Felicity Heavin
(She/Her/Hers)
MSc OT, Reg. OT (BC)
Academic Programs Director, PIE-OT Facilitator
Felicity is an internationally educated occupational therapist from Ireland who began practicing in Canada in 2023. She moved to Canada in 2022 and successfully completed the SEAS process a year later, gaining valuable insight into Canadian occupational therapy standards and practice expectations.
Her clinical experience spans older adult acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and specialized seating and positioning in long-term care. She has also worked in adolescent and young adult outpatient rehabilitation, orthopedic rehabilitation, and acute general medicine.
Since 2023, Felicity has collaborated closely with the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, contributing to both the PIE-OT program and more recently the Master of Occupational Therapy program. She is passionate about supporting internationally educated occupational therapists in navigating the Canadian practice context.
Felicity enjoys working collaboratively with others, whether empowering clients to achieve their goals or engaging with students and colleagues to advance learning and professional development.
Michael Lee
(He/Him/His)
PDOT, MBA (Health), Reg. OT (BC), CPRRP, 3MNTF, Killam Laureate
Professor of Teaching, Associate Head (Educational Affairs), PIE-OT Facilitator
I was educated and practiced as an occupational therapist in Hong Kong many years ago. Arriving in Canada, I embraced Canadian culture and developed a keen interest in learning about diverse cultures and the importance of cultural humility. After passing the licensing exam, I worked as a clinical occupational therapist in a mental health hospital, and further developed my interest in psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery. My passion for teaching and supporting students led me to instruct in occupational therapy at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
I am grateful for the opportunity to teach and learn alongside future therapists. This role enables me to continually sharpen my occupational therapy knowledge, skills and perspectives. It also allows me to connect with younger generations, helping me gain a deeper understanding of the mental health needs of young adults while promoting wellbeing for our future generations.
My experience as a teacher and as an internationally educated occupational therapist provides me with a valuable opportunity to participate in the PIE-OT project. I have been involved in this initiative since its inception. Together with a group of like-minded educators, we developed this program to support therapists trained outside Canada in contributing their clinical skills and knowledge to address the rehabilitation needs of Canadians.
I am truly thankful that occupational therapy is my profession. In my 40+ years of practice, I have never encountered a dull day. If I had the chance to choose my career again, I would still choose occupational therapy. If you’d like to know more about me, please visit my personal profile on the Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy website.
Alicia Myburgh
(She/Her/Hers)
BScOT, MScOT; DIR. Certification, SOS and SI informed, Registered RASP Provider
PIE-OT Facilitator
Alicia Myburgh is an occupational therapist specializing in paediatrics. She has been practicing for 8 years and has had a variety of clinical experience ranging from forensic mental health to acute care. Her favorite areas within pediatrics are hand function, feeding, sensory integration and learning disabilities.
The Canadian Occupational therapy Inter-relational Practice Process (COTIPP) framework resonates with her approach to therapy as she does not see therapy as having a set beginning, middle or end but rather a constant flow in which relationships are built between parent and child.
These relationships improve confidence and motivation to develop skills, and she has seen the most progress when these relationships are at the forefront of my therapy. The COTIPP and other therapy modules she uses (sensory integration and developmental interpersonal relational therapy) work well together as they really focus on the child and parent ‘wanting’ to engage rather than ‘telling’ them how to work.
For the purpose of this course, she is an internationally qualified occupational therapist who completed her studies in South Africa and completed the SEAS process during COVID in 2020.
Dr. Jeffrey Tse
(He/Him/His)
PDOT, MSc., PhD, Driver Rehab Specialist (OT), Reg. OT (BC)
PIE-OT Facilitator
Dr. Jeffrey Tse is a registered Occupational Therapist with a BScOT and over 20 years of clinical experience, specializing in driver rehabilitation and community-based rehabilitation. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Science from the University of Hong Kong, where his doctoral research focused on rehabilitation psychology. Dr. Tse has also completed extensive postgraduate training in driver rehabilitation and assistive technology for individuals with disabilities.
Throughout his career, Dr. Tse has been dedicated to supporting clients in achieving greater independence and mobility. His approach is client-centered and grounded in evidence-based practice, with a strong focus on enabling participation in meaningful daily activities through tailored interventions. He has worked in various community and clinical settings, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to develop holistic rehabilitation plans that promote safety, autonomy, and quality of life.
Dr. Tse is particularly passionate about advancing driver rehabilitation services and advocating for the integration of assistive technologies to enhance accessibility. His work bridges clinical practice with research and policy, contributing to the broader field of occupational therapy through education and mentorship.
