By: Jocelyn Adams, Communications & Special Projects Assistant

Each season the School of Physiotherapy highlights the dynamic careers of our faculty members. This fall, the School is honoured to feature the career of faculty member, Nancy Walker. Nancy’s clinical work has taken her across Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. She has sat on  countless professional committees, community committees and has made a huge impact with her involvement with the Ben James Autism Summer Camp. At the School, Nancy oversees the physiotherapy laboratories in the MSc PT curriculum as an Instructor. This fall we had the opportunity to catch up with Nancy who continues to inspire us with her experience, enthusiasm and passion for the profession.

Nancy’s interest in the profession began at a young age. “I was looking at medicine initially then I went on a tour of the hospital and saw a physiotherapist doing chest physio and I thought it was interesting,” said Nancy.  In 1981 she graduated with a the Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Dalhousie University and in 1989 she completed her Masters in Anatomy from Queen’s University.

After working in Ontario and Newfoundland for 13 years Nancy returned to Halifax and worked in private practice. She was later offered a position in recruitment at Dalhousie’s School of Physiotherapy with the Kuwait-Dalhousie project. “As the Kuwait-Dalhousie program ended, I started taking on other projects and began teaching other courses,” said Nancy. She then realized she had a passion for teaching.

For Nancy the most enjoyable part of working at Dalhousie is the students. “I enjoy the students. I love the energy they bring. They really make you think. I also enjoy trying to make them understand the profession at a base level. Teaching has been the highlight of my profession,” reflects Nancy.

Beyond the walls of Dalhousie, Nancy has made a huge impact on our community.  When returning to Halifax she started the Autism Summer Camp, which is now named after her son Ben James. “The camp itself has serviced hundreds of kids with Autism over the summers. I also sit on a number of different committees that are involved with disability in our community. I think this is really important to broaden people’s scope of disability and how they can integrate someone like my son into the community,” said Nancy.

This spring Nancy was the recipient of the 2015 Family SOS Amazing Grace Award for her involvement with the Ben James Autism Summer Camp. The Amazing Grace Award is presented to a community member whose advocacy and accomplishments have significantly contributed to the well being of families. “I’m always humbled. I was quite honoured to be part of the night. When I started the Autism Camp the Autism Society of Nova Scotia later asked if it could be re-named the Nancy Walker camp and I said, ‘No, if it’s the Ben James Camp people will always ask who is Ben James? For me it recognizes Ben’s contribution to improving recreational opportunities for people with Autism in Nova Scotia,” said Nancy (Click on link for video).

Physiotherapy offers a flexible career with many opportunities. “I continuously tell my students that I’ve worked in a variety of physiotherapy areas such as Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Long-Term Care, ICU, outpatients, private practice, nursing homes and diverse positions at Dalhousie University. There are endless opportunities in so many areas across the world. Physiotherapists have a lot to offer world-wide,” said Nancy.

Nancy offers professional advice to new physiotherapy graduates. “Treat people the way you would like to be treated. You have to be aware that not everyone understands healthcare the way we do. We need to provide people with dignity and respect. We have to bring things down to a level that everyone understands.”