Sharon Switzer-McIntyre
BPE, BScPT, MEd, PhD
Sharon Switzer-McIntyre is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, at the University of Toronto, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and the Director of the Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapy Bridging Program.
Sharon holds a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education from McMaster University, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy a Master’s degree in Adult Education with a focus on Organizational Development and a PhD with a focus on Occupational Health and Function all from the University of Toronto.
Research & Scholarly Activities
Sharon’s current research interests focus in the area of curriculum design and implementation for both the entry level to practice MScPT and Bridge education as well as the integration of internationally educated physical therapists into the Canadian workplace.
Teaching
Sharon teaches in both the entry level to practice MScPT curriculum and the Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapy Bridging Program in the musculoskeletal area.
Teaching Philosophy: I believe that education encompasses teaching and learning which are a shared responsibility that must engage both learners and teachers in the co-creation of knowledge. As a lifelong process learning is influenced by an individual’s self-awareness, unique perspectives and interpretations. I value my relationship with learners and strive to create a safe, yet challenging environment in which they can openly explore their opinions, questions and trepidations as well as challenge ideas to assist them to move to the next level of understanding.
I see my role as a teacher in both the MScPT and the OIEPB Program to create learning environments that provide safe yet challenging opportunities to acquire knowledge, facilitate understanding, apply the best available science and theory to practice and encourage creative experimentation while maintaining balance and fairness in supporting a wide diversity of learners and learner needs. I strive to create a true harmonized teaching and learning environment where knowledge and skills are co-created optimizing continuous learning for all parties.
Appointments
- Associate Professor, Continuing Teaching Stream, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto
- Program Director, Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapy Bridging Program, University of Toronto
- Associate Member, Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Toronto
- Affiliate Scientist, The Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital
- Scientist, Centre of Research Expertise in Occupational Disease (CREOD)
Publications
- Musselman, K., Mayhew, M., Somal, H., Benn, L., Salbach, N., Switzer-McIntyre, S. Physical and occupational therapists' learning needs and preferences for education on functional electrical stimulation: A qualitative descriptive study. Artificial Organs; 15 April 2024 https://doi.org/10.1111/aor.14756 C
- Chiang JL, Kim D, Siu C, White B, Zhu M, Switzer-McIntyre S, Gibson BE. What is ‘disability’? Exploring the conceptions of internationally educated learners in a Canadian physical therapy bridging program. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. 2024 Jan: 40 (2): 276-287. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2022.2113942 CSRA
- Campisi, E, Tran, J, Amara, CE, Switzer-McIntyre, S, Agur, A. (2023) The 3D muscle morphology and intramuscular innervation of the digital bellies of flexor digitorum profundus: Clinical implications for botulinum toxin injection sites. Journal of Anatomy Online. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13986 CSRA
- Campisi, E., Johnston, M., Kelly, E., Tran, J., Switzer-McIntyre, S., Agur, A. (2023) Intramuscular aponeuroses and fiber bundle morphology of the five bellies of flexor digitorum superficialis: A three-dimensional modeling study. Journal of Anatomy. 2023;00:1–9. CSRA
- Chiang JL, Kim D, Siu C, White B, Zhu M, Switzer-McIntyre S, Gibson BE. (2022) What is ‘disability’? Exploring the conceptions of internationally educated learners in a Canadian physical therapy bridging program. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. 2022 Aug (e-print). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2022.2113942. CSRA
- Biasini, N, Bannon, B, Pellegrino, M, Qaderi, A, Trinh, W, Switzer-McIntyre, S, Reid, DW, Kasawara, K. Reliability and Validity of Shoulder and Handgrip Strength Testing. Physiotherapy Canada aop (2022): e20210041.https://doi.org/10.3138/ptc-2021-0041 CSRA
- Coleman, J., Langlois, S., Switzer-McIntyre, S., Mylopoulos, M., Tassone, M., & Vehter, A. (2022). Continuing Professional Development in Response to COVID-19: Knowledge Mobilization for Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy via a Curated Web Site. Physiotherapy Canada, (aop), e20210100. C
- Hassan, S, Stevens, B, Watt-Watson, J, Switzer- McIntyre, S, Flannery, J, Furlan, A. (2022) Development and Initial Evaluation of Psychometric Properties of a Pain Competence Assessment Tool (PCAT). The Journal of Pain, Volume 23, Issue 3, March 2022, Pages 398-410 C