Dr. Catherine Backman
Catherine Backman, Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, has been named a University of Southampton Diamond Jubilee International Visiting Fellow.
Dr. Backman — an occupational therapist and health researcher who has been at UBC since 1986 — will bring her internationally-recognized excellence in arthritis research to Southampton for a three-year collaboration on research and education.
“I am indebted to Professor Jo Adams for leading this nomination and very much look forward to working with her and creating new collaborations with colleagues at the University of Southampton,” said Dr. Backman. “It is a privilege for me to engage with researchers and educators at the Institute for Life Sciences and Faculty of Health Sciences, and I look forward to expanding our shared research interests in improving social role participation for people living with arthritis.”
To be eligible, fellows must be from a university ranked among the top 50 in the world (in 2016-2017, UBC was ranked 36 in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings).
While at Southampton, Dr. Backman will strengthen the networks between Canadian and British research initiatives, like Arthritis Research Canada and the Arthritis Research UK Centres of Excellence for Musculoskeletal Health and Work and for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis. Dr. Backman also will provide expertise on integrating qualitative approaches to health and life sciences research.
This fellowship will also foster links between Canadian and British Health Sciences graduate studies, better preparing both Southampton and UBC graduates for professional practice.
The Diamond Jubilee International Visiting Fellowship was established to celebrate the University of Southampton’s 60 years as a royal chartered university. It promotes high caliber academic collaboration, contributing to advances in innovative interdisciplinary research.