Awarded First Place was Dr. Michael Saley, a postdoctoral fellow in Chemistry, whose work creates new tools and techniques to uncover how cells communicate with one another—conversations that shape health and disease in ways often hidden from view.

Second Place in the competition was awarded to Dr. Olabisi (Bisi) Akinlabi, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Her presentation highlighted research examining how vaginal bacterial load and microbiota influence the clearance of human papillomavirus (HPV) and the progression of cervical cancer in Kenyan women. By advancing understanding of the microbiome’s role in HPV persistence and clearance, her work offers potential insights into improved strategies for preventing cervical cancer and related health outcomes.

Third Place in the went to Dr. Asim Joshi, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Dr. Joshi’s research focuses on understanding why lung tumors often develop resistance to treatment and how this resistance can be overcome. By developing laboratory models and studying the underlying mechanisms, his work aims to identify new therapeutic strategies that could improve treatment effectiveness and patient outcomes.

The People’s Choice Award went to Dr. Mariela Rodríguez, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Human Nutritional Sciences. Dr. Rodríguez’s research is advancing green technologies for extracting and improving plant proteins—particularly from pulses. Her work focuses on enhancing digestibility, taste, and functionality, with the goal of creating sustainable, high-value food ingredients that can strengthen Manitoba’s agri-food sector.

This competition shines a spotlight on the incredible contributions of our postdoctoral fellows,” said Dr. Kelley Main, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. “Their research is advancing knowledge in ways that will have a direct impact on our communities. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and the vital role they play in shaping the future”.

This year’s challengers included:

• Dr. Asim Joshi – Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• Dr. Mariela Rodriguez – Human Nutritional Sciences
• Dr. Masoomeh Gomroki – Food Science
• Dr. Michael Saley – Chemistry
• Dr. Monire Nobahar Ahari – Occupational Therapy
• Dr. Olabisi Akinlabi – Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• Dr. Ruchira Nandasiri– Human Nutritional Sciences
• Dr. Taalia Khan – Art and Architectural History

The competition highlighted the important contributions of 8 postdoctoral researchers across varied disciplines, showing how their work is creating real-world impact in Manitoba and beyond.

This dynamic competition challenges postdoctoral fellows to summerize their research into an engaging three-minute presentation using only one slide. Presenters will be evaluated by a panel of three judges on clarity, engagement, and impact. Audience members will also play a role by voting for their favourite presentation live at the event.

Eight postdoctoral fellows are set to take the stage this year, ready to share their groundbreaking work in a way that is both understandable and inspiring.

• Dr. Asim Joshi – Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• Dr. Mariela Rodriguez – Human Nutritional Sciences
• Dr. Masoomeh Gomroki – Food Science
• Dr. Michael Saley – Chemistry
• Dr. Monire Nobahar Ahari – Occupational Therapy
• Dr. Olabisi Akinlabi – Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• Dr. Ruchira Nanasiri– Human Nutritional Sciences
• Dr. Taalia Khan – Art and Architectural History

“The 3MP competition showcases not only the depth of research happening at UM but also the creativity and communication skills of our postdoctoral fellows,” says Dr. Kelley Main, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. “The Faculty of Graduate Studies recent name change to The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies highlights the important role postdoctoral fellows play in the university community.”

The event is open to students, faculty, and the public, offering a glimpse into the research being done at UM across multiple disciplines.

Event Details:
Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
Location: Senate Chambers, E3-262 EITC
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Register to attend in person: https://forms.office.com/r/RUgFDMkg4V

For more information, visit the University of Manitoba’s Postdoctoral Achievements and Awards page. https://umanitoba.ca/graduate-studies/postdoctoral-achievements-and-awards

This competition challenges the presenters to explain their research in just 3 minutes, using only one slide. A panel of 3 judges will evaluate participants on clarity, engagement and impact, while the audience will also have a chance to vote for their favourite presentation both in person and online via the live stream link.

