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Ellen Petrie (MScOT ’24) applied to the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy because it aligned with her value of serving others.

“I knew through volunteering and from student jobs that I wanted a career where I got the chance to work with people every day to achieve their goals. And that is exactly what this degree has given me.”

Sustainability in health-care systems

While at Dalhousie, Petrie became passionate about sustainability in health care. She participated in the 2023 Summer Institute on Sustainable Health Systems and says she was moved by what she learned. Her MScOT research project on how the climate crisis is impacting people’s ability to access health care, and presented at the Crossroad’s Interdisciplinary Health Conference.

Petrie also followed her passion by becoming the Trainee Engagement Lead for CASCADES (a federally funded organization created to support a transition to a more sustainable healthcare system in Canada), and panelist at the 2024 Summer Institute on Sustainable Health Systems.

Now after graduation, in addition to working at Fisherman’s Memorial Hospital on their Restorative Care Unit, Petrie is the co-editor for the topic of sustainability in the national Occupational Therapy Magazine (OT Now), building relationships with colleagues interested in the topic of sustainability, and supporting the upcoming Inter-Professional Health Education mini course on sustainable healthcare in November.

Benefits of the degree

Petrie says one of the highlights of her time in the MScOT program were the people she met as classmates, mentors, colleagues and professors who inspired her with their kindness and integrity.

“Life is complicated and full of barriers and burdens and watching hard working people support one another and approach these problems with openness and compassion made me want to try and do the same thing every day.”

She says it is very significant to have completed this degree and gained the problem solving and critical thinking skills that she associates with being an OT.

“I am extremely proud of myself and my classmates for completing this degree. I think that we are entering the healthcare workforce at a challenging time. And I also think that what we learned in the Dal MScOT program (and the people we connected with) has prepared us to find the opportunities for positive change within those challenges.”

Advice for future students

For anyone considering applying for the MScOT program – Petrie says it’s important not to give up their individual interests over the course of their studies.

“Each individual’s perspective, lived experience, and interests are what I think makes OT exciting and help the profession grow.”

Some more advice from Petrie is to apply to the course or position you think you might not be qualified for, and don’t be discouraged by the occasional no because you will get a yes.