“Migration touches on so many daily occupations”: Dr. Suzanne Huot on her new role at the UBC Centre for Migration Studies
Dr. Huot shares her thoughts on her new role at the Centre, and how migration and occupational therapy are powerfully intertwined.
The mission to enhance support for recovery after stroke in Dr. Brodie Sakakibara’s new study
Dr. Brodie Sakakibara’s ENHANCE Study aims to refine programs of self-management for people living with stroke.
Team collaboration and a major new grant strengthen Foundry’s evidence-informed services for young people
The team behind a major grant to study integrated youth services shared how their collaboration emerged and how they hope to transform services for youth.
Doctoral researchers Avneet Dhillon, Janna Griffioen and Astou Thiam receive prestigious Canada Graduate Scholarships
Three high-callibre doctoral researchers from OSOT faculty research labs received these competitive national scholarships. Read the full article from our Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences website.
Apply now: Program for Internationally-Educated OTs
Join our next cohort and start the program in September 2025!
Recruiting: Part-time Program Facilitator(s) (PIE-OT)
Responsibilities involve co-leading tutorials, guiding reflective case development, providing feedback and conducting mock interviews.
Dr. Julia Schmidt promoted to Associate Professor with tenure
Dr. Julia Schmidt reflects on her academic journey in this short interview.
Registration now open for our undergraduate course, OSOT 301: Introduction to Human Occupation
“I loved this class and it is by far one of the best courses I’ve taken at UBC.”
Dr. Brodie Sakakibara Named UBCO’s Health Researcher of the Year
OSOT Associate Professor Dr. Brodie Sakakibara has been named UBC Okanagan’s 2025 Health Researcher of the Year.
Bringing KidsAction to Prince Rupert
Dr. Stephanie Glegg is partnering with colleagues from G’aahlandee Xaadee, the School of Nursing, and Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a to implement a program supporting physical activity in Prince Rupert.
The OSOT Indigenous Strategic Plan Self-Assessment and Action Planning Retreat
As part of our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, we held the OSOT Indigenous Strategic Plan Self-Assessment and Action Planning Retreat this spring.
OSOT’s Participation in the 2025 CAOT Conference
The Department of OSOT delivered twenty-eight presentations and made countless connections at this year’s CAOT Conference.
Extending Clinical Partnerships at Building Bridges
For the second straight year, the Department of OSOT took part in Building Bridges (Bridges), an annual event to connect OTs from Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health for a day of education and research. Bridges, which has been running since 1998, is an important opportunity for our department to be out and about in […]
Building Consensus on Brain Injury, Mental Health and Addictions in Haida Gwaii
Assistant Professor Dr. Julia Schmidt recently took a trip to Haida Gwaii to meet with her partners in the BC Consensus project. The mandate of the BC Consensus project is to gather, in a good faith effort, the perspectives, ideas, and values of healthcare providers, community stakeholders, and individuals/families including Indigenous groups and marginalized groups with […]
Jeff Boniface receives the 2025 CAOT-BC Outstanding Occupational Therapist of the Year Award!
Associate Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Clinical Associate Professor Jeff Boniface’s contributions to OT have been recognized with the prestigious CAOT-BC Outstanding Occupational Therapist of the Year Award.
Associate Professor of Teaching Katie Lee Bunting receives Killam Teaching Prize
Associate Professor of Teaching Katie Lee Bunting was recently honoured with a Killam Teaching Prize from UBC.
International Conference on Youth Mental Health 2025: Reflections from a PhD student
PhD student Avneet Dhillon shared her experiences as the youth co-chair of the 7th International Conference on Youth Mental Health.
A truly RAD partnership: OSOT working with UBC Recreation to provide access to Recreational Adaptive Devices
OSOT faculty Drs. Ben Mortenson and Bill Miller’s collaboration with UBC Recreation and the RAD Society is gaining momentum.
Recruitment for our new Lecturer – Vancouver site
To join our dynamic teaching team, apply to be a Lecturer at our Vancouver site. Applications accepted from April 15, 2025 until the position is filled.
Michael Lee: Diving into Health Professions Education (HPE)
Professor of Teaching Michael Lee’s research in health professions education is changing how we think about students’ mental health needs and supervisor-student relationships.
Going with the flow: Learning about the Kawa model outside of the classroom
The Kawa model, which shows the relationship between the environment and the self, is an integral part of our MOT curriculum.
