About the department

The Department of Occupational Therapy (OT) is located at the University of Manitoba Bannatyne Campus in downtown Winnipeg. We are one of three units in the School of Medical Rehabilitation (SMR); the other two units being the departments of Physical Therapy (PT) and Respiratory Therapy (RT). In addition the School offers a thesis-based Master of Science (Rehabilitation) degree and participates in a multi-faculty PhD in Applied Health Sciences.

The School of Medical Rehabilitation is a part of the Faculty of Medicine and together we share the Bannatyne Campus with the Faculty of Dentistry and the Faculty of Pharmacy. The close proximity of all these health science programs enhances collegial and interprofessional activities among all the health professional students.

Our Program:

The Department offers a high quality, accessible and innovative two-year professional entry-level degree program that prepares graduates for current and future practice in occupational therapy.

Our student-centred approach to teaching and learning is supported by many dedicated, keen and experienced faculty members who bring a variety of expertise to classroom and lab sessions. The fieldwork or practical component of our program is facilitated by more than 200 clinical educators who mentor and teach our students within community and clinical settings providing real-life experience in OT.

The Department also offers an accelerated Master of Occupational Therapy program. This program is open only to practicing occupational therapists who have already completed the Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation degree in occupational therapy (BMR OT) or equivalent.

Our Research:

Occupational therapy faculty members engage in a wide variety of research activities related to advancing knowledge of occupation, participation, and occupational therapy. Faculty carry out independent research as well as participate in research collaborations with colleagues across the university and the country. Their dynamic research programs include projects in child health, work and work transitions, policy development and consumer involvement, client-centred practice, farm safety, assistive technology, and interprofessional education. In addition the department has an expressed interest in aboriginal and population health issues. For more information on specific research programs you can link to individual faculty members’ web pages.

Our Facilities:

The Rehabilitation Building offers newly renovated classroom space with state of the art technology in both classrooms and labs. Our facilities include large lecture theatres and classrooms, a mobility lab, an activity of daily living lab, several seminar rooms for small group work and an assistive technology computer lab. All facilities are available to students 24/7 for study purposes.

Located at the centre of the Bannatyne campus is the recently renovated state of the art Health Sciences Library which houses extensive collections and services that support learning, teaching, and research. Also of great pride is the new teaching and learning simulation facility and the many research and education Centers of Excellence such as the Manitoba Center for Health Policy and the Center for Aboriginal Health Education. Other frequently sought out resources on our campus include the Joe Doupe Recreational facility, and the Brody Centre food court.

Specialized research facilities, equipped to meet the needs of various programs, are conveniently housed in two locations: the Bannatyne Campus and the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Health Sciences Centre. Some of the specialized research labs include the Aging, Social Cognition and Rehabilitation Research Lab, the Occupational Performance Research Lab, the Applied Exercise Physiology Lab, the Human Clinical Pain Research Lab and the Posture and Gait Laboratory.

Our Service:

Faculty members contribute to university, community and professional service at a significant level and frequently take on responsibilities such as chairs and/or members on local, provincial and national organizations. Examples of some agencies to which faculty have recently contributed include: Canadian Paraplegic Association, Canadian Centre for Disability Studies, Rehabilitation Centre for Children, Jocelyn House, Ten Ten Sinclair Housing Inc., Open Access Resource Centre, Jewish Child and Family Services, GROW in Gimli, Manitoba Lung Association, Community Therapy Services, and the Spinal Cord Injury Solution Network.

Several faculty members contribute to provincial and national occupational therapy organizations and to other government agencies through committee membership, by chairing committees, or acting as reviewers of professional journals, conference abstracts, or of grants/awards/scholarships. Overall, faculty contribute to most of the Canadian and Manitoba occupational therapy organizations including the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy University Programs, Occupational Therapy Council of Canada, College of Occupational Therapists of Manitoba and the Manitoba Society of Occupational Therapy and to several other professional and government agencies.