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College of Occupational Therapy presents highest award to Dr McKay

Brunel’s Dr Elizabeth McKay has been awarded a Fellowship by the College of Occupational Therapists for her outstanding contribution to the subject over the past 30 years.

The Fellowship award is the most prestigious award bestowed by the College and recognises Elizabeth's many achievements throughout her career in occupational therapy, in research and in teaching.

In 2003, she established the only pre-registration MSc Occupational Therapy programme in Ireland - recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and accredited by the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland.

Elizabeth's research on social inclusion for people with mental health issues has looked at the lives of people with schizophrenia, bi-polar and depression in Australia, Canada and Ireland. Her current research into graduates with seen and unseen disabilities looks at occupational therapists with disabilities and their transition into the work place throughout the UK, Ireland and Norway.

Elizabeth hopes to extend this project to include students from all human services (teaching, social work, law and allied health professions). Elizabeth has also led research in Ireland on a hospice at home service exploring the expectations and needs of current and bereaved carers whose relatives received care at home from a palliative care team.

For more information, see Dr McKay’s profile here