3 rd Annual Therapy Assistant Association of Alberta Awards

Categories Long-Term Service Award Student Award Student Mentor Award Leadership Award Outstanding Practitioner Award Outstanding Team Practice Award

Long-Term Service Award Must be a member of the Association for at least five consecutive years Has been promoting the Association

Long-Term Service Award nominees Helen Tanton

Long-Term Service Award recipient Has been working for Alberta Health Services for 25 years. Works as a Rehab Assistant at Daysland Hospital Considered a valuable team member Brings a positive presence and is happy & upbeat all the time Helps students, teaches them Demonstrates a positive role model at all times Helen Tanton

Student Award Registered in one of the 4 post-secondary institutions in Alberta Must possess outstanding clinical and academic skills Inspires fellow students Demonstrates a passion for learning

Student Award nominees Kuljeet Sidhu Elise Packet

Student Award recipient Elise Packet 2 nd year OTA/PTA student at Medicine Hat College Volunteered with Student Ambassador program Student representative to MHC Therapist Assistant Advisory Committee Quiet steady student learner Assists others with their learning Strong work ethic: assists with set up & clean up of lab activities

Student Mentor Award Has mentored Therapy Assistant students by providing coaching, support and/or feedback during student’s placement Encourages others to mentor students Has made mentoring students a continuing goal in their professional life

Student Mentor Award nominees Raeann Sharland Andrea Dahmer

Student Mentor Award recipient Raeann Sharland Works with Alberta Health Services at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital as a PTA Graduated from the 1 st PTA class at Medicine Hat College & continually supports the PTA role at AHS & MHC Assists MHC as a lab instructor Takes students on fieldwork placements Provides guidance & encouragement to students while monitoring student electronic discussion boards during fieldwork placements Always ready to lend a helping hand, ear or provide input and as a result, students gravitate to her

Leadership Award Promotes the role of the Therapy Assistant Promotes the discipline(s) and/or specialties in which they work Encourages others to participate in Professional Development and does so themselves Is an integral member of their rehabilitation team

Leadership Award Nominees Annette Waayenberg Boris Jeftic Carolyn Onusko Nicole Berlinguette Rick Peters Sheila Free

Leadership Award Recipient Boris Jeftic Works as a TA in the Wounds/Medicine area Constantly supports team members – mentors & gives advice Is supportive to ALL team members: non-judgmental & a strong advocate who will support the members to a Clinical Leader if appropriate Always mentors students & has been student coordinator for many years Entire team looks to him for advice: Therapists & TAs Supportive to patients: They love him! Runs the “behind the scenes” operations because he is organized & thorough Attends TA workshops and webinars Self starter: first to arrive, gets the department up and running

Outstanding Practitioner Award Has contributed to the rehabilitation team Must possess outstanding clinical and interpersonal skills Participates in professional development opportunities Shares with or teaches other team members knowledge acquired through practice or education opportunities

Outstanding Practitioner Award nominees Andrea Dahmer Clarence Iglesias Danielle Bromley Haley Zielinski Jennifer Bornstein Jessica Seutter Joanne Enns Jocelyn Bal Karma Stewart Kendra Barthalow Krista Schell Linda Krankowsky Lori Wolfe Madison Littman Marian Bryan Simon Shapiro

Outstanding Practitioner Award recipient Works as SLPA on Neuro Rehab Unit at Dr Vernon Fanning Center in Calgary working with clients with acquired brain injury or who suffered a stroke Has demonstrated outstanding clinical skills & knowledge of Neurogenic Communication Disorders Incorporates creative individualized therapy ideas for clients: Adapts & modifies activities & is sensitive to client’s cultural background – searches out materials in the client’s primary language Facilitates individual and group sessions for Aphasia, Dysarthria & Cognitive Communication Acts as key clinician to program applications & troubleshoots client IPad issues Constantly advances her clinical skills: trained in Supportive Conversation for Adults with Aphasia (SCA tm ). Possesses exceptional interpersonal skills & builds strong rapport with clients & their families Contributes daily to the team & is a passionate mentor: orients new TAs Her co-workers regard her as a fellow Speech Language Pathologist Clinician first, and a Therapy Assistant second Jocelyn Bal

Outstanding Team Practice Award Has impacted their organization by demonstrating outstanding clinical and interpersonal skills The team members must have made contributions towards increased knowledge, skills and outstanding client service The TA team’s success is a result of the nominees working in a collaborative and engaging manner

Outstanding Team Practice Award nominees Carol Thompson & Kathy Koehler Krystyna Lang, Dell Yaghi & Amanda Petrie Donna Hackborn, Lisa Booth, Kezia Mensah & Denise Wigmore

Outstanding Team Practice Award recipients TA’s at Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital on musculoskeletal physical therapy team All extremely well trained & bring a variety of clinical & interpersonal skills Constantly seeking out courses & mentorship opportunities Share their knowledge with TA students that they supervise Consistently anticipating therapist & patient needs Function well independently, but strongly collaborative Adaptable, flexible, & jump right in without hesitation Compassionate and understanding Go above and beyond every day; often without recognition! Krystyna Lang, Dell Yaghi & Amanda Petrie

Congratulations to all our winners and nominees! We are proud to recognize the outstanding work you do in your respective roles and hope we can all follow the example set by you. Thank you for letting your passion shine through!