Winter Weather Disruptions: How to prepare
With the possibility of snowfall this winter, please review the protocol for travel to classes.
Our new Strategic Action Plan (2025–2032)
We are pleased to share our new Strategic Action Plan, a living document that will aid decision-making and guide our priorities for the next seven years.
Dr. Skye Barbic receives a Canada Research Chair in Integrated Youth Services
Associate Professor Dr. Skye Barbic has received a prestigious Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) for her research in youth mental health.
Introducing our new Strategic Action Plan (2025-2032)
Join us for the virtual launch of our new plan on Friday, Nov 22 (12-1pm).
World OT Day 2024: WhOT a wonderful day to be an OT ❤
October 27 is World Occupational Therapy Day! Connect with colleagues across the world with #WorldOTDay and consider your own answer to an important question…
Applications for our Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program are now open
Find out admission requirements, understand the application process and submit your application before January 15.
Dr. Jon Breen’s workshops change attitudes and reframe disabilities in the workplace
Drs. Jon Breen and Susan Forwell collaborated on a series of virtual workshops to reframe disabilities in the workplace.
Research that will transform access to services for young people who use substances
Dr. Kirsten Marchand’s youth-centred research into services for youth who use substances was featured in UBC’s IMH Showcase.
Collaborative social media project by Dr. Julia Henderson and Western Gold Theatre reclaims the phrase #HaveASeniorMoment
Take a peek at the reels under #HaveASeniorMoment, and be sure to celebrate having a senior moment more often!
2024 Paralympics raise the need for better provision of prosthetics
Learn how current policies limit accessibility to prosthetic technologies and how we can promote equitable access.
Changing Public Perceptions of People with Traumatic Brain Injury through UBC’s Public Scholars Initiative
PhD Student Rinni Mamman has been named a UBC Public Scholar for her study of perceptions of traumatic brain injury.
Improve your client outcomes with funds from the Mentored Clinician Partnership Program
Apply for support from a faculty mentor and up to $5,000 for release time to research or develop an idea
Dr. Ben Mortenson’s research on the impact of climate change on people with disabilities
Occupational therapists (OTs) are in a good position to help people with disabilities adapt to climate change.
Dr. Suzanne Huot awarded funding for new community-based research: 2SLGBTQ+ Indigenous peoples’ experiences of knowing, being and doing
Dr. Suzanne Huot is the Principal Investigator for a 2-year, $73,000 SSHRC Insight Development Grant.
Progress update: Our new Strategic Action Plan
Get a sense of development in the Department’s new Strategic Plan and see how each element has evolved based on your feedback.
Extend Student Loan forgiveness to OTs: CAOT needs your voice!
Use the letter template to lobby your local MP and support the campaign to include student loan forgiveness for OTs
CEDAR Brain Injury Lab’s influence on creating a national strategy for brain injury
Read about the impact of Dr. Julia Schmidt’s research on the BC Consensus on Brain Injury and resulting national policy vote.
Celebrating our Fieldwork Educators – 2024 Awards Announced
Recognizing the stellar contributions and dedication of our fieldwork educators.
PIE-OT: A new program for internationally-trained OTs
Find out more about our new online program, designed to support internationally-educated OTs to successfully qualify in Canada.
Vancouver site benefits from upgrades
We have been busy with several upgrades to the interior spaces of our Vancouver site.
Call for Participants – Intergenerational Climate Study
Join this study and use eco-conscious, collaborative art-making to explore ways generations can work together to address climate change.
Recreational Adaptive Devices (RAD) Gearbox planned for UBC Point Grey Campus
What is a GearBox? And how will it provide adaptive gear to those who want to be active outdoors?
Michael Lee’s ‘Rock the Boat’ graduate supervision resource recognized by Innovation Award
Graduate supervision can be rife with challenges – this new resource hopes to improve these important relationships.
Dr. Laura Nimmon publishes invited perspective paper in Science (AAAS) on The Complexity of Physician Power
Read about Dr. Nimmon’s article on the The Complexity of Physician Power, recently published Science (AAAS)
CAOT 2024: OSOT presentations, plus Dr. Skye Barbic, Tanya Fawkes, Sarabjeet Charchun and Sarah Mills recognized
OSOT faculty and students attended the annual CAOT conference to present and network, with four members of faculty also receiving prestigious awards.