Barbara Sexton Lecture
2024 Lecture Details
November 27, 2024
Great Hall, Western University
4:00 pm
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The Barbara Sexton Lectureship was established in 1999 to reward innovation and excellence in occupational therapy teaching and to foster professional enrichment. Western's School of Occupational Therapy annually invites a distinguished visitor to give a public presentation.
2024 Guest Lecturer
Clark Patrick Heard, OTD, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Occupational Therapist, St. Joseph's Health Care London's Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care
Clark Heard is an occupational therapist at St. Joseph's Health Care London's Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care, and co-founder of the Occupational Therapy/Spiritual Care Research Lab. He graduated from McMaster University (Hamilton, ON) and Temple University (Philadelphia, PA, USA) in occupational therapy. He is an associate scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute.
With a high volume of peer-reviewed publications, Clark is an active clinical educator who has precepted more than 140 occupational therapy students to date. He has been nationally recognized by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists for excellence in clinical education. Additionally, he is a recipient of the Sister’s of St. Joseph Award for Excellence in Care, the Unsung Hero Award from McMaster University and most recently received a Professional Practice Team Award from St. Joseph’s Health Care London, alongside his colleagues in the research lab.
Talk Title: The Spirituality of Clinical Education
This talk considers the unique and personal narration of spirituality for preceptors, mentors, guest lecturers and students involved in clinical education. Clinical education compels a journey in which there is shared wisdom and, sometimes, the sum of experience that which we might hold personally sacred: spirituality.
Previous Sexton Lecturers
| Year | Lecturer | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Lori Letts, PhD - McMaster University | Challenging Hegemonies |
| 2020 | No lecture given | N/A |
| 2019 | Jan Polgar, PhD - Western University | From Activity to Occupation: Reflections on 40 years in the occupational therapy profession |
| 2018 | Cathy Vandersluis - London Health Sciences Centre | Living Life in Colour |
| 2017 | Marcia Finlayson - Queen's University | Building evidence to support practice: The example of managing fatigue in multiple sclerosis |
| 2016 | Bill Miller, PhD - University of British Columbia | Lessons Learned from a Life Woven in Occupational Therapy |
| 2015 | Charles Christiansen, EdD - American Occupational Therapy Foundation | The Path Ahead: A Conversation About Value |
| 2014 | Joyce Tryssenaar, PhD - McMaster University | Living the Questions |
| 2013 | Sue Forwell, PhD - University of British Columbia | The Chicken Soup of Occupation |
| 2012 | Rachel Thibeault, PhD - University of Ottawa | Going Against the Flow: Building Resilience Through Selective Occupations |
| 2011 | Mary Egan, PhD - University of Ottawa | Safety and Connection: Key Concerns of Occupational Therapy |
| 2010 | Huguette Pickard - Université de Montrèal (retired) | Engagement in Society: How can Occupational Therapists Make a Difference |
| 2009 | Elizabeth McKay, PhD - University of Limerick | Exploring the Essence of Exceptional Practitioners |
| 2008 | Helene Polatajko, PhD - University of Toronto | The Occupational Science Imperative |
| 2007 | Gail Whiteford, PhD - Charles Sturt University | Wellbeing: An Occupational Perspective |
| 2006 | Catherine Backman, PhD - University of British Columbia | Doing, Being, Participating |
| 2005 | Ruth Zemke, PhD - University of Southern California | Time, Space, & Occupations: Interactions Shaping Our Perceptions of Life |
| 2004 | Elizabeth Townsend, PhD - Dalhousie University | A Mediation on the Visibility and Viability of Enabling Occupation |
| 2002 | Mary Law, PhD - McMaster University | Participation in Everyday Life |
| 2001 | Loree Primeau, PhD - University of Texas, Medical Branch | Leadership as a Way of Being |
| 2000 | Anita Unruh, PhD - Dalhousie University | Application of the Spirituality Construct to Evidence Based Practice |
| 1999 | Thelma Sumsion, PhD - Brunel University | The Journey of Life |
About Barbara Sexton
Professor Sexton dedicated her career to the profession of Occupational Therapy and its advancement, both nationally and internationally. Following a successful career as a clinician, Professor Sexton joined the faculty at Western in 1973, just one year after the inception of the School. Thus, she was involved in the education of every graduate in Occupational Therapy from Western prior to her retirement in 1995. Barabara’s specialty was mental health with an emphasis on interviewing and small groups. She worked hard to ensure that every graduate of this program was not only educated in the relevant theories of the discipline, but also in the clinical skills required in the day-to-day practice of the profession.
During her tenure at Western, Professor Sexton served in many capacities and on many committees, both internal and external to the University. Most notably, she was the Assistant Dean in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences from 1990 to 1994. She served as a member of the Review Board of the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy for nine years. She was actively involved with the World Federation of Occupational Therapists for 12 years, serving as an executive of the Federation for eight years. While functioning in this role, she served not only the World Federation, but also acted as an ambassador for Canadian Occupational Therapy. The University awarded her the status of Professor Emeritus in 1995.
Professor Sexton had numerous publications in professional journals, made numerous presentations at scientific and professional meetings, and is the author of the widely used textbook, “Small Groups in Therapy Settings: Process and Leadership” which is in its fourth edition.
Professor Sexton received the Life Member Award from the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, and was an Honorary Fellow of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. All of these honors recognize her major contribution to these Societies and to Occupational Therapists in general.
Professor Sexton’s academic career was marked by dedication to the profession, to the University, and most notably to her students.
