Thoughts from our 2009 Students
03/08/09 15:25
(Sophia) Noreen Syed
I am a 2nd year Physiotherapy student (MScPT candidate) at McMaster University in Hamilton On. My reason for choosing Kenya as my international placement was not simply to see another part of the world or fulfill an academic requirement. As a future public health provider I feel compelled to share my knowledge and skills with other health care providers and also gain insight from my colleagues. As a result, I would like to promote evidence based practice skills to other physiotherapist/health care providers in Canada and around the globe. Having also been to other developing countries such as India and Mexico, I have seen the lack of and inability of health care services to reach all domains of the population. As a result, those who require assistance do not always receive help. Rural Kenya may also display this lack of assistance to individuals and this aspect strengthens my interest in Kenya specifically. My involvement in the Kenya Working Group (KWG) will introduce myself and my classmates to health care issues in rural Kenya and surrounding areas. With the support from the KWG and affiliates I hope to increase my knowledge in the application of physiotherapy skills in an international setting, share my skill and knowledge with colleagues and assist locals who are in need of rehabilitation services.
Catherine Fernandes
My name is Catherine and I am a 2nd year physical therapy student at the University of Toronto. I enjoy learning about other cultures and have always wanted the chance to work in Africa, particularly in Kenya. This placement with the Kenyan Working Group will provide me with the opportunity to broaden my clinical experiences by working with individuals in a developing country. I am looking forward to the new interactions and learning experiences that will come from this placement.
Cameal Sinclair
Hola! My name is Cameal and I am a second year physical therapy student at the University of Toronto. I have a strong interest in global and Indigenous health and learning about other cultures. This opportunity to have a placement through the Kenya Working Group is a meaningful way for me to apply and broaden my skills within an under-resourced area while learning how physical therapy is implemented in a different culture. I am looking forward to the exchange of information and clinical experiences with both Canadian and Kenyan colleagues.
"You must give some time to your fellow man. Even if it's a little thing, do something for which you get not pay but the privilege of doing it." Albert Schweitzer
Kelly Dreisinger
I am originally from Elmira, Ontario. I completed my undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at McMaster University in Hamilton. I have always had a strong interest in health and rehabilitation. In addition, an interest in health promotion and policy development, led me to a position with The Arthritis Society in Vancouver BC. This experience in the health care system, combined with my passion for working closely with people, lead me to pursue a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy. Early on in the program I became aware of the collaboration that McMaster had with the Kenya Working Group, and was immediately intrigued and interested in the opportunity to participate in such a unique and rewarding experience. I am so grateful for the fortunate opportunity to go to a country where I can share the skills I have learned as a physio student, while partaking in the incredible experience of learning about the Kenyan culture.
I know that this will be an incredible learning experience in so many ways. In return, I hope to give back and assist by sharing what I have learned about evidence-based practice for treating people with various conditions and disabilities; and apply the knowledge and skills I have gained as a physiotherapy student. My goal is, through rehabilitation, to help enrich and improve the quality of life for people living with disabilities. This will no doubt be a life-changing experience.
Jill Holmes
I am originally from Tweed Ontario, a small rural community of 1,800, two and a half hours North-East of Toronto. I have always been interested in rehabilitation as well as health, social and economic conditions in other areas of the world. After high school I moved to Hamilton and completed an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology. While completing this degree I was fortunate to be able to participate in a number of rehabilitation and community service opportunities. However, I always dreamed of doing something more!
I am now in the final stretch of completing a Masters degree in Physiotherapy from McMaster, and was thrilled to learn about the opportunity to travel to Kenya for my final clinical placement. I am excited to not only provide rehabilitation services for individuals living with disability, but also to learn about the culture, social and political conditions in Kenya. I know that this experience will help to make me a better physiotherapist and it will also help to improve the lives of those living with disabilities in Kenya. I believe this experience will also help to increase awareness and allow us to advocate for the development of sustainable health-care practices in these resource-limited areas of the world, as well as in our own communities.
Josh Boutotte
I am a student occupational therapist at McMaster University. I will be completing my final placement with the Kenya Working Group this summer. I have chosen Kenya for my final placement as a chance to employ the multitude of skills and resources I have developed over the two year program in a unique and challenging environment. The placement offers opportunities to work in hospitals, clinics, schools, and rural and urban communities, working with people of all ages with a variety of occupational performance issues. I look forward to the challenge and creativity needed to work with different and sometimes limited resources, and I hope to develop awareness and sensitivity to socio-cultural differences. I believe this placement with the Kenya Working Group will be a tremendous personal and professional learning experience, and provide both a great end to the academic program and an influential step into professional practice.
Stephanie
I am in my second year of McMaster’s Occupational Therapy Programme. I have taken the opportunity to do my final clinical placement in Kenya through the Kenya Working Group. I also hope to gain an increased understanding and sensitivity towards cultural issues and cross-cultural care by working with people in another culture, learning from them and with them. I would also like to take the opportunity to compare McMaster and Canadian trained occupational therapists to occupational therapists on a global level. This would be a chance to learn from each other’s unique perspective and incorporate aspects that may benefit my own future practice.
