RSI Research Day 2018: Recap

Download the complete 2018 RSI Abstract booklet

Thursday, May 10, 2018 marked this year’s Rehabilitation Sciences Institute (RSI) Research Day event which took place at the Chestnut Residence and Conference Centre in downtown Toronto.

Every year, the RSI Research Day event showcases and celebrates the research being conducted by the bright and talented graduate students of RSI via poster and oral presentations and this year was no exception! With over 100 attendees, our attendance reached a record high! And, for the second time running, students and faculty participated in a panel discussion with this year's topic on "Synergy of Successful Mentorship" led by Dr. Stephanie Nixon.

The day began with our student and faculty assembly where new faculty were introduced and welcomed to the Institute. Special thanks goes out to guest speaker Ms. Anita Balakrishna, M.Ed (cand), LLB (law), BA (Honours), Diversity Strategist for the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, who so graciously lead the assembly with her presentation on "Pathways to Inclusion: The Opportunities and Challenges of Journeying Beyond Diversity". This was followed by inspiring opening remarks by none other than the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Vice Provost for Relations with Health Care Institutions, Dr. Trevor Young, and RSI’s very own Director, Dr. Angela Colantonio.

During the midday program, keynote speaker Mr. Antony Duttine, DrPH (cand), MSc, Advisor on disability and rehabilitation at the Pan American Health Organization, also gave a thought-provoking speech on "Rehabilitating Rehabilitation: How Will Science Shape the Future of our Profession", captivating faculty and students on how this theme impacts rehabilitation research.

New this year was the launch of the Inaugural RSI Annual Alumni Awards which were announced along with the RSI Recognition Awards. Thank you to the RSI Alumni Association led by Dr. Rosalie Wang for recognizing the outstanding contributions of RSI’s alumni in this special way.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners:

Students:

AWARD

WINNER(S)

Leadership Award                    

Keelia Quinn de Launay, MSc
Denise DuBois, PhD

Outstanding Community Service Award

Nirsan Kunaratnam, MSc
Mikaela Stiver, PhD
Patrick Jachyra, PhD 

Peer Mentorship Award                                                        

Adora Chui, PhD

Faculty/Staff:

AWARD

WINNER(S)

Early Career Excellence in 
Supervision and Mentorship                             

Dr. Kristin Musselman

Continuing/Sustained Excellence in
Graduate Student Supervision
& Mentorship

Dr. Barbara Gibson

Service Award: Faculty & Staff

Loida Ares

Peer Mentorship AwardDr. Nicole Woods

Alumni:

AWARD                                              

WINNER(S)

Rising Star Award        

Dr. Nick Reed

Outstanding Mentorship Award  

Dr. Catherine
Wiseman-Hakes 

Oustanding Service Award

Dr. Rosalie Wang

All told, more than 40 posters and oral presentations were made and hundreds of faculty, staff, students and family members attended the event to celebrate the excellent scholarship taking place at RSI. Thank you to all those who attended and to the RSI Research Day Organizing Committee and RSI Staff for making this year’s event such a great success!

Thank you to our valued sponsors as well:

For those of you who were unable to join us, we look forward to seeing you next May 2019 at our next exciting, informative and inspiring day of Research in RSI!