Party like it's 1959: Rehab Med Open House Reunion

The Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine welcomed back more than 60 alumni on Saturday to Corbett Hall. Graduates from 1959, 1960, 1983, 1989, 1999 and more enjoyed the Alumni Weekend Open House brunch

06 October 2009

The Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine welcomed back more than 60 alumni on Saturday to Corbett Hall. Graduates from 1959, 1960, 1983, 1989, 1999 and more enjoyed the Alumni Weekend Open House brunch and got to tour various state-of-the art teaching labs at the Faculty.

This year was a special celebration for the class of 1959, as almost everyone from the class returned to the University of Alberta after 50 years.

"1959 was 'the day the music died,' but I know your music didn't die. In fact, it played even louder," Dean Martin Ferguson-Pell said in his welcoming speech.

"The Open House was absolutely wonderful!" said Molly Henderson, Physiotherapy '59. "I was so impressed and appreciative of everything. We walked in, got a lovely card, great food, used the alumni lounge to chat and visit, and enjoyed a tour of Corbett Hall."


"The tours were very interesting, everyone was so kind and respectful," said Henderson's classmate and friend Sharon Ranson. "Everything was perfect."

The alumni toured and learned more about the Faculty's newly renovated speech and hearing science teaching lab, pain and dementia resources knowledge translation project, quality of life issues for women aging with MS, multi-purpose physical and occupational therapy skills acquisition teaching lab, wheelchair biomechanics laboratory and spinal function laboratory.

"I certainly noticed the advancement in technology. There is so much more training now. I was overly impressed," Henderson smiled. "A personal thank you to everyone for hosting such a lovely event!"

Photos by Richard Siemens










About the University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
As the only free standing faculty of rehabilitation in Canada, the University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine balances its activities among learning, discovery and citizenship (including clinical practice). A research leader in musculoskeletal health, spinal cord injuries and common spinal disorders (back pain), the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine aims to improve the quality of life of citizens in our community. The three departments, Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT) and Speech Pathology and Audiology (SPA) offer professional entry programs. The Faculty offers thesis-based MSc and PhD programs in Rehabilitation Science, attracting students from a variety of disciplines including OT, PT, SLP, psychology, physical education, medicine and engineering.