Barbara Purves, Assistant Professor in the School of Audiology & Speech Sciences, received the Eve Kassirer Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement from the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA).
Dr. Purves’ career in speech-language pathology spans clinical practice, teaching, and research in acquired neurogenic communication disorders. After obtaining her M.Sc. from the University of British Columbia in 1976, she began working at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver, moving to the newly-opened UBC Hospital in 1980 to establish a speech-language pathology program. Her commitment to the profession led to significant contributions in her roles as president of the BC Association for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (1980) and as Chair of CASLPA’s Committee on Examinations (1988-1992) during the early years of the certification program.
In teaching, Dr. Purves has provided clinical practicum supervision for numerous students; from 1990, she also undertook academic teaching as part of a joint clinical-academic appointment. Her reflections on issues arising from her clinical and academic experiences led her to pursue a doctoral program in Interdisciplinary Studies at UBC in 2000 while continuing as part-time faculty in the School of Audiology & Speech Sciences. She became the School’s first Clinical Professor in 2003 and, after completing her PhD in 2006, a full-time faculty member.
The Eve Kassirer Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement is awarded to a CASLPA member who has made a significant contribution in the areas of education, clinical services, administration, or public awareness and has fostered the development and advancement of the professions of speech-language pathology or audiology nationally or internationally.