The eight postdoctoral challengers ready to captivate the audience with their three-minute presentation this year are: 

• Daniel Zogona – Food Science, Bioactive compounds in cereals and their potential health benefits. 
• Titus Olukitibi – Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Immune markers associated with the natural clearance of HPV 
• Kaustav Dey – Electrical and Computer Engineering, Stability analysis of controller hardware-in-loop electro-magnetic transient simulations. 
• Minoo Dabiri Golchin – Occupational Therapy, An overlooked human right: Play 
• Abhay Srivastava – Physiology and Pathophysiology,  Nanotechnology can direct cellular fuel burn and fight inflammation!!! 
• Carmine Slipski – Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases,  Development of a rapid saliva test for detection of oral health
• Illia Roskoshnyi – Law, Legal technological unemployment in the age of AI 
• Nicola Gasparre – Food Science, Green technology for upcycling protein industry co-products into high value food ingredients 

Mark Your Calendars -This competition is open to students, faculty, and members of the public to attend and promises to be both informative and inspiring, offering a rare glimpse into the future of research across multiple disciplines. “This is a great opportunity to learn about the work our postdoctoral fellows are pursing at UM””, says Dr. Kelley Main, dean of the faculty of graduate studies, “I hope to see our community come out to support these students in this competition.”

Location: Bannatyne Campus, Theatre B, Basic Medical Science Building 

Date: September 20, 2024

Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm 

Please register to attend here: https://forms.office.com/r/h9JXQUMpvv 

Katherine Hunt was on a placement in Churchill, Man. when all digital access dropped for about 24 hours.

“There were quite a few changes that were necessary to keep things running in the health clinic and hospital, including switching to paper charting,” said Hunt, in her second year of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

“It was possible to continue seeing patients that day because everyone was able to work together so efficiently,” she said. “It was amazing to see not only the health care staff but the whole town come together to figure out how to adapt.”

Hunt is one of 1,293 learners who have had placements outside of the perimeter of Winnipeg in the past year through the Rady Faculty’s Office of Rural and Remote Learner Experiences. Learners went to 59 different communities, including 12 First Nations.

“A rural and remote placement provides learners with the opportunity to experience the challenges communities face when accessing equitable health care,” said managing director Melissa Balness. “It also provides a diversity of practice they may not get through placement in an urban centre.”

In addition, learners benefit from the opportunity to build strong relationships with their mentors and to really get to know them and their community. “I’d have to say that my primary preceptor, Dr. Carlos Lara, has left the biggest impression on me more than anybody else,” said Tien Van Le, currently in his first year of the family medicine residency program in Brandon, Man. “I never really gave much serious thought to family medicine as my primary specialty until I started working with him.”

Le recalled one patient who made a big impression. “She had been going through a series of significant life stressors including passing of a close family member, added work responsibility and increasing panic attacks all within a year,” said Le. “The way that he empathetically approached this patient’s collective stressors impressed me.”

Not only did Le ultimately choose family medicine as his specialty, he hopes to follow in his preceptor’s footsteps. “His type of practice is the ideal type that I strive for when I venture out into independent practice!”

For learners still on the fence about whether to venture into a rural or remote setting, occupational therapy graduate Blake Wall has just one piece of advice. “Do it!”

Not only did the 2023 grad enjoy the diverse experiences, the independence and the close ties with health care staff, but the natural beauty of the area truly took his breath away. “You will find that educators are eager to show off the North to students when they are here on placement,” he said. “I had the opportunity to hear live music, hike, camp, and spend lots of time on the many beautiful lakes here while on placement.”

When he graduated last fall, returning to the North was an easy choice. He now lives and works as an occupational therapist at Flin Flon General Hospital, alongside his former fieldwork educator, Kara Kozar.

“Working in the North allows me to practice as a true generalist, where practicing in cities with larger facilities may narrow my scope of practice considerably,” said Wall. “I think beginning my OT career in the North is the best decision I have made as a new graduate.”

Karen Froman, Faculty of Graduate Studies (Arts)

Karen Froman began her undergraduate degree at 27 years old as a single mother of two young children—a four-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son. She was dedicated to balancing her responsibilities to her family with pursuing her dreams.

While she did not have a clear idea of what her career would look like, taking a course that introduced her to Native studies in her first year was the catalyst to it all. Froman, who is Kanyen’keha (Mohawk) from Six Nations of the Grand River territory, went on to specialize in Native studies for both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Her path as a UM student ends with the completion of her PhD in history with an Indigenous focus.

Froman has secured a tenure-track position in the University of Winnipeg’s department of history as an assistant professor. “As an Indigenous scholar, I want to empower other Indigenous students the same way that I was empowered by my professors at UM,” says Froman.

Her family, especially her dad, is one of her greatest sources of strength and inspiration in this field. Her dad was a residential school Survivor, and Froman wanted him to be proud of his identity and culture. She looks forward to carrying this responsibility of influencing the next generation of Indigenous scholars.

