Category Archives: Program News

TV Regular and MRSc learner Jodi Boucher Promotes New Class on Body After Baby

Jodi is becoming a regular on Calgary Breakfast Television!

Last Friday she was interviewed about her new “Your Body after Baby Physiotherapy Class”.  Jodi told UBC Rehabilitation Science Online Programs Director Sue Stanton that she did all the groundwork (needs assessment and curriculum development) for RHSC 509 – Facilitating Learning in Rehabilitation Contexts. This is one of the core courses in the Master of Rehabilitation Science (MRSc) program.

View the segment on Breakfast TV Calgary’s website.

Read more on Health Reporter Leah Sarich’s blog. The piece was in relation to the Oscars and whether Hollywood celebrities can really bounce back that quickly from having a baby.

Great job Jodi! Perhaps you’ll have some Hollywood Stars coming your way soon.

Congratulations November 2012 Grads – MRSc Valedictorian Speech

On November 22, 2012, faculty, instructors, staff, learners, colleagues from the rehabilitation community and families joined together to congratulate the graduates of the rehabilitation science graduate programs.

Doctor of Philosophy graduates include:

  • Shalini Lal
  • Mineko Wada

Master of Science graduates include:

  • Allison Ezzat
  • Stephanie Glegg

Master of Rehabilitation Science graduates include:

  • Kim Mullens
  • Mireille Delorme
  • Tammam El-Khodor

The Vancouver Yacht Club decorated for the holidays added to the celebrations which were enriched through carefully crafted speeches by the graduates, graduate program directors Dr. Lara Boyd and Sue Stanton, and Faculty of Medicine Vice Dean Academic Dr. Frederick Mikelberg. Dr. Mikelberg’s speech is also posted on this blog.

The November 2012 MRSc valedictorian speech humorously and thoughtfully captured what it’s like to study for a master’s while working full-time and balancing life’s other commitments. MRSc Program Director Sue Stanton completed the evening’s celebrations with some simple but very wise advice that she received from her grandpa.

Please listen to these speeches. Unfortunately at the present time the speeches work best using a recent version of Internet Explorer. We are working to correct this.

In the first few minutes Sue recognizes all the 2012 MRSc graduates with special acknowledgement of May 2012 grad Rebecca Shook who won a peer-nominated research award.

The Master of Rehabilitation Science (MRSc) graduates’ research abstracts and those from previous graduation classes are available on the program website.

Please join us in congratulating our November 2012 graduates.

MRSc Learner Jodi Boucher Appears on Calgary Breakfast TV

Jodi Boucher was in touch with Sue Stanton today. She was interviewed as part of the Calgary Breakfast TV segment on Stress Incontinence. The reporter contacted Jodi after reading an article in the online magazine Calgary’s Child magazine. Jodi wrote the article, Bladder leaks are no laughing matter…a common but unspoken problem, as one of her assignments in RHSC 581: Writing to Enhance Practice. She is a Calgary-based physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor rehabilitation and a graduate student in the Master of Rehabilitation Science (MRSc) program at the University of British Columbia.

Watch Jodi at:
http://video.citytv.com/video/detail/1980061138001.000000/stress-incontinence–nov-20th/ (1:30-2:12)

Read her article:
Boucher, J. (2012, March-April). Bladder leaks are no laughing matter…a common but unspoken problem. Calgary’s Child Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.calgaryschild.com/health-and-safety/1054-bladder-leaks-are-no-laughing-matter-a-common-but-unspoken-problem

Andrea’s Farewell Party

From left to right: Associate Director Mary Clark, Administrative Manager Andrea Walus and Director Sue Stanton

On Wednesday, August 22 we held a Farewell Party for Andrea Walus with over 25 faculty and staff attending. Great appreciation was expressed by everyone at the party and on our blog, including many learners who will also miss Andrea’s exceptional support in navigating the UBC systems and completing the many tasks needed for successful online learning.

In recognition for her 7 years of service in the various rehabilitation science programs, including the management of the organizational transition to the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy (OS&OT), everyone contributed to a gift card for the Gourmet Warehouse. Andrea was thrilled and plans to stock up on all the various spices and gadgets she’ll need for the two French cooking courses she is taking this Fall. We’re all waiting for the dinner invitations later this year!

As of August 24, Andrea is on her way to a new position as Development Coordinator with the Faculty of Applied Sciences effective September 4. Our Administrative Manager position is posted and Andrea will help to orient the new person, as soon in September as possible. In the meantime, please continue to email info@mrsc.ubc.ca and either one of the program directors or a staff person from the Department of OS&OT will help you.

