Dalhousie University. Faculty of Health. School of Physiotherapy

Dalhousie University. Faculty of Health. School of Physiotherapy

• Dalhousie University. Faculty of Health Professions. School of Physiotherapy (1963-2017)

1963-

In 1958 a committee appointed by the Faculty of Medicine submitted a report to Senate outlining the benefits of establishing a course in physiotherapy and occupational therapy at Dalhousie. Subsequently, the Maritime provincial health departments approved of the idea in principle, but saw no urgency in establishing a program, especially given the lack of space and funding in place. Later they determined that separate courses in physiotherapy and occupational therapy were preferable to a combined program.

When the School of Physiotherapy did open in 1963 with a two-year diploma program, it had two full-time faculty members and fifteen students, whose classes were held in the gymnasium of Camp Hill Hospital and in borrowed Medical School classrooms in the Forrest Building. In 1976 the program expanded to offer a BSc Physiotherapy, and the diploma program was terminated at the end of the 1976-77 academic year. In 1984 the Forrest Building was completely refurbished to accommodate the School of Physiotherapy and other Health Professions programs.

In 2010 certification standards began to require a master degree in physiotherapy; accordingly, the BSc program was phased out with the last class being admitted in 2004. The MSc Physiotherapy introduced in 1995 was a research-based programme designed for licensed physiotherapists. In 2006 the MSc Physiotherapy entry to practice program was introduced as a full-time course offered over a continuous 26-month period.

The School of Physiotherapy is located on the fourth floor of the Forrest Building on Dalhousie's Carleton Campus.

The School of Physiotherapy offers clinical and research graduate programs as well as a combined entry-to-practice/rehabilitation research program. It also facilitates doctoral studies through the PhD in Health and PhD Interdisciplinary Research programs.

The basic statute relating to Dalhousie University is Chapter 24 of the Acts of 1863. This statute replaced earlier statutes, and the 1863 statute itself has been amended and supplemented several times over the years. The provisions of these various statutes provide for the establishment and regulation of the university, the membership of the Board of Governors and its rights and powers, the authority of senate for the internal regulation of the university (subject to the approval of the board), and various other matters.

The School of Physiotherapy is within the Faculty of Health and is administered by a director, supported by and associate directors, faculty, instructors and staff.