Sidhant Sharma, Asper School of Business

After completing high school in Accra, Ghana, Sidhant Sharma moved to Canada for his university education. He intended to follow a career in computer science, but he soon felt a natural drive toward business. He confidently made the move into the Asper School of Business to focus on Finance and Management Information Systems.

Sharma speaks passionately about his education: “Being able to introduce new technologies, identifying gaps and inefficiencies within processes and helping improve them requires creativity as well as logical thinking. I thoroughly enjoy mixing both of those skills.”

From volunteering to mentorship programs, Sharma has embraced every opportunity to gain experiences that fueled his zeal and curiosity. This also helped him settle down in Winnipeg and truly enjoy his new life in this city. He received the Emerging Leader Award in 2019, which recognized his contributions to UM and the community on and off campus. It also served as a reminder to continue developing not only as a student but also as someone who has the power and abilities to make an impact on the community.

After graduating with a bachelor of commerce, Sharma will be starting in a new position as a business analyst at Bison Transport. He is excited to work with a company that puts an emphasis on technology, and to lead the charge in this evolving field.

Ashley Daniels, Faculty of Arts

Graduating with a bachelor of arts in Native studies with a minor in family social science, Ashley Daniels’s experiences throughout her undergraduate program have set her up for success.

She engaged in multiple volunteering positions such as the communications coordinator of the University of Manitoba Indigenous Students’ Association as well as a student mentor for the Neechiwaken Indigenous Peer Mentorship Program. She also volunteered in Ecuador with UM’s Community Engaged Learning program and served as the first female Youth Chief in the Southern Chiefs’ Organization for three years.

As a member of Swan Lake First Nation with ties to Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, she is most fascinated by Indigenous-focused research, especially in data sovereignty and language revitalization within the discipline. Focusing on an area of study with expansive implications on scientific knowledge and research moving forward, Daniels has a crucial role in reframing the world’s views.

Her family is dedicated to keeping their Indigenous roots alive, which makes her education resonate with her on a personal level. “I enjoy spending time with the community, the land and maintaining kinship relationships,” says Daniels. “I am inspired by my family and how they continue to show up every day for the future generations of our kin.”

Daniels is currently serving as an elected executive council member and the Manitoba representative on the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council.

Corrine Clyne, Faculty of Graduate Studies (Occupational Therapy)

After earning her bachelor of arts at the University of Winnipeg with a major in conflict resolution studies, Cree student Corrine Clyne is now graduating from the master of occupational therapy program. At the same time, she has also completed the geriatric certificate program through McMaster University.

The diverse, holistic nature of the health profession immediately captivated Clyne– it was a natural decision to proceed with such a rigourous yet rewarding journey. Upon learning of the lack of culturally safe and relevant health-care services for many Indigenous communities, Clyne chose these programs as they will equip her with the skills and experiences to advocate for change in the health-care system and overcome jurisdictional barriers for better access to services.

“I also recognize the lack of mental health services that were present for me growing up in a reserve,” says Clyne, who is from Norway House Cree Nation. “It is important to address this because mental health affects a person’s health holistically.”

She is eager to join the workforce on reserve in Northern Manitoba and change the lack of culturally appropriate health-care services available in these communities. In the future, she plans to pursue a PhD in applied health sciences.

Ashley Ammeter, Faculty of Graduate Studies (Agricultural and Food Sciences)

Ashley Ammeter previously earned a bachelor of agricultural and food sciences and is now adding a master of science to her accomplishments. Her research focuses on plant breeding approaches to the improvement of canola meal protein quality.

Growing up on a farm in Starbuck, Man., agriculture was always an important part of her life. She learned more about the science behind plant breeding in high school and became fascinated by the topic, which led her to where she is today.  

Ammeter’s research applies to the future of Canada’s food systems and how it impacts the world. As the Earth’s resources are depleted over time, agriculture is at the forefront of addressing challenges related to food availability and access. Her research topic has the potential to create innovations that would ensure Canada’s agriculture industry can navigate future food shortage issues.

As a researcher, she uses a humble mentality when facing setbacks that other students can learn from, that also apply in the real world. “I’ve learned how to effectively solve problems when challenges arise,” says Ammeter. “When things go wrong, there is often a learning opportunity to gain a deeper understanding,”

But this fall, she is enthusiastically back in student mode. Vuongphan, 31, is a member of the newest class to enter the U of M’s master of physician assistant studies (MPAS) program.