Introducing the Master of Rehabilitation Science Course-Based Option

Learners starting the UBC Master of Rehabilitation Science (MRSc) program this September or later will have the option of choosing to complete the major project courses or other elective courses.

“This option was pursued due to some learners finding it difficult to arrange the necessary work-site support to complete their research. We are still encouraging learners to pursue the major project due to the benefits of learning how to conduct small scale research projects that have a direct impact on practice,” explained Program Director Sue Stanton.

RHSC 589 Major Project II will also increase from 3 to 6 credits. This change was made to provide learners the time and credits to increase the size of their research projects and increase research dissemination possibilities.

The various pathways through the UBC Rehabilitation Science Online Programs can be viewed on the program website under Choose Your Path.

Questions regarding these changes can be sent to info@mrsc.ubc.ca.

Congratulations and Fond Farewell to Andrea Walus

Congratulations to Andrea Walus, our Administrative Manager who has accepted a more senior role as a Development Coordinator with the Faculty of Applied Science. We wish her every success in the new role and will greatly miss her dedication in supporting learners, faculty and staff.

Since joining us in August, 2010 among other support activities, Andrea has streamlined recognition event processes, and contributed to the development of administrative processes to support program evaluation activities and the new Research Relays. Prior to the online programs, Andrea spent five years in various administrative roles in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, and Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Department.

Although Andrea leaves us on August 24, 2012 she will return occasionally to orient the new manager once he/she has been appointed.  Interim support will be provided by the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy staff. You will be advised as soon as a new manager is appointed. We encourage everyone to continue communicating with us at info@mrsc.ubc.ca

Please join us in congratulating Andrea on her promotion.

In Memory of Sue Stewart

On Wednesday, June 20 Sue Stewart passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. The UBC Rehabilitation Science Online Programs as well as the Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science, and Department of Physical Therapy are mourning the loss of their colleague. Sue taught for many years in both departments, and more recently in the Master of Rehabilitation Science program. Her energy, enthusiasm and unending positivism will be greatly missed by all. We extend our deep felt condolences to her husband Bill and their three children.

Sue was part of the first graduating class of the online Masters in Rehabilitation Program at UBC in November 2007. She did a qualitative study on Electronic Mentoring and examined its usefulness as a method of providing clinical support to sole charge therapists in remote locations. It was published in the International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation in April 2009. This research project fueled Susan’s passion for using technology in continuing education and clinical support. She then developed and piloted training modules for electronic mentors in five health regions in BC.

Sue was a Clinical Assistant Professor at UBC and taught pediatric neurology to the entry-level physical therapy students and normal development to the occupational therapy students. She worked at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children and her main research interest was in the effects of prenatal substance exposure on children. Specifically she was involved in research examining the possible effects of the mother’s use of anti depressants on the early development of their children.

Sue loved the outdoors and took every opportunity to ski and hike with her three children and husband in the coastal mountains.

Sue’s funeral service will be held at St. John’s Anglican church in Vancouver (5350 Baillie St. at West 37th Ave between Cambie and Oak) at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday June 30.

Please post any memories or thoughts you may have to help us remember Sue, her leadership, passion and contribution to the rehabilitation community.

Spring 2012 Rehabilitation Science Online Programs Graduates

Please join us in congratulating this Spring’s graduates.

Receiving their Master of Rehabilitation Science degree:

  • Sabrina Li
  • Rebecca Shook
  • Sarah Strickey

Read their research abstracts and those from previous graduation classes on the program website.

Receiving their Graduate Certificate in Rehabilitation:

  • Lisa Aquilino Haley
  • Paul VanWiechen

The program professors, instructors, staff, alumni and current learners wish them all the best in pursuing excellence in rehabilitation practice.

 

 

 

Valedictorian Speech of May 2012 Master of Rehabilitation Science Grads

Spring 2012 Grads: L-R: Physical Therapist Rebecca Shook, Physical Therapist Sarah Strickey and Occupational Therapist Sabrina Li

On Wednesday, May 23 these three therapists joined the growing number of Master of Rehabilitation Science graduates. Although only Vancouver-based Rebecca Shook was able to cross the stage at convocation, her colleagues Sabrina Li in Hong Kong and Sarah Strickey in Cary, North Carolina in the U.S. were in touch to share the occasion and prepare the traditional joint valedictorian speech. Please join us in congratulating these graduates and enjoy their celebratory words.

