2013 Barbara Sexton Lecturer

Susan Forwell, PhD, OT(C), FCAOT

Associate Professor
Department of Occupational Therapy
University of British Columbia

Professor Forwell is an Associate Professor and Associate Department Head in the University of British Columbia (UBC) Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Research Associate with the UBC MS clinic and the International Collaboration of Research and Discovery (ICORD), and is an affiliate researcher of Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI). She is involved in research and teaching in occupational science and issues of life transitions as well as neuro-rehabilitation and community integration with special interest in MS, spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. Her current research is looking at the issue of fatigue and energy management in neurological conditions, living well with chronic conditions, as well as the experience of expected and unexpected life transition and its relationship to occupation. Prof. Forwell is developing an evidence based behavioral strategy for the treatment of intention tremor and researching the benefits of this occupation-focus intervention for persons with MS. She is widely published, recipient of numerous grants and awards and serves on several grant review panels. She is supervising masters and doctoral students as well as post-doctoral fellows. Currently, Prof. Forwell is on the board of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers; member of the health care advisory council of the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America; associate editor of the International Journal of MS Care; sub-editor of the Journal of Occupational Science and is a past president of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.