News

The Faculty of Health is pleased to welcome Brenda Merritt as Dean (Acting), effective September 1, 2017.

In addition to her role as Dean of Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Health (Acting), Brenda is also Associate Professor in the School of Occupational Therapy, with cross appointments in Nursing and International Development Studies.  Prior to taking on the decanal role, she was the Faculty’s Associate Dean Academic. Brenda has a PhD in Education and Human Resource Studies, an entry-to-practice Master of Science degree in occupational therapy, and two Bachelor of Science Degrees (equine science and psychology). Brenda’s doctoral program enabled her to gain expertise in educational and organizational leadership, as well as curriculum design and evaluation.

Brenda conducts research within the areas of interprofessional health education, developing innovative educational strategies to cultivate professional behaviour and clinical decision making skills and curriculum design and evaluation. Her research portfolio also includes investigating how chronic health conditions, injury, key determinants of health, and/or environmental contexts impact a person's ability to participate in chosen and necessary daily life activities.  More specifically, she examines how these various factors impact a person’s quality of performance when engaged in daily life activities such as preparing meals, taking care of the home, and/or caring for oneself.

Brenda is recognized as an international expert in teaching and using the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills to advance occupational therapy practice and research, having taught over 50 workshops in nine different countries. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian International Health Education Association, a member and accreditation reviewer of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists Academic Credentialing Council.

Welcome Brenda - we look forward to working with you!

Learn more

• Brenda K. Merritt, Google Scholar page
• Brenda Merritt, Dalhousie faculty profile