It is both thrilling and surreal to be submitting these remarks as we complete our MRSc journey! This program has followed us all through a multitude of life changes from new jobs to new babies to new countries. This program has remained the constant through all these events. It goes without saying that the nature of this program has allowed us to balance the other aspects of our lives while providing us with an invaluable way to stay current, grow as professionals, and develop practical skills to apply to our clinical practices.

Collectively, we have learned some valuable lessons throughout the course of our studies that are worth sharing.

  • Organization pays off
    Without good organization of notes, journal articles, to-do lists and references lists from the beginning, we’re not sure we would be completing this now- at least not with our sanity relatively intact!
  • No man (or woman) is an island
    Completing research in isolation without input from others may seem attractive at first (I get to do it my way, all the time!), but it makes for an inferior product in the end.
  • Research’s spill-over effect
    Through the process of completing this degree we have also internalized knowledge on evidence-based practice, literature searching, writing and referencing and have gleaned a much greater appreciation of what is required to support new ideas and initiatives in practice.
  • Research is fun
    There is an inherent thrill in discovering new information (or confirming your own hypotheses) and then writing about it in a manner that makes it accessible for other clinicians. And the fun doesn’t stop there; research findings lead to more questions which drives us all to keep studying!
  • Research is challenging
    As novice researchers it is easy to underestimate the complexity of conducting research. The amount of discipline and planning that is required to ensure that the integrity of the research is maintained cannot be under-valued.
  • Research takes time
    It is not a process that can be rushed. Allow more time than seems reasonable for every step and attempt to plan for every foreseeable obstacle
  • Buy-in is essential
    When developing or improving rehabilitation services, research is important, but ‘buy-in’ from stakeholders is also important! We need to ‘think outside the box’, then try to understand the stakeholders’ needs and use ‘their’ language.
  • It’s a small world after all
    The greatest advantage of this program is that it can be literally completed from anywhere in the world. The three of us are a testament to that as we cover three countries and two continents. The value of learning from colleagues around the globe has been paramount to our experience.

From our first (admittedly tentative) posts to our final assignments the faculty and staff associated with the MRSc program have encouraged and motivated us to succeed. Without their unwavering support, it would not be possible to complete a program of this magnitude from afar. We would specifically like to thank our major project supervisors, Dr. Lesley Bainbridge, Alison Gerlach, and Sue Stanton, whose guidance and encouragement were instrumental to the success of our major projects. Finally, we wish to thank our families, our friends and our colleagues who supported us in countless ways throughout this experience!

While we have looked forward to completing this degree for quite some time, we also know that we will greatly miss the stimulating discussions we have shared over the years with our fellow learners. Their enthusiasm has continually pushed us to think beyond the boundaries. To all our colleagues who are considering embarking on this journey – go for it; it is a challenging, yet rewarding experience.

Best of luck to all current and future MRSc learners; may you continue to set goals that inspire you!

Sabrina Li, Hong Kong

Rebecca Shook, Vancouver, BC, Canada,

Sarah Strickey, Cary, NC, USA

UBC Research Relay Webinars Begin Next Week

RESEARCH RELAYS for rehabilitation practice

Relay – either as a noun or a verb may involve passing information from one person to another — one practice to another — one location to another — often with a goal or destination in mind. Also associated with ensuring good connections and speed. All of these we hope to accomplish with this new webinar series brought to you by the UBC Rehabilitation Science Online Programs.

Please join us for one or all of these FREE webinars where graduates from the Master of Rehabilitation Science Program present their major project research. By relaying their results and any further work they have done in the area, we invite you to pick up the ‘virtual baton’ and discuss how it could influence your practice and work setting. Make new practice connections in just one hour!

CLICK HERE to register at least one week prior to session date

February 10 – noon to 1 pm PST
Parents’ Experience in Role Negotiation in the Family Centered Care Model of Infant Services
Presenter: Karen Hurtubise

February 24 – noon to 1 pm PST
Comparison of the Norwich Regime to the Static Splinting Protocol for Extensor Tendon Injuries
Presenter: Clare Faulkner

March 2 – noon to 1 pm PST
Development of a Points-based Caseload Measure for Community Based Pediatric Therapists
Presenter: Kathy Davidson

April 20 – noon to 1 pm PDT
Successful Intraprofessional Relationships between Therapists and Therapist Assistants
Presenter: Jennifer Stephenson

May 4 – noon to 1 pm PDT
Processing Strategies Parents Use to Synthesize Healthcare Data Related to their Child
Presenter: Karen Hurtubise

May 25 – noon to 1 pm PDT
Pediatric Feeding
Presenters: Janice Duivestein & Astrid St. Pierre

CLICK HERE to register at least one week prior to session date