CAOT-Qc Advisory Committee

Kashif Baig- McGill University Health Centre- Montréal
Kashif graduated from Occupational Therapy from McGill University in 1997.  Cherish being an Occupational Therapist.  Currently as Manager of the Department of Occupational Therapy in the McGill University Health Centre and Faculty Lecturer Affiliate Member at McGill University.  He has worked both in Montreal and previously in Boston.  Attained his Masters in Business Administration while working in Boston at the University of Massachusetts - Boston in 2003.  His clinical interest has been in Occupational Therapy in Critical Care.  Kashif feels that these unique qualities / experiences of working both in Canada and the United States as well as a clinician and in management will serve the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy's Advisory Committee positively.

Michèle Bélanger- Mental Health, public/private sectors- Montréal
Michèle has been an occupational therapist specializing in mental health for the past 35 years. She graduated from the Université de Montréal in 1982. She has worked in rehabilitation in the Quebec health system (university hospital, LCHC, outpatient clinic, specialized clinic) and in private clinic settings. For her, mental health and its’ challenges have been a source of professional improvement, both in terms of her knowledge and her human competencies. Over the years, teaching at the university, supervision and sponsorship have allowed her to stay on top of the developments in occupational therapy that she embraces with passion. Before she retires, her goals are to give back to our network, to be involved with the next generation of occupational therapists and to innovate. Participating in the CAOT-Qc advisory committee is a venue that will allow her to pursue this professional project where she will be able to interact with passionate professionals to build a strong occupational therapy community.

Anita Gagnon- Private Practice- Chaudière Appalaches
Anita is a graduate from Université Laval and has been an occupational therapist since 2009. She works mainly in socio-professional rehabilitation in private practice in the regions of Quebec City and Chaudière-Appalaches. She has a definite interest in physical rehabilitation and even more interest in mental health rehabilitation where services are sometimes less well known. The profession of occupational therapist is captivating and inspiring. By representing CAOT-Qc she wishes to contribute to the development and the recognition of the profession, where activity is the heart of practice.

Martine Robin- Technical Aide- Laurentides
Martine graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1991 and has practiced as a clinical occupational therapist with various types of clients with physical disabilities, both in intensive rehabilitation and socio-professional integration at the Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital and at CRDP Le bouclier des Laurentides. For the past 10 years she has worked with technical aids for motor disabilities for CISSS des Laurentides. She is the head of a clinical team that assesses technical aid needs for locomotion, mobility and posture. She works as a clinical occupational therapist, clinical coordinator and consultant with partners in her region. She obtained a DESS in management and organization development in 2015. Her experience has allowed her to gain a global vision of direct client services and of certain professional issues. Within this context she is motivated to collaborate with CAOT towards the development and the recognition of the OT profession and to the development of the partnership that aims to contribute to improving access to, and the quality, of health services offered to the population of Quebec. She sees CAOT-Qc as an opportunity to discuss the current realities of practicing occupational therapy and to be surrounded by and to share with occupational therapists who are passionate and involved. Since the health system is being restructured she considers CAOT-Qc as a platform for promoting the profession and for supporting occupational therapists with regards to the pressures applied by the governance. As a member of the committee she also wishes to be part of the discussion about clinical and political issues that affect our profession and the services offered to the population.

Marc Rouleau- Academic Assistant, Université de Montréal - Montréal
Marc is currently the academic assistant for the Université de Montréal’s various occupational therapy education programs and is also responsible for continuing education. As part of his responsibilities he participates in reviewing the content and  educational model of the programs, he collaborates in the development of new educational programs as well as developing the continuing education program yearly. Marc says that he is lucky to be involved with dedicated, educated, creative and passionate occupational therapists through his work. This fact and his deep belief in the added value of occupational therapy to our population motivates him to want to be more involved in supporting, advancing, representing and developing our profession.

Audrée Jeanne Beaudoin- Researcher- Sherbrooke
Audrée Jeanne is a graduate of the Université de Sherbrooke where she completed her professional master's degree in occupational therapy in 2012 and her doctorate in clinical sciences in 2018. During her graduate studies, she became interested in support as a modality of intervention to meet the needs of families with children with a suspicion of autism spectrum disorder. After having practiced for some time as an occupational therapist in a school environment, Audrée Jeanne is now a researcher at the CIUSSS Estrie - CHUS University Institute of Primary Health and Social Services and Associate Professor at the School of Rehabilitation, Sherbrooke University. As part of these functions, Audrée Jeanne aims to develop front-line occupational therapy services for children. To do this, it relies on the development of innovative interventions in partnership with key players in the field. Audrée Jeanne is interested in becoming a member of the CAOT-Qc Advisory Committee in order to promote the development of Occupational Therapy, particularly with respect to the accessibility of services for vulnerable, unserved or forgotten clienteles.

Judith l'Heureux- Montréal
Judith graduated from Laval University in 2001. She has worked mainly in vocational rehabilitation in the public system and also in private practice. She has developed her expertise with non-acute low back pain, stroke, and common mental health disorders. Since university she has been involved as a university lecturer in different universities (Sherbrooke, McGill, Laval). In 2016, she has completed a master's degree in research at the University of Sherbrooke. She has a passion for contributing to population literacy and health innovation. Involvement with the ACE Advisory Committee will allow ACE to use her skills to help to facilitate best practices in occupational therapy.

Michael Beaudoin - Student - l’Université de Sherbrooke - Estrie
Holder of a masters’ degree in business administration from the Université de Sherbrooke in 2013, Michaël is currently completing his masters’ degree in Occupational Therapy at the same university. In 2018, he founded the Occupational Therapy Influence Committee of the Université de Sherbrooke to promote the profession to other health professionals and the Quebec population. He is also working on several research projects aimed at improving the practice of occupational therapy, particularly with regard to the role of change agent. By combining his expertise in the fields of business and health, Michael is interested in improving the processes in place in the health system and the emergence of innovative practices in occupational therapy. Motivated to defend the interests of his colleagues to ensure their well-being and their fulfillment, he is proud to represent the students of Occupational Therapy in Quebec and to assist them in the implementation of their projects.