RSI Research Day – 2024 Recap
On Thursday, May 30, 2024, the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute (RSI) celebrated the highly anticipated return of its annual Research Day at the MacLeod Auditorium, University of Toronto. This student showcase is like no other, celebrating the recent milestones, accomplishments, success stories, and research findings of the next generation of rehabilitation leaders at the University of Toronto.
Each year, RSI Research Day highlights and celebrates the research conducted by the bright and talented graduate students of RSI through poster and oral presentations. This year was no exception! With over 100 attendees, the event drew a significant crowd for its in-person return. The central theme of this year’s event was Collaborative Teamwork in Research.
The day began on an uplifting note with inspiring opening remarks from Dr. Angela Colantonio, RSI Director, and Dr. John Peever, Vice Dean of Students, School of Graduate Studies. Their warm welcome served as a poignant reminder of the essential role rehabilitation plays in shaping the future of healthcare.
Next, we heard from this year's keynote speaker, Dr. Sarah Munce, RSI’s very own Graduate Coordinator and assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy. Dr. Munce delivered a timely talk on "A Rehabilitation Scientist’s Perspective on Collaborative Teamwork in Research," sharing her insights as a scientist at the KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network.
During the midday program, guests participated in a panel discussion on Collaborative Teamwork in Research, featuring experts from various fields of rehab. Special thanks go out to Dr. Elaine Biddiss, Ajmal Khan, Dr. Heather Shearer, and RSI PhD student, Marina Petrevska for their shared wisdom and engaging discussions.
The day concluded fittingly with the RSI Recognition Awards Ceremony, celebrating the achievements of the RSI community.
Congratulations to this year’s winners:
STUDENTS:
|
Award |
Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
|
Research Recognition |
Juliana Nunes da Silva, MSc Student |
|
Leadership & Inspiration |
Jessica Song, MSc Student |
|
Community Service |
Momo Lin, MSc Student |
FACULTY/STAFF:
|
Award |
Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
|
Dr. Dina Brooks Award for Continuing/Sustained Excellence in Graduate Student Supervision and Mentorship |
|
|
Dr. Patty Rigby Award for Early Career Excellence in Supervision and Mentorship |
|
|
Teaching Award |
|
|
Peer Mentorship Award |
|
|
Service Award |
Sander Hitzig, Faculty |
ALUMNI:
|
Award |
Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
|
Outstanding Leadership Award |
Vincy Chan |
|
Outstanding Mentorship Award |
Robert Balogh |
|
Outstanding Service Award |
Sana Smaoui |
PRESENTATIONS:
|
Award |
Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
|
3 Minute Presentation |
Anna Huynh, PhD Candidate |
POSTERS:
|
Award |
Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
|
Best Poster |
Sarmitha Sivakumaran, MSc Student |
|
People's Choice |
Cindy Nguyen, MSc Student |
|
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion |
Jessica Song, MSc Student Hannah Dudney, PhD Student |
All told, more than 40 posters and oral presentations were made and several faculty, staff, students and family members attended the event online to celebrate the excellent scholarship taking place at RSI. Thank you to all those who attended, to the RSI Research Day Committee and staff for making this year’s event an even greater success!
As always, thank you to our valued sponsors and donors:
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
- The KITE Research Institute – UHN
- International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation (ICDR)
- University of Toronto Graduate Students' Union
- Dr. Angela Colantonio
- Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Cardiac Program
For those of you who were unable to join us, we look forward to seeing you in 2025 at our next innovative, informative and inspiring day of research at RSI!