About Rheum Academy

Alison is an Occupational Therapist at St. Michael's Hospital and a trainee in the 2025-2026 ACPAC Program. Her clinical practice focuses on managing both traumatic and rheumatic conditions affecting the upper extremity, particularly in the context of occupational therapy. She has a growing interest in supporting the unique needs of patients seen in the Orthopedics Rapid Access Clinic and the Pregnancy & Rheumatic Diseases Clinics. A dedicated educator, she serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto and was the recipient of the 2025 Fieldwork Educator Award. Her commitment to the field is further demonstrated through her role as an Associate Member of SPARTAN and her participation in innovative research at St. Michael’s Hospital exploring the impact of GLP-1 inhibitors on hand osteoarthritis. Alison frequently shares her expertise with healthcare professionals, including medical and OT trainees, and is a featured presenter at the 2026 CRA conference.

Maureen is an Occupational Therapist specializing in the treatment of hand and upper extremity conditions, particularly for patients with rheumatic diseases. She previously worked at St. Michael’s Hospital as the Advanced Practice Occupational Therapist in the Outpatient Hand Program and continues her practice at Unity Health Toronto, now at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Maureen graduated from the OT program at McGill University, earned her certification in Hand Therapy in 1996, and completed the ACPAC (Advanced Clinician Practitioner in Arthritis Care) Program through the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s. She developed a therapist-led Advanced Practice Occupational Therapy Hand Clinic at St. Michael’s, which enhanced access to treatment for healthcare professionals by ensuring patients received care from the right clinician at the right time. Maureen has been actively involved in teaching plastic surgery residents and medical students, in addition to her ongoing role as an educator for Occupational Therapy students at U of T, where she holds a status appointment as Adjunct Lecturer. Her dedication to student development has been recognized multiple times with a Fieldwork educator award from the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at U of T. Maureen enjoys the creative challenge of adapting orthoses, tools, and equipment to help patients re-engage in meaningful occupations and activities of daily living—often earning her the nickname “MacGyver” from patients and colleagues. She has presented both nationally and internationally at conferences focusing on hand rehabilitation and was a founding member of the Canadian Society of Hand Therapists, where she also served a term as secretary.