Spring 2016 Community News
By: Jocelyn Adams, Special Projects Assistant
On May 2nd, the Faculty of Health Professions launched Dalhousie’s new Health Institute, an offering of virtual and in-person lectures, workshops and courses, all under one interprofessional umbrella. The Health Institute is aimed at health students and working health practitioners seeking new skills and ideas, and the latest in best practices.
Dal’s Health Institute includes faculty members from the Dalhousie College of Pharmacy and Schools of Health Sciences, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. Among the Schools participating, the School of Occupational Therapy has taken the lead in the development of the Health Institute.
"It's been very exciting to see the Health Institute develop over the past year. We have innovative courses and new ways to deliver them. I'm looking forward to the Health Institute's first summer and seeing it grow," says Dr. Tanya Packer, Director of the School of Occupational Therapy.
The School of Physiotherapy is offering a unique six-week online course on Progressive Exercise for Functional Mobility of Older Adults: Translating Evidence to Practice. The course is being instructed by School of Physiotherapy faculty member, Dr. Marie Earl.
"Exercise is an integral part of protecting the health and function of older adults, but sometimes it can be challenging to implement effective exercise programs, particularly with those who have limited mobility secondary to chronic health problems. With this course, we'll examine evidence about some specific types of progressive exercise to address mobility limitations; we'll also be able to explore strategies to identify and address barriers that can restrict the older adult's participation in the exercise programs that are needed to help manage chronic health conditions," says Dr. Earl.
With busy working professions schedules, the Dalhousie Health Institute has proven to be very popular. To date, the School of Physiotherapy reached just under capacity with a total of 28 participants taking the online course.
"We have a tremendous group of participants, most from across Atlantic Canada, and a few from further west. They work with older adults in community-based, hospital and long-term-care settings, and bring terrific expertise to the course. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to work on this topic together."
The School of Physiotherapy six-week online course runs from from May 2- June 9, 2016. To learn more about Dalhousie credit and non-credit offerings, visit Dal’s Health Institute website.