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UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy
Recent News
Dr. Alex Mihailidis Named Joint Scientific Director of Na-
tional Network of Centres of Excellence – AGE-WELL
Alex Mihailidis, Associate Professor in the Department
of OS&OT, has been appointed Joint Scientific Director of
AGE-WELL, a new national Network of Centres of Excel-
lence. Alex, who is also the Barbara G. Stymiest Chair in
Rehabilitation Technology Research at Toronto Rehabilita-
tion Institute – University Hospital Network, will be co-di-
recting the network with Andrew Sixsmith, Director of the
Gerontology Research Centre at Simon Fraser University.
The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Se-
niors), announced on January 19th that AGE-WELL will re-
ceive $36.6 million over five years as part of the national
Networks Centre of Excellence (NCE) program.
Aging Gracefully across Environments using Technol-
ogy to Support Wellness, Engagement, and Long Life –
AGE-WELL – “will use the world-class facilities at Toronto
Rehab and Simon Fraser University and a strong research
and industry partnership network across the country to es-
tablish Canada as a leader in designing and implementing
technology that contributes significantly to the well-being
of older people,” says Dr. Mihailidis.
To
learn
more
about
AGE-WELL
see
http://www.agewell-nce.ca/Congratulations Alex! We look forward to hearing
much more from AGE-WELL.
DEPARTMENTAL PROMOTIONS
AND APPOINTMENTS
Dr. Heather Colquhoun Appointed Assistant Professor
Dr. Heather Colquhoun was appointed Assistant Pro-
fessor in a tenure stream position in the Department of Oc-
cupational Science andOccupational Therapy in July 2014.
Heather has a very well-funded and productive pro-
gram of research in knowledge translation, which ad-
dresses the Department’s overriding interest in advancing
effective and cost-effective occupational therapy practices.
Heather completed her Canadian Institutes of Health Re-
search post-doctoral fellowship in May 2014. Her fellow-
ship, under the supervision of Dr. Jeremy Grimshaw,
Canada Research Chair in Health Knowledge Transfer and
Uptake, focuses on “Developing theory-derived evidence-
based interventions to increase evidence-based practice
behaviours in health care providers with a focus on reha-
bilitation”.
Heather’s post-doctoral studies built on her doctoral
dissertation, “The routine use of the Canadian Occupa-
tional Performance Measure by Occupational Therapists:
Effect on practice, outcomes, and therapists’ perceptions
of use”, and her earlier role as a coordinator of outcome
measurement and program evaluation at Baycrest.
Donna Barker Promoted to Senior Lecturer
Donna Barker, Director of Clinical Education in the De-
partment of Occupational Science andOccupational Ther-
apy and a faculty member since 2006, has been promoted
to Senior Lecturer, effective July 1, 2015.
Excellence in teaching and evidence of future peda-
gogical/professional development are required for promo-
tion to the position, and Donna’s student and peer
teaching evaluations and pedagogical and professional de-
velopments were deemed excellent by national standards.
“I am thrilled but truly not surprised by the Provost’s
approval of Donna’s promotion,” said Dr. Susan Rappolt,
Department Chair, “given Donna’s teaching innovations
and responsiveness to learners’ needs in her entry-level and
preceptor education, and her educational leadership
within the Department, among our hospital and commu-
nity partners, and in her collaborations with provincial and
national fieldwork colleagues.”
Everyone in the Department extends their congratula-
tions to Donna on her promotion.
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