S.C., Parsons, J., Halas, G., Wener, P., Dika, C., Biesheuvel, S. Perspective-taking in conversations about health behaviour change: A collaborative knowledge-to-action project. ($7,500)

Research Manitoba and the Centre on Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) (2019-2020) – Sobol, A., Webber, S.C., Choukou, A., Reddy, G. Measuring life space in people living with dementia using a single wearable device capable of indoor location monitoring and outdoor GPS tracking, and determining relationships with caregiver burden. ($10,600)

PRESENTATIONS

Barclay, R., Webber, S. (presenter), Ripat, J., Tate, B. – Social Participation in Adults aged 45-85 – The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Poster presentation. World Congress of Physical Therapy (WCPT). May 2019, Geneva, Switzerland.

Barclay, R. – Invited to participate in the International Response Shift-in Sync working group (endorsed by International Society for Quality of Life Research). Leiden/Oegstgeest, Netherlands, September 26-28, 2019.

Illuminate Speaker Series

Building healthy rural communities through participation

Speaker: Dr. Nerida Hyett

Dr. Nerida Hyett is a lecturer and advisor in occupational therapy at the La Trobe rural Health School of La Trobe University, the largest rural health school in Australia. She has expertise in participation-based research methods that involve consumer and community participation using co-design and co-production. Her teaching scholarship is interlinked, and is focused on how to develop allied health graduates cultural capabilities, which are critical for working with socially and culturally diverse communities including with First Nations peoples.

October 2, 2019
Room 264  | Apotex Centre |  750 McDermot Ave. 

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U of M Ride for JDRF

The Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF is a high-energy stationary cycling event that will challenge Canadians to fundraise to accelerate the pace of research breakthroughs. Join a team to help find a cure for Type 1 diabetes. Register today!

Friday, November 15
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. |  Brodie Atrium

For pledge forms, to volunteer or for more information, contact Barbara Shay or Kerri Chase, event organizers.

Augmented Human International Conference

Dr. Amine Choukou, OT assistant professor, will co-chair the 11th edition of the Augmented Human International Conference. This is the first time the event is being held in Canada. The conference will focus on scientific contributions towards augmenting human capabilities through technology for increased quality of life. The deadline for submissions is January 29, 2020. Selected topics include but are not limited to brain-computer interfaces and artificial intelligence, smart technologies and smart cities, medicine in rehabilitation and sports, and political and social sciences.  

May 27 - 29, 2020
Manitoba Room, Fort Garry Campus, University of Manitoba

More details will be announced soon.

Fall Convocation

Thursday, November 7
2:00 p.m  | Brodie Centre Atrium