(L-R) Iain Muir, Allison Ehnes, Monique Charest, Esther Kim, Trina Wetter, Kimberly Coutts (in Calgary via satellite teaching technology), Karin Werther, Cherie Henderson and Raj Dhillon pose with Dean Bob Haennel (right) at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine 2019 Teaching Awards Celebration. (Not pictured: Sandra Ayre and Christopher Holt)
Celebrating teaching in rehabilitation medicine across Edmonton, Calgary and Camrose, the University of Alberta honoured its instructors at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine 2019 Teaching Awards Celebration on Wednesday afternoon in Corbett Hall.
Congratulations to our beloved instructors and clinical educators!
CLINICAL EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Communication Sciences & Disorders (CSD): Trina Wetter
Trina is a speech-language pathologist on the Brain Injury Unit at the Glenrose Hospital and is relatively new to student supervision. She demonstrated excellence in mentorship by helping her student to gain confidence. Trina encouraged her student to translate knowledge and skills to this new patient population and to try things, even if it meant making some mistakes. Trina also modeled having a good work-life balance.
Physical Therapy (PT): Raj Dhillon
Raj is an owner and PT clinician at Pivotal Physiotherapy. He regularly contributes to the FRM by supervising student placements and as a member of the MScPT Curriculum Committee. He has developed effective approaches to challenge students. Raj fosters self-paced learning and progressive independence on placement. He encourages students to pursue both professional and personal growth.
Occupational Therapy (OT): Sandra Ayre
Sandy is an OT in the Covenant Health Palliative Care Unit. She has a very effective and natural ability to educate, as she is very kind-hearted, compassionate, knowledgeable, patient and self-reflective. Sandy takes the time to get to know her students and adapts her mentorship style. Students appreciate that Sandy provides just the right amount of support to foster learning and growth.
SESSIONAL INSTRUCTOR TEACHING AWARD
Occupational Therapy: Kimberly Coutts (Calgary)
Kimberly is invested in identifying and implementing diverse innovative approaches to teaching and constantly strives to keep students fully engaged. She uses creative strategies such as humour, interactive hands-on activities and personal clinical anecdotes. Kimberly is approachable and authentic. She brings the 'just right' level of challenge to students in the classroom.
Communication Sciences & Disorders: Christina Semonick (Nominated)
Christina teaches an online introductory CSD course that students find interesting and engaging due to her teaching style and supportive feedback. Christina has a level of intellectual curiosity that is inspiring. She is an ambassador for rehabilitation and a great role model for students considering a career in speech-language pathology.
GRADUATE STUDENT TEACHING ASSISTANT
Physical Therapy: Christopher Holt
Chris is a humble, patient teacher who gives willingly of his time and clinical expertise to students. He facilitates learning by allowing for some struggle while providing direction as needed. Chris leverages his clinical experience into practical tips that students find immediately helpful. Chris models life-long learning and continually seeks feedback on his own pedagogical skills.
Occupational Therapy: Chelsea Jones (Nominated)
Chelsea brings a strong command of the subject matter combined with current clinical experience and a great passion for learning to the classroom. She is approachable, willing to receive and act upon feedback, continually improving her teaching. Chelsea's ability to link theory with clinical practice in a fun and practical manner is highly valued by students.
CLINICIAN TEACHING ASSISTANT AWARD
Communication Sciences & Disorders: Allison Ehnes
Allison contributes to all aspects of the courses she assists with, including content development, delivery, grading and student feedback. She has a gift for translating theoretical and evidence-based information into practical, engaging and sensitive instruction for students. Allison is also known for her organization, dedication, passion, approachability and enthusiasm.
Occupational Therapy: Cherie Henderson (Nominated)
Cherie brings her positive and enthusiastic personality into the classroom creating a safe environment in which students are encouraged to fully engage. She approaches students with openness and coaches them through their clinical reasoning. Cherie interacts with students as future colleagues, embedding confidence while guiding them towards best practice.
GRADUATE RESEARCH SUPERVISION AWARD
Communication Sciences & Disorders: Esther Kim
Esther has an impressive ability to tailor her supervision to all levels, skillfully encouraging and inspiring supervisees to learn independently yet providing just the right amount of support and direction. Esther brings a wealth of experience in aphasiology, clinical practice and research methods. Her lab is truly interdisciplinary with students from many backgrounds all working together.
Occupational Therapy: Sandra Thompson-Hodgetts (Nominated)
Sandy supports her trainees to achieve excellence in scholarship as well as facilitates their career goals. Trainees find the SKIP lab to be a supportive environment in which Sandy fosters open dialogue and sharing of experiences. Sandy encourages students to think creatively and to challenge sensitive and advanced research topics.
INNOVATIVE TEACHING AWARD
MSc SLP Program: Monique Charest
Monique developed a series of embedded theory-to-practice activities within the child language courses in first year. These provided regular opportunities for students to observe real clients and intervention programs, to work with real and simulated clients in lab and classroom and to engage in discussions with practicing clinicians, all prior to the first clinical placement.
MSc PT Program: Iain Muir
Iain integrated best practices for online course delivery into an Anatomy course. With detailed learning objectives, consistent design and navigation, well-structured learning activities and frequent formative assessments, the course has been extremely well received by students and allows a team of instructors to teach the course so it can be offered frequently.
As the MScOT Integrated Stream Coordinator, Karin ensured course content, student learning and instruction were connected, leveraged and streamlined. She has lead the integration of several topics including the Indigenous perspective, mental health and assistive devices through novel learning experiences within the curriculum and through FRM interprofessional activities.