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Dr. Yaser Alnasery, PhD in Health

What inspired you to choose your field of study?

My interest in occupational therapy grew from a deep belief that meaningful daily activity is at the heart of human well-being. I was particularly drawn to the field because it looks at the whole person, not just their diagnosis, but how they live, what they do, and what matters to them. As I grew in the field, my focus sharpened on low-vision rehabilitation and assistive technology services: areas where I saw a genuine gap between available services and the people who needed them most.

What was a moment at Dal that you’ll never forget? 

One moment that stands out was participating in a sip-and-puff assistive technology building workshop during my time at Dal. Working hands-on to build a device that could give someone with a physical disability greater independence was both humbling and energizing. It reminded me why this work matters not in an abstract sense, but in a deeply practical, human one.

Who supported you along the way and how?

The journey to completing my PhD in Health was never walked alone. From the very beginning of my master's degree at Dalhousie, the faculty, staff, and student colleagues in the School of Occupational Therapy went out of their way to make me feel welcome and included. That is no small thing when you are the only international student in your cohort, far from home and finding your footing in a new country.

My doctoral supervisor, Dr. Tanya Packer, was nothing short of a blessing in my life. She supported my studies in every way imaginable, and her patience through every challenge, delay, and detour of my doctoral journey was extraordinary. She never gave up on me, even when the road was long.

My committee members, Dr. Darren Oystreck and Dr. Parisa Ghanouni, guided and cheered for me without hesitation, offering their expertise and encouragement at every milestone until I finally crossed the finish line.

I would also be deeply remiss not to acknowledge my country, Saudi Arabia, whose full government scholarship made every step of this journey possible, from my master's degree through to the completion of my PhD. That investment was not lost on me. It has been a constant reminder of the responsibility I carry to return, contribute, and give back to the profession and the people who made this possible.

My parents instilled in me the mindset to always strive to be a better version of myself. Even from far away, their belief in me never wavered across more than a decade of studies abroad.

And then there is my wife: the quiet, unwavering, most important force behind everything I have achieved. She carried more than her share so that I could carry mine. She was my anchor on the hardest days, my greatest encourager on the uncertain ones, and my celebration partner on the good ones. Without her sacrifice, her patience, and her unconditional love, I would not be standing where I am today, and I say that not as a courtesy, but as an absolute truth.

Is there an academic or non-academic (eg: on-campus clubs, sports, employment) experience, project, or hands-on learning opportunity that really impacted you? 

My doctoral research, in collaboration with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and then Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada (VLRC), was the most formative academic experience of my time at Dal. Analyzing real data from people living with vision loss, and working to develop a low-vision screening tool that could one day improve how services are allocated gave my research a sense of purpose beyond the thesis itself. Also, the aforementioned sip-and-puff workshop and my connection to Makers Making Change showed me the power of community-based, collaborative approaches to assistive technology.

Did you receive a scholarship, bursary or other award as a Dal student? If so, how did that impact your Dal experience and what did that support mean to you?

I was fortunate to receive two forms of recognition during my time at Dalhousie. The first was the Elizabeth Bell Scholarship, awarded in 2017 upon my entry into the PhD in Health program. Receiving this award at the very start of my doctoral journey was deeply meaningful; it affirmed that the work I was setting out to do, bringing research attention to an underserved area of occupational therapy, was worthy of investment. It inspired me to commit fully to the work and to give back to the community I hoped to serve.

The second was a research award from Mitacs Accelerate, which supported my internship with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) in Toronto. This funding made it possible for me to conduct my first complete, independently-led research project: a satisfaction survey with clients receiving assistive technology services through Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada (VLRC). Beyond the data collected, the experience gave me invaluable exposure to accessible research design, community-based collaboration, and the real-world complexities of working with a national non-profit organization. Without the support of Mitacs Accelerate, VLRC and the CNIB, especially from Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai, who was head of research and chief accessibility officer at the CNIB during my internship, this chapter of my doctoral work simply would not have been possible.

What does graduating mean to you?

Graduating represents the culmination of years of learning, persistence, and growth, but more than a personal milestone, it marks the beginning of a new phase of contribution. It means I am now better equipped to train future occupational therapists, conduct research that reaches underserved populations, and advocate for equitable access to rehabilitation services. Completing my PhD at Dalhousie while also serving as a faculty member in Saudi Arabia makes this moment feel especially meaningful.

What is next for you? 

The answer, in many ways, has always been clear: home.

I return to Saudi Arabia as a faculty member in the Department of Occupational Therapy at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Jeddah, carrying with me everything that Dalhousie, Halifax, and this extraordinary journey have given me. My country believed in me enough to fund a full scholarship through both my master's and doctoral degrees, and I feel a profound sense of responsibility to honor that trust through meaningful work.

In the years ahead, my focus will be on two interconnected goals. The first is contributing to the growth and advancement of the occupational therapy profession in Saudi Arabia, by strengthening education, mentoring the next generation of occupational therapy practitioners, and helping to elevate the profession's presence and recognition in the region. The second is advancing my research on low-vision rehabilitation and access to assistive technology: areas that remain underserved in the literature. I hope that the work I began at Dalhousie, understanding how people with vision loss experience and access rehabilitation services, will eventually translate into better systems, better tools, and better outcomes for clients in my own country and beyond. Dalhousie gave me the knowledge and the confidence to pursue that vision. Now it is time to put it to work.