茄子直播

Faculty of Medicine expands occupational therapy program to 茄子直播 Mississauga

Photo of students
The MScOT students will study at the Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex alongside the more than 200 MD students in the Mississauga Academy of Medicine

University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine is expanding its occupational therapy program to 茄子直播 Mississauga beginning this September.

The expansion will allow the master of science in occupational therapy program to increase the number of available spots from 90 to 130, and builds on the success of the , which began at 茄子直播 Mississauga in 2011.

鈥淥ur master of science in occupational therapy (MScOT) program is in high demand. Last year we received 953 applications, which meant we could only accept less than 10 per cent of those who applied," said Professor Trevor Young, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and vice provost, relations with health care institutions.

鈥淎t the same, there is a demand for more OTs. Ontario has one of the lowest numbers of OTs per capita. So, this expansion is badly needed,鈥 

The expansion to 茄子直播 Mississauga will also position the program and its graduates to respond to expected population growth in the western Greater Toronto Area.

鈥淏y 2041, the population of the GTA is expected to increase by just over 35 per cent. However, Peel region is projected to grow by more than 47 per cent. Building capacity in the health sciences at UTM is just one way in which we seek to help our region grow,鈥 said Professor Ulrich Krull, 茄子直播 vice-president and principal of 茄子直播 Mississauga.

Occupational therapists work with people who 鈥 because of mental health, injury, or physical challenges 鈥 aren鈥檛 able to engage in an activity. Through assessments and interventions, OTs help their clients develop, recover or maintain participation in their jobs and communities. OTs often work as part of an integrated care team that includes other health professionals, including other rehabilitation specialists.

鈥淲e will continue to deliver our strong MScOT program, but now it will be offered simultaneously on two campuses,鈥 said Susan Rappolt, associate professor and chair of the department of occupational science and occupational therapy.

Students will study at the Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex alongside the more than 200 MD students in the Mississauga Academy of Medicine. The MD program recently introduced the , which has freed up classroom space that will be used for MScOT courses. Lectures will be video conferenced between 茄子直播 Mississauga and the downtown Toronto campus. MScOT students at 茄子直播oronto Mississauga will have onsite faculty and staff, labs, mentorship and study groups, and a full range of student supports, as well as equal access to the MScOT program鈥檚 fieldwork placements.

鈥淭his expansion is perfectly timed to place more emphasis on community-based practice, which is where the discipline began. Occupational therapy services in hospital will remain critically important to ensure that patients get the care they need to return to their homes and communities, but occupational therapists can do more to help people live well in their communities and prevent admissions to institutional care,鈥 said Rappolt, who noted the program is seeking new clinical and community fieldwork placements for students.

The Bulletin Brief logo

Subscribe to The Bulletin Brief

Medicine