I am a 2nd year Physiotherapy student (MScPT candidate) at McMaster University in Hamilton On. My reason for choosing Kenya as my international placement was not simply to see another part of the world or fulfill an academic requirement. As a future public health provider I feel compelled to share my knowledge and skills with other health care providers and also gain insight from my colleagues. As a result, I would like to promote evidence based practice skills to other physiotherapist/health care providers in Canada and around the globe. Having also been to other developing countries such as India and Mexico, I have seen the lack of and inability of health care services to reach all domains of the population. As a result, those who require assistance do not always receive help. Rural Kenya may also display this lack of assistance to individuals and this aspect strengthens my interest in Kenya specifically. My involvement in the Kenya Working Group (KWG) will introduce myself and my classmates to health care issues in rural Kenya and surrounding areas. With the support from the KWG and affiliates I hope to increase my knowledge in the application of physiotherapy skills in an international setting, share my skill and knowledge with colleagues and assist locals who are in need of rehabilitation services.
Catherine Fernandes
My name is Catherine and I am a 2nd year physical therapy student at the University of Toronto. I enjoy learning about other cultures and have always wanted the chance to work in Africa, particularly in Kenya. This placement with the Kenyan Working Group will provide me with the opportunity to broaden my clinical experiences by working with individuals in a developing country. I am looking forward to the new interactions and learning experiences that will come from this placement.
Cameal Sinclair
Hola! My name is Cameal and I am a second year physical therapy student at the University of Toronto. I have a strong interest in global and Indigenous health and learning about other cultures. This opportunity to have a placement through the Kenya Working Group is a meaningful way for me to apply and broaden my skills within an under-resourced area while learning how physical therapy is implemented in a different culture. I am looking forward to the exchange of information and clinical experiences with both Canadian and Kenyan colleagues.
"You must give some time to your fellow man. Even if it's a little thing, do something for which you get not pay but the privilege of doing it." Albert Schweitzer
Kelly Dreisinger
I am originally from Elmira, Ontario. I completed my undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at McMaster University in Hamilton. I have always had a strong interest in health and rehabilitation. In addition, an interest in health promotion and policy development, led me to a position with The Arthritis Society in Vancouver BC. This experience in the health care system, combined with my passion for working closely with people, lead me to pursue a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy. Early on in the program I became aware of the collaboration that McMaster had with the Kenya Working Group, and was immediately intrigued and interested in the opportunity to participate in such a unique and rewarding experience. I am so grateful for the fortunate opportunity to go to a country where I can share the skills I have learned as a physio student, while partaking in the incredible experience of learning about the Kenyan culture.
I know that this will be an incredible learning experience in so many ways. In return, I hope to give back and assist by sharing what I have learned about evidence-based practice for treating people with various conditions and disabilities; and apply the knowledge and skills I have gained as a physiotherapy student. My goal is, through rehabilitation, to help enrich and improve the quality of life for people living with disabilities. This will no doubt be a life-changing experience.
Jill Holmes
I am originally from Tweed Ontario, a small rural community of 1,800, two and a half hours North-East of Toronto. I have always been interested in rehabilitation as well as health, social and economic conditions in other areas of the world. After high school I moved to Hamilton and completed an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology. While completing this degree I was fortunate to be able to participate in a number of rehabilitation and community service opportunities. However, I always dreamed of doing something more!
I am now in the final stretch of completing a Masters degree in Physiotherapy from McMaster, and was thrilled to learn about the opportunity to travel to Kenya for my final clinical placement. I am excited to not only provide rehabilitation services for individuals living with disability, but also to learn about the culture, social and political conditions in Kenya. I know that this experience will help to make me a better physiotherapist and it will also help to improve the lives of those living with disabilities in Kenya. I believe this experience will also help to increase awareness and allow us to advocate for the development of sustainable health-care practices in these resource-limited areas of the world, as well as in our own communities.
Josh Boutotte
I am a student occupational therapist at McMaster University. I will be completing my final placement with the Kenya Working Group this summer. I have chosen Kenya for my final placement as a chance to employ the multitude of skills and resources I have developed over the two year program in a unique and challenging environment. The placement offers opportunities to work in hospitals, clinics, schools, and rural and urban communities, working with people of all ages with a variety of occupational performance issues. I look forward to the challenge and creativity needed to work with different and sometimes limited resources, and I hope to develop awareness and sensitivity to socio-cultural differences. I believe this placement with the Kenya Working Group will be a tremendous personal and professional learning experience, and provide both a great end to the academic program and an influential step into professional practice.
Stephanie
I am in my second year of McMaster’s Occupational Therapy Programme. I have taken the opportunity to do my final clinical placement in Kenya through the Kenya Working Group. I also hope to gain an increased understanding and sensitivity towards cultural issues and cross-cultural care by working with people in another culture, learning from them and with them. I would also like to take the opportunity to compare McMaster and Canadian trained occupational therapists to occupational therapists on a global level. This would be a chance to learn from each other’s unique perspective and incorporate aspects that may benefit my own future practice.