![Graphic of a pathway](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/04/Strategic-Plan_cover-940x726.png)
Quick links
- Where we are in the process
- Working Group
- Community Advisory Group
- Launch date
- Regional events
- Feedback form
News & Updates
![Class of 2023 at Graduation](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/05/graduation-2023.jpg)
![Class of 2024 at the start of the MOT Program](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/05/class-of-2024.jpg)
Help us to collaboratively create a new strategic plan that will guide our decisions and actions for the next seven years.
Why now?
2024 marks the end of our current Strategic Plan (2019-2024). Much has changed since we developed that plan, and we have seen lots of growth and change. The Department now operates with a hybrid working, teaching and learning environment across a network of distributed sites, and since 2019 we’ve been increasing in size each year.
- We’ve grown significantly:
- in 2019 we were based on one site in Vancouver and now we have three distributed sites in Prince George, Surrey and Vancouver;
- in 2019 we had 64 new students each year, we now have 96 students who will start their Master of Occupational Therapy program each September (64 at our Vancouver site, 16 at the Prince George site, 16 at our Surrey site);
- in 2019 we had 12 faculty members, we now have a team of 22.
- Our clinical community and support network also grew:
- in 2019 we had 350 clinical faculty, now we have over 500;
- in 2019 we offered 240 fieldwork placements each year, now we coordinate 480.
![Dotted line with an arrow pointing right](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/04/Strategic-Arrows-940x241.png)
What we hope to achieve
![Students in a clinical setting](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2021/10/fw_info_students_temp.png)
![Students around a table examining a foot splint, under guidance of Associate Professor of Teaching, Katie Lee Bunting](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/12/Teaching_Katie.jpg)
![MOT students with FoM Vice Dean, Dr. Roger Wong](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/08/2023-MOT-students_with-Roger-Wong.jpg)
Creating a new strategic plan will help us to:
- collectively rethink our overall vision and mission
- reassess our values and goals
- define ways we can achieve our goals and measure progress over the coming years
The new strategic plan is intended to be a useful reference to align decisions and ensure everything we do is contributing to a bigger vision.
![Dotted line with an arrow pointing left](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/04/Strategic-arrow-pointing-left_-940x241.png)
Our strategic planning approach
The development of our strategic plan will be:
- led by a faculty working group from across the Department
- shaped by feedback from our students, faculty, staff, alumni and clinical faculty
- guided by the expertise and experience of a community advisory group from across BC
- a collaborative, transparent process with validation from the community.
We are working with UBC’s Strategic Decision Support unit, who are helping to guide us through the process.
![Dotted line with an arrow pointing right](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/04/Strategic-Arrows-940x241.png)
Meet our Faculty Working Group
The strategic planning process will be supported by an internal faculty working group, consisting of co-leads from four identified core areas:
- Education
- Research
- People & Belonging
- Organization & Governance
This working group will help to create, validate and advise on various aspects of the strategic plan.
Education
![Donna Drynan portrait 2022](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/04/DonnaDrynan_150x150.jpg)
Donna Drynan
Co-lead
![Profile portrait of Katie Lee Bunting 2022](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/10/KBunting_OSOT_Headshot-940x941.jpg)
Katie Lee Bunting
Co-lead
People & Belonging
![](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/07/Tal-Jarus-2009-02-scaled-e1710356244963.jpg)
Dr. Tal Jarus
Co-lead
![Portrait of Dr. Laura Bulk](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/08/Laura_Square.jpg)
Dr. Laura Yvonne Bulk
Co-lead
Research
![Jill Zwicker](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/02/Jill-Zwicker-1.png)
Dr. Jill Zwicker
Co-lead
![Portrait picture of Dr. Julia Schmidt 2023](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/09/Julia-Schmidt_2023picture-scaled-e1710356150702-940x940.jpeg)
Dr. Julia Schmidt
Co-lead
Organization & Governance
![Profile of Sue Forwell at WOSC](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/09/Sue_wosc.jpg)
Dr. Susan Forwell
Co-lead
![Stephanie Glegg portrait](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/09/sglegg_thumbnail-940x941.jpg)
Dr. Stephanie Glegg
Co-lead
Project Sponsor
![Profile portrait of Ben Mortensen](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2021/09/cropped-ben.mortensen.png)
Dr. Ben Mortenson
Department Head
![Dotted line with an arrow pointing left](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/04/Strategic-arrow-pointing-left_-940x241.png)
Meet our Community Advisory Group
Our Community Advisory Committee consists of external partners who have a unique perspective on our direction and activities. Hailing from across BC, this group of leaders, professionals, recent alumni and patient advocates bring their experience and expertise to the strategic planning process, and help identify any areas that need further detail or priority:
- Shannon Berg
- Dina Brown
- Jon Collins
- Sarabjeet Charchun
- Leslie Duran
- Ayan Gum
- Ivonne Montgomery
- Nav Sidhu
- Les Smith
- Mandy Young
![Dotted line with an arrow pointing right](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/04/Strategic-Arrows-940x241.png)
Where we are in the strategic planning process
![](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/05/Strategy-Development-1536x1187.png)
Last updated: June 2024
During the Framework Development stage, we will start to generate ideas for our new guiding principles: our Vision, Mission and a list of Values.
