School of Physiotherapy

Faculty of Health

Spring 2016 Director's Message

Dr. Anne Fenety with MScRRT candidate and Scotia Scholar award recipient, Matt Baker in the Joint Action Research (JAR) Lab.

Around here, spring represents the season of awards and recognition, and this year has been a tremendous year for those near and dear to the School of Physiotherapy. The success of a program is determined by the success of its people. You will see that the Kudos, Announcements & Events section of this eNewsletter is an especially long one, featuring awards and recognition for our people, and representing the range of our community – students of various programs, faculty, staff, and clinicians - and I’m sure there are more awards we have missed.

Recognition has two sides: those being recognized, and those giving the recognition. Awards are not possible without being earned by the recipient and recognized by the nominators. I am pleased to be asked by Dal community members to direct or support nominations. Keep those requests coming!

On behalf of the School of Physiotherapy, I extend my congratulations to these worthy recipients of award and recognition:

  • Neuroscience PhD student, Sarah Krautner [supervisor: Dr. Shaun Boe], recipient of this year’s Governor General’s Gold Medal Award (Sciences/Engineering) for her Master of Science work in Dr. Boe’s Laboratory for Brain Recovery and Function.
  • Staff member Kelly Underwood, Admissions and Graduate Programs Secretary, selected as one of four recipients (and only staff recipient) of the 2016 Rosemary Gill Award, for her outstanding service to students.
  • MSc Rehabilitation Research candidate, Kimbly Morgan [supervisor: Dr. Gail Dechman], recipient of the CPA’s Silver Quill Award in the Knowledge Translation category for the following article published in Physiotherapy Canada: Effects of Autogenic Drainage on Sputum Recovery and Pulmonary Function in People with Cystic Fibrosis: A Systematic Review, Volume 67, 4th Edition, Fall 2015.
  • Second year MSc Physiotherapy student Piaf Des Rosiers [supervisor: Dr. Marilyn MacKay-Lyons], selected by the 2016 Congress Education Committee for a Podium presentation at this year’s CPA Congress, entitled "Building Self-Efficacy for Aerobic Activity in Patients Post-Stroke: A Scoping Review" .
  • MSc Rehabilitation Research candidate (and future PhD in Health student), Matthew Baker [supervisor: Dr. Derek Rutherford], recipient of the Scotia Scholar Award, in addition to Killam, Presidents, and Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarships.
  • Professor Marilyn MacKay-Lyons, recipient of the Wayne Putnam Award from Dalhousie Medical School's Continuing Professional Development, in recognition for her contributions to the continuing education of Maritime physicians.
  • Part-time academic (lab instructor), Rhonda Reardon, recipient of the 2016 CPA Mentorship Award.
  • Clinical Adjunct Associate (and clinical instructor), Alison McDonald, for the 2016 CPA Clinical Education Award.

And while not an award, we certainly wish to recognize the successful search process for the new Dean of the Faculty of Health Professions, and are thrilled welcome Dr. Alice Aiken, 1994 Dal PT graduate, back to Dalhousie University.

In closing, each of these recipients would not be recognized without the efforts of their nominators and selection committees. Members of the School of Physiotherapy played various roles in several of these nominations, and are equally deserving of our congratulations and thanks. ‘Well done’ one and all!