On June 18, 2014, March of Dimes Canada and the University of Toronto (U of T) signed a $1.5 million agreement to advance research in recovery from brain injuries and stroke, by establishing the March of Dimes Canada Paul J.J. Martin Early Career Professorship in U of T's Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. With this donation, March of Dimes Canada is acting on its mission to “maximize the independence, personal empowerment and community participation of people with disabilities”.
The March of Dimes Canada Paul J.J. Martin Early Career Professorship will provide a faculty member in the early stages of her or his research career with a well-established framework for investigating interventions and pathways to increase the independence and social integration of brain injury survivors. The professorship will also provide research evidence to enhance existing March of Dimes Canada programs, which serve more than 60,000 Canadians annually.
The March of Dimes Paul J.J. Martin Early Career Professorship pays homage to the late Right Honourable Paul Martin Sr., who as the Canadian Minister of National Health and Welfare in the 1950s, took the courageous step of delivering the country's universal vaccination program despite an atmosphere of great uncertainty. The vaccine eventually ended the threat of polio in Canada.
March of Dimes Canada is proud to partner with U of T’s rehabilitation scientists and practitioners who work collaboratively to translate new research evidence into therapies that help individuals with brain injuries capitalize on their post-injury strengths to get them out of the hospital and back into their communities as active participants. The Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy is an international leader in research on acquired brain injuries at the individual, community and societal levels.
Both March of Dimes and the University of Toronto are thrilled to announce that Dr. Emily Nalder has been appointed as the March of Dimes Paul J.J. Martin Early Career Professor.
Dr. Nalder’s research program examines the complex factors related to people, environments, health services, and technology that influence the community integration of adults with acquired brain injury.
Dr. Nalder received her Bachelor of occupational therapy with first class honours, and her PhD in rehabilitation therapies from The University of Queensland in Australia. Her doctoral dissertation examined transitions from hospital to home for individuals with traumatic brain injury and their family caregivers. Her postdoctoral work has focused on identifying critical components of community-based rehabilitation programs that enable the participation of adults with acquired brain injury, including examining the effectiveness of tele-rehabilitation programs. She has also practised clinically with adults with acquired brain injury across the spectrum of care including acute care, inpatient and community-based rehabilitation.
Brain injuries and stroke affect 80,000 to 100,000 Canadians every year and are the leading cause of disability worldwide.
March of Dimes Canada’s funding both maintains and expands the organization’s historic presence in research, and will offer evidence-based knowledge to better develop best practices in service areas and program priorities. In addition, March of Dimes offers a learning lab for students and faculty with the potential for further collaborations in Dr. Nalder’s field of expertise, and potentially for cross-disciplinary studies as well.
“The funding of an emerging scholar is historic for March of Dimes, and demonstrates our continuing commitment to research that can improve the lives of people affected by a disability, as well as providing a leadership opportunity to an emerging scholar in this field. We are looking forward to many levels of collaboration with our partner, the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto,” says Andria Spindel, President and CEO of March of Dimes Canada.
The March of Dimes Paul J.J. Martin Early Career Professorship establishes March of Dimes Canada as a leader in community rehabilitation and reintegration research. The name pays homage to the late Right Honourable Paul Martin Sr., who as the Canadian Minister of National Health and Welfare in the 1950s, took the courageous step of delivering the country's universal vaccination program despite an atmosphere of great uncertainty. The vaccine eventually ended the threat of polio in Canada.
The family of the Right Honourable Paul Martin Sr. were extremely pleased to be advised of the named Professorship and committed $100,000 of the current March of Dimes’ contribution.
Dr. Susan Rappolt, Chair of U of T’s Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy expressed deep appreciation for this gift.
“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Emily Nalder to the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto as the March of Dimes Paul J.J. Martin Early Career Professor. March of Dimes Canada has created an exciting opportunity to support an emerging researcher in community integration for individuals with acquired brain injuries,” says Dr. Susan Rappolt, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department. “The generosity of March of Dimes Canada will benefit our Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy community, rehabilitation science across programs, and ultimately, Canadians with acquired brain injuries.”
Dr. Nalder will be collaborating with members of the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, and with March of Dimes Canada to promote the community integration of individuals with acquired brain injury.
The University of Toronto’s rehabilitation scientists and practitioners work collaboratively to translate new research evidence into therapies that help individuals with brain injuries capitalize on their post-injury strengths to get them out of the hospital and back into their roles in their communities. The Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy is an international leader in research on acquired brain injuries at the individual, community and societal levels.
For more information contact:
Research Grants and Awards Committee
c/o Manager Quality and Research
March of Dimes Canada
202-885 Don Mills Rd.
Toronto, ON M3C 1V9
416-425-3463
1-800-263-3463
