3
-
2
4
7
B
A
R
R
S
T
R
E
E
T
•
R
E
N
F
R
E
W
,
O
N
T
A
R
I
O
K
7
V
1
J
6
•
1
-
6
1
3
-
4
3
2
-
9
4
9
1
•
W
W
W
.
A
C
O
T
U
P
-
A
C
P
U
E
.
C
A
A
S
S
O
C
I
A
T
I
O
N
O
F
C
A
N
A
D
I
A
N
O
C
C
U
P
A
T
I
O
N
A
L
T
H
E
R
A
P
Y
U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y
P
R
O
G
R
A
M
S
Queen’s Homecoming
and Distinguished
Alumni Awards
ACOTUP/ACPUE is a national organization
that promotes and develops occupational therapy
education and research with an understanding
of issues in a global context.
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 22 – 2014
S
chool of Rehabilitation Therapy faculty member and Queen’s
alumna, Diana Hopkins-Rosseel, and her husband, John
Rosseel, wanted to find a way to honour the successes of
alumni, but from an unusual angle.
While many awards exist for strictly academic pursuits, Diana
and John wished to recognize alumni who were not only leaders
in their areas of practice but also in their communities. In 2013,
with the help of Professor Hopkins-Rosseel, the School of Rehabil-
itation Therapy launched the Distinguished Alumni Awards. The
Awards are given annually, at the School’s Homecoming Brunch,
to a Queen’s alumni from each of the Occupational Therapy, Phys-
ical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science Programs.
This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award in Occupational Ther-
apy was presented to Sandra Hobson, OT’76. Since her graduation
from Queen’s, Sandra has demonstrated an unwavering commit-
ment to her profession, her community and to the highest stan-
dards of clinical practice, education, and research. Sandra’s career
accomplishments include over a decade of clinical practice as an
occupational therapist; two decades of teaching at the undergrad-
uate and graduate levels; membership on the OT Now editorial
board; and having been honoured as a Fellow of the Canadian As-
sociation of Occupational Therapists. Sandra’s contributions to es-
tablishing a rehabilitation department at the Belarusian State
Medical University in Minsk were recognized by that institution,
who granted her an Honourary Doctorate in 2003. Throughout
her career, Sandra found countless ways to bring an occupational
therapy perspective to supporting and bettering her community.
In this regard, if Sandra was not serving on boards or committees
of organizations like the Council for London Seniors or the Alzheimer
Society of Canada, she could be found dressed up as ‘Tich’ the Clown,
entertaining children in way that made each one feel special and in-
cluded.
At this year’s Homecoming Brunch, Distinguished Alumni Awards
were also presented to Barbara Purdie, PT’79 and Dr. Catherine Lysack,
MSc RHBS’92. Barbara is physiotherapist specializing in pediatric re-
habilitation and has served as a clinical coordinator and preceptor for
Queen’s Physiotherapy interns for approximately 25 years. Dr. Lysack
is a graduate of the Queen’s Rehabilitation Science program, and in her
comments noted the importance of her Master’s degree on her path
towards becoming an educator and researcher with a strong commit-
ment to communities and diverse cultures. She is also an internationally
known occupational therapist who currently serves as the Acting Dean
of Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at
Wayne State University in Detroit. Her scholarship focuses on examin-
ing the social and environmental factors that influence rehabilitation
outcomes for people with disabilities.
The three Award winners are outstanding individuals who have
demonstrated leadership both in their professional and personal lives.
Queen’s School of Rehabilitation Therapy feels very fortunate to have
been part of their journeys and to have them as members of its alumni
community.
Award founder, Diana Hopkins-Rosseel (L)
and Award winner, Sandra Hobson (R), in
Queen's colours at Homecoming Brunch!
Dr. Catherine Lysack