As we move into Strategy Development, we will also start to use the information gathered during the Situation Assessment (including the analysis of our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats/SWOT) to help determine 3-4 goals for each core area (e.g., Education, Research, Organization & Governance, People & Belonging).
![Dotted line with an arrow pointing left](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/04/Strategic-arrow-pointing-left_-940x241.png)
New plan and toolkit to be launched in Fall 2024
We started preparing for this process in December 2023, and formally started work with the UBC Strategic Decision Support unit in January 2024. We began our Situation Assessment in mid-March.
Our goal is to have a collaboratively-created new strategic plan in the Fall, preparing to launch the final version in early November.
We intend to create an output that can be used for regular consultation in both major and minor decision making. The plan will include the metrics that will be used to track our progress towards goals, and this data will be reported at our monthly all-faculty meetings.
![Graphic representing the launch of the strategic plan](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/05/Strategic-Plan_launch.png)
![Dotted line with an arrow pointing right](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/04/Strategic-Arrows-940x241.png)
Shape our strategy with your perspective
![Catherine Backman working with students](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/08/UBCOSOT2022_9610-940x627.jpg)
![A small group of students in masks gather in a classroom to start an activity](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/12/Day-in-the-life.jpg)
There will be key consultations during the process, and we encourage everyone who has an interest in occupational therapy practice, research, education and the Department to share feedback at each and every stage.
We hope to collaborate with as many people as possible, through surveys, town halls and drop-in sessions.
Community Surveys
Please check back for our third and final survey at the start of September
Regional events across BC – Give your feedback in person
As part of the development of our new Strategic Plan, we will be on the road to meet local OTs and health administrators in person. Share your thoughts with us over an informal pizza lunch, and discuss ideas about OT education, research, and how the Department can best support the OT community.
Our Department Head, Dr. Ben Mortenson will present some highlights from the plan so far, before opening for discussion.
All events are in person, with a virtual option available.
RSVP to your local event below:
![Green location icon](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/08/Green-location-icon-940x940.png)
Prince George
Friday September 6
12pm-1pm
Location: Room 5030, 5th floor, University Hospital of Northern British Columbia
Capacity 16.
RSVP by September 5.
![Yellow location icon](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/08/Yellow-location-icon-940x940.png)
Kelowna
Monday September 16
11:30am-12:30pm
Location: Murray Ramsden Boardroom, Kelowna General Hospital
Capacity 30.
RSVP by September 12.
![Red location icon](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/08/Red-location-icon-940x940.png)
Victoria
Friday September 20
10:30am-11:30am
Location: PCC 150 – Learning Centre. Royal Jubilee Hospital – Patient Care Centre, 1952 Bay Street
Capacity 40.
*As this event is earlier in the day, we will provide a light lunch/refreshments in lieu of a pizza lunch.
RSVP by September 18.
![Light blue location icon](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/08/Blue-location-icon-940x940.png)
Vancouver
Friday September 27
12pm-1pm
Location: Brian Hesje Lecture Hall, Blusson Spinal Cord Centre at Vancouver General Hospital, 818 West 10th Avenue.
(Apologies – not at G. F. Strong as advertised)
Capacity 80.
RSVP by September 25.
![Navy location icon](https://sandbox1-med-fom-osot.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/08/Navy-location-icon-940x940.png)
Surrey
Friday October 4
12pm-1pm
Location: Room 218, City Centre 1 Building, 13737 96th Avenue, Surrey, V3V 0C6
(opposite Surrey Memorial Hospital)
Capacity 20.
RSVP by October 2.