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ACOTUP/ACPUE is a national organization
that promotes and develops occupational therapy
education and research with an understanding
of issues in a global context.
NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 30 – 2016
D
alhousie University now offers a PhD in Health
program through the Faculty of Health Profes-
sions. The program, in its second year of opera-
tion, is designed to “prepare the next generation of
researchers, academics and leaders in health to answer ques-
tions critical to improving health and social well-being locally,
nationally and internationally.” The program allows students
to complete a focused, research intensive program of study
contextualized within the broader health perspective. This
makes it ideal for scholars who want to pursue a PhD in occu-
pational therapy or occupational science. The program draws
on the expertise of over 50 faculty members from the Faculty
of Health Professions. It has two tracks: a two year residency
for applicants with a strong research background and a three
year residency for students who have professional master’s de-
grees and limited exposure to research. Uptake in the program
has been much greater than anticipated; currently there are
14 students active in the programwith others poised to join in
shortly. The program has been good news for the School of
Occupational Therapy; previously, we had graduate students
but they had to enrol in other university programs such as so-
ciology or interdisciplinary studies, which sometimes made it
challenging for those with a specific interest in the work of a
particular School of Occupational Therapy faculty member.
The School of Occupational Therapy has been able to
offer three two-year funding packages to students in this pro-
gram. Neda Alizadeh and America (Mel) Fracini have come to
Dalhousie to study topics related to chronic condition man-
agement with School of Occupational Therapy faculty mem-
ber Dr.Tanya Packer. Katie Isenor, a recent graduate of an
entry level occupational therapy program, has come fromOn-
tario to work with Dr. Heidi Lauckner fromOccupational Ther-
apy, co-supervised by Susan Hutchison in the School of Health
and Human Performance, on the topic of concurrent disability
and participation in community leisure. A fourth student, Khu-
lud Alotaibi (currently on leave), is working with Occupational
Therapy faculty member Dr. Brenda Beagan in the area of food
choices and culture. We are enjoying the enriched atmos-
phere that graduate students bring to our School.
More information about the program can be found on its
website:
https://www.dal.ca/faculty/healthprofessions/pro- grams/phd-in-health.htmlNEW PROGRAM AT DALHOUSIE: PHD IN HEALTH
PhD in Health students
Katie Isenor, Neda Alizadeh
and Mel Francini