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Queen’s School of Rehabilitation Therapy has received approval to launch a new innovative doctoral-level program. The Doctor of Science in Rehabilitation and Health Leadership (DSc RHL) is the first of its kind at Queen’s University.

The approvals were granted by Queen’s Senate, Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance, and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development 

The 36-month executive-style program will allow its students to continue working while completing the degree through a blend of on-campus intensive sessions and online-learning. The program features a unique applied thesis model, in which students identify a real-world problem in a rehabilitation or health setting, and design, implement and evaluate a process, program or system to address this problem.

Completion of the degree will equip currently practicing rehabilitation and health professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to confidently pursue career opportunities requiring advanced competencies in leadership, program development, applied research and evaluation, advocacy, change management, and knowledge translation.

“This program fills a recognized gap in the rehabilitation and health sector,” says, Marcia Finlayson (School of Rehabilitation Therapy Director, Vice-Dean, Health Sciences). “Entry-to-practice educational programs for rehabilitation and health professionals must focus on ensuring that graduates meet key competencies necessary to be safe, evidence-based practitioners. However, demographic shifts, funding challenges and other factors are pushing transformations in the delivery of rehabilitation and healthcare services that require special skills and knowledge on the part of its leadership.”

The program’s development and curriculum were informed by extensive consultation with stakeholders, including national-level healthcare organizations. 

“We wanted to ensure that the program’s curriculum and format aligned with the needs of the diversity of organizations that serve people at risk of, or living with, disability. This includes direct-service environments, policy arenas, as well as community and non-profit sectors,” says Dr. Finlayson.   

The inter-disciplinary program is open to all professionals, with bachelor- or masters-level degrees, whose backgrounds or future career goals focus on advancing programs, services, and systems that will positively influence the everyday lives of people affected by or at risk of disability.

“We are very excited about this program,” says Dr. Finlayson. “It will train leader scholars who are able to improve decision-making in rehabilitation and health settings across the country and around the globe.”

The program will welcome applications starting in September 2017, for its first cohort commencing in May 2018.  For more information, please visit Queen’s School of Rehabilitation Therapy’s website: