ACOTUP - Newsletter - Issue 27 - 2016

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faculty and staff in sponsored luncheons and a catered
dinner.
Dr. Sherrilene Classen, the Founding Director of the
program is very pleased with the orientation weekend.
She views this event as the launch of “a creative idea,
deeply embedded in a scholarly model of driving rehabil-
itation practice and science, and fueled by emerging so-
cietal needs demanding excellent clinical services in
fitness to drive screening, assessment and intervention for
medically at-risk drivers through the lifespan. This innova-
tive program focuses on further developing occupational
therapists, and other health care professionals, through
specialized skills, advanced practice behaviours, leader-
ship activities, and the critical appraisal of research in the
area of driving rehabilitation. The outcome of the program
is to have a cadre of driving rehabilitation therapists,
specifically trained, to answer to the complex mobility
needs of society.”
Students will continue with their course work over the
next three semesters and revisit campus for an on-site
weekend of competency training, and then competency
testing. During this time they will also defend their re-
search projects. Dr. Alvarez, the research course instructor
comments: “the coursework in the program is designed
to provide students with the necessary knowledge and
skills to become scholarly driving rehabilitation therapists
committed to evidence-based practice. For example, the
research course is currently preparing students to identify,
critically appraise, critique, and integrate best evidence
into their driving rehabilitation practice”.
We expect to graduate our first cohort of students in
February 2017. The Graduate Chair of the programDr. Jef-
frey Holmes states that he was “both impressed with the
national reach as well as the clinical diversity that was ap-
parent when the first class of the DRT program arrived.
The unique experience that each student brings will en-
hance the breadth of shared learning that is offered by
this innovative program, and will provide a rich opportu-
nity for students to expand their professional knowledge
and help develop them as leaders in the field of Driving
Rehabilitation.”
This is a wonderful time to thank all who were in-
volved in the many steps to develop, refine and imple-
ment the program. The MClSc DRT is truly the end
product of the continued work of colleagues in the School
of Occupational Therapy, internal and external reviewers,
scholars, scientists, educators, driver rehabilitation special-
ists, administrators, professional organizations, and many
other stakeholders in the driving rehabilitation world. Up-
ward and onward!
Front: Dr. Liliana Alvarez, Dr. Sherrilene Classen, Ms. Crystal Tse
Middle: Ms. Amy Leung, Ms. Anne Wylie, Ms. Karla Crawford, Ms.
Andrea Baker, Ms. Susan Traini
Back: Dr. Miriam Monahan, Ms. Sara Jenniex, Dr. Jeffrey Holmes,
Ms. Chelsea Warren
Join Occupational Therapists from across the globe
at these upcoming events or explore their websites:
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
8th Malaysian Conference on Healthy Ageing
March 31 – April 2 2016
Theme: Making Mental Health a Priority for Healthy Ageing
Chicago, Ill
2016 Annual Conference and Expo
Evidence & Outcomes Empowering the Profession
April 7-10, 2016 at McCormick Place
Barrie, ON
Aquatic Therapy for the Orthopedic Patient:
Evidence-Based Practice
April 16, 2016 at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
Contact for more information
Plan a TriP!