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
Michael received his education and practiced as an occupational therapist in Hong Kong many years ago. Arriving in Canada, he embraced Canadian culture and developed a keen interest in learning about diverse cultures and the importance of cultural humility. After passing the licensing exam, he worked as a clinical occupational therapist in a mental health hospital, and further developed his interest in psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery. Michael’s passion for teaching and supporting students led him to instruct in occupational therapy at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Michael is grateful for the opportunity to teach and learn alongside future therapists. This role enables him to continually sharpen his occupational therapy knowledge, skills and perspectives. It also allows him to connect with younger generations, helping him gain a deeper understanding of the mental health needs of young adults while promoting wellbeing for the future generations.
His experience as a teacher and as an internationally educated occupational therapist provides him with a valuable opportunity to participate in the PIE-OT project. He has been involved in this initiative since its inception. Together with a group of like-minded educators, they developed this program to support therapists trained outside Canada in contributing their clinical skills and knowledge to address the rehabilitation needs of Canadians.
Michael is truly thankful that occupational therapy is his profession. In his 40+ years of practice, he has never encountered a dull day. If he had the chance to choose his career again, he would still choose occupational therapy. If you’d like to know more about Michael, please visit his personal profile on the Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy website.
Somaya Malkawi
(She/Her/Hers)
PhD (OT), MSc (OT), BSc (OT), Reg. OT (BC)
PIE-OT Program Manager, PIE-OT Facilitator
Dr. Somaya Malkawi is an internationally educated occupational therapist from Jordan who moved to Canada in 2022. She is a highly accomplished clinician, academician, and dedicated advocate for the profession holding a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Science from the University of Pittsburgh.
For seventeen years, Dr. Malkawi served as a professor of occupational therapy at the University of Jordan. In this capacity, she balanced a rigorous portfolio of teaching and original research while managing complex administrative responsibilities, including curriculum development, quality assurance, and community outreach. Her clinical and research work is deeply rooted in evidence-based practice, with specific expertise in pediatric and neurological occupational therapy, cross cultural tool validation, and the environmental factors affecting participation across diverse populations.
Having personally navigated the rigors of the SEAS process and the PIE-OT curriculum, Dr. Malkawi brings a deep, empathetic understanding of the journey faced by internationally educated occupational therapists (IEOTs). Her professional path mirrors that of many participants, and she is deeply passionate about mentoring others through this transition with cultural responsiveness, humility, and firsthand insight.
Currently, Dr. Malkawi serves as an occupational therapy consultant and Assistant Director of a prominent multidisciplinary rehabilitation center in Langley, BC. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys engaging in outdoor activities and spending quality time with her family and friends.
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
Sarah completed her 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. She has over 5 years of experience working as an OT in Ireland & Canada. In Ireland, she worked in acute care & inpatient older adult rehab.
After completing the SEAS process in 2022, Sarah moved to Vancouver and began working in a large acute hospital. She worked as a Clinical Resource Specialist in the older adult units and completed a program in Frontline Leadership. Through this experience, she gained valuable skills in leadership, teaching & conflict management. Sarah has supervised 5 OT students and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of mentoring future OTs.
Since 2024, she has worked in Home Health and feel passionate about this area of practice. While working with a diverse population in downtown Vancouver, she continue to gain skills & experience in many areas of practice including seating, power mobility, pressure management & home adaptations.
Sarah is grateful for the wonderful work/life balance Canada offers. In her spare time, she enjoy running, hiking, snowboarding & experiencing BC’s beautiful outdoors. She is looking forward to working with Canada’s future OTs and helping them helping them prepare for the competency assessment
Amanda Xue
(She/Her/Hers)
BSc Psych
PIE-OT Program Coordinator
Amanda is the Program Coordinator for PIE-OT in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at UBC. She brings over seven years of experience in higher education and professional development, with a strong background in program operations, stakeholder collaboration, and data-informed decision-making. Throughout her career, Amanda has supported complex academic and professional learning initiatives, improved administrative processes, and enhanced learner experiences through thoughtful systems design and continuous improvement. She is known for her organized, detail-oriented approach and her ability to foster positive, collaborative working relationships.
Amanda also holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Oregon in the United States. Her academic background informs her thoughtful, people-centered approach to supporting learners and faculty. She is passionate about contributing to programs that strengthen professional pathways and create meaningful impact within the broader community. She speaks English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, and values working in diverse and inclusive environments.
Outside of work, you can find Amanda enjoying calm and restorative activities such as spending time in nature, visiting local parks, practicing yoga, and weightlifting. She also loves taking walks with her dog, Mocha, who keeps her grounded and active.
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.