Trevor Stone (left), president of the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants, congratulates student Lynn Vuongphan.

In just over two years, she’ll graduate as a physician assistant (PA), a clinician who works as a generalist medical provider in collaboration with doctors. PAs perform duties such as assessing patients, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, performing procedures and prescribing medications.

At Inaugural Exercises on Aug. 30 on the Bannatyne campus, the 15 new MPAS students were formally presented with stethoscopes and recited the Hippocratic Oath. After the ceremony, Vuongphan said having worked as an occupational therapist on an inter-professional team that cared for stroke patients influenced her decision to become a PA.

“I really saw the value of inter-professional collaboration, the value of communication, the value of teamwork,” she said. “The PA profession emphasizes all those things.”

The MPAS program, launched in 2008, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. It’s one of a handful of PA programs at Canadian universities, and the only one at the graduate level.

The program is offered through the Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Graduate Studies. It consists of one year of biomedical science and medicine courses, followed by 13 months of clinical rotations.  

To date, the program has produced 106 physician assistants, 90 per cent of whom are employed in Manitoba, said Ian Jones, director of the program.

“Physician assistants help to reduce wait times for care, and they can quickly adapt to the needs of the system,” Jones said. “PAs can work in an emergency department, a hospital ward or a family practice on the same day, making them an asset to communities.”   

This year, there were 135 applicants from eight provinces for the 15 spots in the in-demand program. Many applicants, like Vuongphan, have experience in health care or biomedical research.

Manitoba was the first province to license physician assistants. It is one of four provinces where PAs are licensed to practise.

“We’ve been a model for the rest of the country to emulate,” said Dr. Ira Ripstein, associate dean of undergraduate medical education at the Max Rady College of Medicine.

Several speakers at the ceremony emphasized that the 25-month MPAS program is fast-paced and demanding. “This is a hard program to get into,” said Dr. Jonathon Bellas, medical director of the program. “It needs to be hard. The volume of information you are required to learn in a short time is incredibly challenging. And at the end, you have an incredible responsibility.”

Kali Braun, 30, comes to the program with a master’s degree in medical microbiology. She and her husband have three children under the age of five. One reason she chose to become a physician assistant, she said, is that the job offers better work-life balance than some health-care professions.  

“It’s a good fit for me because I have a young family,” Braun said. “The training, although intense, is only two years, and then you’re able to go straight into practice.”

Braun also said she likes the possibility of switching specialities within the profession. U of M-trained PAs, Jones noted, have worked in more than 30 medical specialties.   

Braun has a “village” of family members ready to help with childcare. “I’m ready for what’s going to get thrown at me,” she said. “I’ll make it work.”

“How Does Your Engine Run?” was originally developed with the goal of teaching children how to regulate their “engine”, which represents their mind and body. This was the first time the week-long group was used to teach immigrant and refugee children how to self-regulate and reach the optimal level for learning and interacting with others on a daily basis.

Children in the group ranged from ages five to 15. “Normally we would separate the kids by age and keep the parents separate. But because of traumas they may have experienced in the past we don’t want to separate them,” says Lisa Diamond-Burchuk, Instructor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences. “If the parents are there, learning with them it also helps them carry on the self-regulating habits at home.”

Diamond-Burchuk partnered with Melody Driedger, marriage and family therapist and Sheri Larsen-Celhar, nurse practitioner at Bridgecare Clinic, to adapt the program for children who had low or no understanding of English. “Occupational therapy has the skills to fill gaps in service delivery that are new and exciting. It was a huge privilege to have been able to see our expanding reach in action,” says Amanda Ameis, a Rady Faculty of Health Sciences OT student who will graduate this October.

She hopes that involvement with “How Does Your Engine Run?” will count towards student field work in the coming years. “Being able to participate in many stages of the group – from planning, preparing materials, facilitating and debriefing – gave me a rare and valuable opportunity to experience a brand new way of supporting newcomers and their families,” says Ameis.

Early in the week, the children created thermometer collages to help visualize how they feel when their engines are low (demonstrated by photos of people yawning); when their engines are medium (photos of happy kids and people reading); and lastly, when their engines are high (cartoon characters jumping and running.)

The optimal engine level for learning and interacting with others is somewhere in the medium zone. But how do you get there? Making bracelets, colouring, building fidget toys, lying on your tummy, these are all things the children learn to do to self-regulate.