Outside of his professional life, Jeffrey values spending quality time with his family and enjoys playing badminton and table tennis with his son and daughter. He also has a love for books, outdoor outings, and sharing festive meals with friends.
Andrea Hatton-Jones
(She/Her/Hers)
BScOT
PIE-OT Facilitator
Andrea is a South-African trained, Canadian registered Occupational Therapist with a special interest in mental health treatment, driver rehabilitation, and return-to-work services. With a focus on promoting recovery and functional independence, Andrea is dedicated to supporting individuals through evidence-based, client-centered care.
She brings both compassion and clinical insight to the therapeutic process, providing a supportive environment where individuals can thrive. In addition to her clinical work, Andrea serves as a Clinical Team Lead, offering leadership and mentorship to an interdisciplinary team, fostering professional growth, collaboration, and excellence in service delivery.
Andrea is passionate about both individual well-being and team growth, using her clinical expertise and practical leadership style to help deliver consistent performance. When she is not working, you will find Andrea biking, travelling, or camping with her husband and two kids.
Sarah Rath
(She/Her/Hers)
BSc OT, MSc Advanced Healthcare Practice, Reg OT (BC) (Ireland)
PIE-OT Facilitator
I completed my Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Galway, Ireland & later completed a Masters in Advanced Healthcare Practice at University of Limerick, Ireland. I have over 5 years of experience working as an OT in Ireland & Canada. In Ireland, I worked in acute care & inpatient older adult rehab.
After completing the SEAS process in 2022, I moved to Vancouver and began working in a large acute hospital. I worked as a Clinical Resource Specialist in the older adult units and completed a program in Frontline Leadership. Through this experience, I gained valuable skills in leadership, teaching & conflict management. I have supervised 5 OT students and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of mentoring future OTs.
Since 2024, I have worked in Home Health and feel passionate about this area of practice. While working with a diverse population in downtown Vancouver, I continue to gain skills & experience in many areas of practice including seating, power mobility, pressure management & home adaptations.
I am grateful for the wonderful work/life balance Canada offers. In my spare time I enjoy running, hiking, snowboarding & experiencing BC’s beautiful outdoors. I’m looking forward to working with Canada’s future OTs and helping them helping them prepare for the competency assessment
Em Lud
(They/Them/Theirs)
BFA, BEd, MEd
PIE-OT Coordinator
Em Lud is a responsive and people-centered administrator and coordinator with 10 years in post-secondary programs. With experience ranging from part-time visual arts and design credentials in Emily Carr University’s Continuing Studies Department to Vancouver Community College’s full-time Dental Technology Sciences technical diploma, Em confidently offers adaptive support to PIE-OT’s administrative and curricular processes, its team of staff and facilitators, and its diverse participants.
Em is committed to advancing equitable, trauma-informed educational experiences, through proactive communication, streamlined and responsive systems, and interpersonal care. Having completed their Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2013, Bachelor of Education in 2014, and Master of Education (Society, Culture, and Politics) in 2023, Em has spent many years personally and professionally involved with Vancouver’s creative and education communities and their intersections with 2SLGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, and disabled theory and advocacy. For example, Em has coordinated and edited multiple successful Canada Council for the Arts grant applications dedicated to queer disability justice, such as projects redesigning grant and job application process accommodations and providing professional development opportunities to creative entrepreneurs surviving on PWD (“Person with Disability” or the Canada Disability Benefit).
A vocal advocate for work-life boundaries, balance, and burn-out prevention, Em enjoys playing D&D with their whacky friends, watching anime and cartoons, wandering around East Van parks, alleys, and neighborhoods hoping to encounter pop-up markets, yard sales, and fun free stuff, and tattooing (they’ve been a practicing tattoo artist since 2023)!
Sue Fornell
(She/Her/Hers)
PhD (OT), MA (OT), BSc (OT), FCAOT
Professor, Curriculum Consultant
Dr. Susan Forwell is a full professor in the UBC Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy with a history of conducting community-based research to solve problems and advance our understanding of occupation among populations with neurological impairments (in particular MS, Parkinson, Spinal cord injury).
She is also involved in a myriad of educational scholarship related to clinical practicums, from student, supervisor and administrative perspectives as well looking at methods of evaluation for local learning in the classroom to curriculum development and implementation. As the passed Department Head she supported many students and faculty with research and teaching matters along the continuum of the research process including conceptualization, a range of methods, ethical considerations and requirements, funding and knowledge translation.