Students Graduate From Pioneering Course
14 February 2011
The Derby Awards Ceremonies - see story for list of names
Some of the leading representatives from the Hand Therapy specialism of occupational therapy helped new graduates to celebrate their success recently.
The University of Derby offers the only online/distance learning MSc in Hand Therapy in Europe and some of the current cohort of students collected their certificates at the annual Awards Ceremonies in Derby.
More than 2,000 students from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at Derby celebrated their achievements, wearing mortarboards and gowns in the University colours of red and light blue, and among them were the successful MSc in Hand Therapy students.
This year's successful MSc Hand Therapy course recipients included Sarah Bradley and Tracy Jones - who are both working in practice in the UK within the NHS and Kiriaki Keramiotou who is working in Greece as a therapist.
Sarah, 43, is now working as a Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist in hand therapy at Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and said: "I am delighted to have completed the MSc in Hand Therapy. It is very challenging studying part time while working and looking after a family but it has been so worthwhile. The skills I have acquired allowed me to be more critical of my practice and more confident about making changes to the way the service is delivered that makes a difference to patients."
Tracy, 46, is now working as a Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist (Hands), at the Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry, and said: "Studying for my MSc at Derby allowed me the flexibility of part time study from home, with working full time at a busy specialist hospital. The additional knowledge and academic skills gained from the course has definitely enhanced my practice and allowed me to appreciate how academic rigour can improve patient care."
And Kiriaki, 42, is now working as a Senior 1 occupational therapist at Thriasio General Hospital of Athens and said: "Studying the MSc in Hand Therapy has contributed to my ongoing development. I feel I am a better therapist now."
And the University's occupational therapy academic team, which includes Programme Leader Ann Underhill, and colleagues Karen Newberry and Sarah Woodbridge were honoured to be joined at the celebrations on January 22 by Nikki Burr (Chair of Education Committee of BAHT - the British Association of Hand Therapists), and Professor Frank Burke from the Pulvertaft Hand Centre, an established specialist hand surgery centre within Royal Derby Hospital.
The University's annual Awards Ceremonies traditionally take place in the Assembly Rooms in the city centre and the ceremonies are beamed onto the BBC Big Screen in Market Place, Derby, and are streamed live onto the University website to audiences across the globe.
Jen Lewis-Smith, Head of Occupational Therapy, at the University of Derby, praised the students for their achievements, and said: "It is a unique course in Europe and we would be very happy to consider collaborative working with European higher education partners to deliver this course across Europe."
For more information visit the Derby website at www.derby.ac.uk/ehs
Picture caption:
L-R Dr Helen Stoneley (Academic, occupational therapy, Derby, Jennifer Lewis-Smith (Head of Occupational Therapy, Derby), Ann Underhill (Programme Leader, Derby), Nikki Burr (Chair of Education Committee of BAHT), Derby graduates
Kiriaki Keramiotou, Sarah Bradley and Tracy Jones, Professor Frank Burke (From the Pulvertaft Hand Centre) and Sarah Woodbridge (Associate Lecturer, Derby)