“I find making bracelets relaxing, but some people start weaving and are like ‘Ahh! This isn’t calming at all,’” says Driedger. The group helps children figure out what works for them. If a child is too excitable to sit down and colour, maybe playing with a fidget toy would work better for them.

“More projects like this would be beneficial for BridgeCare Clinic clients. It is my hope that this pilot program will evolve into a permanent program that I may be able to refer my clients and their children to,” says Larsen-Celhar. She and Driedger work with the parents of the children involved, providing them with medical care and counselling.

All the facilitators involved said the interdisciplinary aspect of the group, occupational therapy, nursing and family therapy, was extremely beneficial not only to the participants but also for them professionally.

“Knowing that all involved were able to take something away and could see how it would apply to their lives or professional practice demonstrated to me how interwoven client-centred care and interprofessional practice are. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate and am very excited to see how occupational therapy becomes more established in serving the newcomer and refugee communities,” says Ameis.

Help us celebrate Isabella’s achievements at this year’s Distinguished Alumni Awards Celebration of Excellence. Get your tickets here.

Service to the University of Manitoba

Isabella Wiebe [BMROT/86] has dedicated her career to young people on the cusp of self-discovery. As an occupational therapist, working mainly with young women with eating disorders, she provides the map from self-harm to self-worth.

Wiebe is a tireless advocate for her field and her alma mater. She engages alumni of the university’s Master program and has accepted leadership positions in local and national associations and most recently, with the Health Sciences Centre. She has volunteered with the university’s Career Mentor Program for 20 years, and has met with more students than any other of its 700 mentors.

Within the hectic health-care system, Wiebe teaches her OT students to take their time. Her many interns cite her enthusiasm, honesty and steadfastness and call her an exemplary role model.

In Her Own Words

Isabella Wiebe had a chance to tell us about her time at the U of M, how her career chose her and other thoughts, memories and musings that make this 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient tick.

When I was at university, I was totally my own person. I loved meeting new people. You could sit with new people, if you didn’t connect, you could sit with other people. There were always new people.

I had the best of intentions, but wow, it took me years to love Winnipeg. Actually, it wasn’t until university. I loved university so much.

From the time I was 6 years old, I really, really wanted to be two things: a teacher and a mom. I come from a long line of teachers, there are many in my family.

I wanted to be a teacher, but my parents are very practical people and they said there were no jobs in teaching when I was ready to enter university. I was a people pleaser so when my dad suggested things, I didn’t have it in me to go against him.

This was in the mid-80s; they only graduated 20 of us. We didn’t have to go job hunting; my whole Occupational Therapy class pretty much had jobs by the time we graduated.

I’m a bit impatient, my clock seems to run a bit faster than most.

I’m such a planner, I plan everything, and the one thing I didn’t plan—my career—found me every step of the way. Somehow I ended up doing what I absolutely love to do!

It’s remarkable how it’s all come around. I didn’t choose my career path, but yet it fits perfectly into what I wanted to do.

I’ve been blessed. I couldn’t have planned it better if I’d planned it!

I’m originally from Brooklyn. When my dad was drafted, he went to Germany. He was there with Elvis, actually, which is cool. He didn’t know him, but he knew he was around.

We didn’t know anything about Winnipeg. I was excited to come to Canada, because I was taking French in school, and I had it in my head that I’d be fluent as soon as I got up here. We were shocked about the cold. We had snow and wind in Chicago, but this was unimaginable.

I often have problems with paying attention, so I think people who tell personable stories are great, and humour is so important. I try to do that too, it makes it easier to stay focused.

My background, my Italian culture, influences how I am with students. They always say, “Thanks for being open,” but I never really think I am, it’s just who I am.

It’s always interesting here, you never know what will come up. I’m never bored, I never know what I’m stepping into. I like to be prepared, but I just don’t have the opportunity to be that here.

Helping people to reach their potential, and going on their journey with these people is really incredible.

As a society, we’re so destination focused. The older I get, I realize that’s not the point. Your life is the journey going there, and that’s what matters. Once you reach an outcome, it’s often not as good as the whole journey of dreaming, learning, meeting people.

Every day is different, I love the variety. The diagnosis may be the same, but each person is different with a unique personality and skills.

I’ve learned a great deal from my patients. Every hobby I have has been inspired by my patients.

Our society does not help women. It’s really harsh, it’s not realistic and it puts a lot of pressure on us. Very few people present the truth, which is unfortunate because that really does set us free.

When you don’t like yourself, it’s hard to function.

You have to be comfortable in your truth and who you are. But when that sense of self is missing, you’re strongly affected by outside messaging, and that’s not very good.

When you take in a student, you learn so much about your own practice. So much of what we do is so automatic, it’s second nature. But mentoring makes you reflect and pay attention to your own practice.

To teach someone, you learn. I gain another perspective, not cynical, it’s a fresh eye. They’re enthusiastic, which is so contagious.

They’re always worried they’re going to say the wrong thing, but I always say, “If you’re being kind, there is no wrong thing.”

Related Stories

Advocates, Designers, Providers, Artists and a ‘Destroyer’ among recipients of the 2017 University of Manitoba Distinguished Alumni Awards

The 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients for Lifetime Achievement are John and Patricia Patkau

The 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient for Professional Achievement is Reva Stone

The 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient for Community Service is Lesley Sacouman

The 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient for Outstanding Young Alumni is Desiree Scott

After retiring in 2007 after 16 years with the RWB, Small found herself in the unique position of seeking out a new career path.

“It was a big transition and very difficult,” Small admits. “It’s like a pro athlete. You retire young after you’ve dedicated your whole life to this one pursuit that defines who you are.”

After working for a period teaching dance at the RWB, Small enrolled at the University of Winnipeg where she became something of an academic superstar, earning the Gold Medal for Achievement in Psychology and the Lieutenant-Governor’s Gold Medal for the Highest Standing in the Faculty of Arts in a 3-year program.

Initially having an interest in sports psychology, she spoke to a career counsellor about pursuing physiotherapy.

“I felt that it was a world I knew something about, having been in the physio department at the ballet a lot throughout my career,” she says. “But my career counsellor suggested that occupational therapy might be a nice fit for me because it has the physical but also the psychological element. It sounded like a really good fit.”

Another aspect of occupational therapy that drew Small was the possibility of affecting positive change in others.

“I like to see transformation,” she says. “When you’re working with a dancer and teaching them something you get the chance to see how far they’ve come. I think OT attracts people who are drawn to transformation and I want to help others transform themselves. That appeals to me very much.”

Although she admits to initially having some trepidation about returning to school as a mature student, she finds herself fitting in well with her classmates and professors in her first year of the Master of Occupational Therapy program in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

“The people are lovely,” Small says. “We’re always sending each other contact lists and reminders. It’s a beautiful atmosphere and the profs all want us to succeed. They’re doing everything to empower us to do that and are great role models.”

Small considers herself fortunate that she’s able to pursue a second career path.

“Not everybody has the opportunity to do something different with their lives,” she says. “I was so fortunate to have my first career in something that I absolutely loved. With OT I think it will be very much about helping people transform and creating the life they want to have.”

Last week a group of occupational therapy students in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences in the Faculty of Health Sciences at U of M spent an afternoon in a parking lot at the Bannatyne campus learning about these issues as part of the CarFit program. CarFit is an educational initiative that provides a quick, comprehensive review of how drivers – particularly older ones – work together with their vehicles. Originally developed in the United States, the CarFit program operates as a partnership between the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) and the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).

For Randi Vandale, an occupational therapist and CarFit coordinator, the program can provide help and tips for the older driving demographic.

“CarFit often benefits elderly or aging adults looking for more information to help them drive safely,” Vandale said. “It could be drivers of any age, but usually those who are starting to question or feel a little bit iffy on the road.”

Older adults currently represent the fastest growing portion of the driving population, with roughly 2.7 million drivers over the age of 65 on Canadian roads today. Research suggests that older drivers are among the safest on the road but as people age, they’re more likely to suffer serious injuries due to greater fragility.

For Lisa Diamond-Burchuk, an instructor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, CarFit provides a comprehensive approach to what students are already learning in the classroom.

“Students take the CarFit program as part of the Occupational Analysis course where they’ve been learning how to apply the client’s anatomy to the demands of the task and the environment of the car and how it fits,” she said. “This is the perfect way of pulling it all together for them because they have to consider the anatomy, they have to consider what’s required in order to drive, and they have to consider the condition of the car that’s being driven.”

For occupational therapy students like Emilie Britton, CarFit also shows how they will be able to help their clients as future health care professionals.

“It’s really nice to be able to see the skills we’re learning in the classroom and apply it in a real life situation and to see how clients’ disabilities may have an impact on their ability to drive,” Britton said. “It’s interesting that the ergonomics that we learned for a home environment can be applied into a vehicle environment.”