Every year the Masters of Physical Therapy (MPT) Clinical Education Program, School of Rehab Science, awards one rural and one urban award for physiotherapists who go above and beyond to provide exceptional clinical placement opportunities for the MPT students.聽聽
The 2020 rural award went to Tamara Kapell of Wawota, who has been a physical therapist serving the southeast corner of Saskatchewan for more than 20 years.
To be considered for a Clinical Instructor in Physical Therapy Clinical Education Award, they must have a history of high professional standards in the clinical education of physical therapy students over a period of at least five years, gaining the respect of colleagues and students along the way.
Kapell was nominated by Peggy Proctor, academic lead clinical education and community affairs on behalf of the MPT Clinical Education Program at the School of Rehab Science. In her nomination letter, Proctor writes:
鈥淚n my capacity as academic lead clinical education and community affairs, I have known Tamara for several years in her roles as a physical therapy student, clinician and clinical instructor. Tamara works as a community therapist in the southeast corner of the province, and readily volunteers to serve as clinical instructor for PT students in the Kipling /Arcola area (former Sun Country Health Region).
鈥淲hen Tamara is asked to consider a student placement in an upcoming clinical course she is unfailingly positive about the possibility and tries to arrange her schedule so that it can be done. Tamara goes out of her way to seek other resources, for instance from her colleagues, to try and make a placement available for students.
鈥淪he obviously enjoys the clinical instructor/preceptor role, and her teaching skills are evidenced by the strong, positive mentoring relationship she achieves with her students.
鈥淭amara is a committed and positive individual, and these qualities make her a great person to interact with 鈥� for faculty, students, and colleagues alike. She expresses a keen interest in clinical teaching, and invests significant effort in making the clinical experience as rich as possible for each student.鈥�
Rebecca Lascue was also delighted to write a letter of support for Kapell鈥檚 nomination:
鈥淚 graduated from the master of physical therapy (MPT) program in 2018; Ms. Kapell was my clinical instructor during a four-week clinical placement in October 2017. Ms. Kapell created an incredibly supportive and encouraging learning environment, helping me to develop and gain confidence in my emerging skills as a physical therapist. Moreover, her passion for the profession and caring approach to patient care provided me with an example of the type of physical therapist that I aspire to be. I am grateful to have had her as a clinical instructor, and am honoured to consider her a mentor.鈥�
Devon Borrowman, a member of the MPT class of 2020, showed her support:
鈥淎s a student, I was fortunate to have Tamara Kapell as my clinical instructor. Throughout my time in the Arcola/Kipling area, clients and colleagues would mention how wonderful Tamara was and that I had a great teacher. They were right, she was a great mentor 鈥� she challenged me and greatly contributed to the development of my clinical skills. Her clinical expertise and kind demeanour provided a great learning environment where I was able to gain valuable clinical experience and develop as a professional.鈥�
So why did Kapell choose physical therapy as her career?
鈥淚 knew since I was a kid that this is what I wanted to do,鈥� explains Kapell. 鈥淚 had sports injuries as a kid so I had worked with physio then and I thought the therapist I worked with had the best job.鈥�
Following her five years of training and a few years into her own career as a physical therapist, she became a clinical instructor where university students learn alongside therapists for their hands-on training while the therapists are treating their own patients. Students will do a five- or six-week placement before they graduate.
Kapell works collaboratively with the School of Rehabilitation Science in curriculum and/or program development. She has served as a positive role model for students and has demonstrated productive and positive student-mentor relationships as attested by students.聽聽
鈥淭he university really likes to give the students a rural placement because they get to see a really wide variety of different ages, different conditions and work in a lot of different facilities,鈥� explains Kapell. 鈥淭he students gain a good amount of knowledge in a lot of different areas.
鈥淚t鈥檚 interesting to have the students work alongside me because normally I work all by myself so it鈥檚 great to have someone to bounce ideas off of.鈥�
鈥淎 lot of the students I taught are now colleagues of mine so that鈥檚 nice,鈥� says Kapell. 鈥淚 have former students working in the southeast area as well. Lots of them have ended up in rural practice.鈥�
What does receiving this award mean to Kapell?
鈥淚 enjoy doing what I鈥檓 doing but I don鈥檛 it for the recognition, although it鈥檚 really nice to be recognized by your peers because they鈥檙e a pretty amazing group of professionals. I was honoured for sure.鈥�
鈥淚t was nice to be able to share my knowledge with the students,鈥� says Kapell. 鈥淎fter 21 years, I still really like what I do.鈥�
So obviously Kapell chose the right career for herself.
When she isn鈥檛 at work, she says she鈥檚 a 鈥渧ery outdoorsy person.鈥� You may see her riding her bike, cross country skiing or kayaking and all other outdoor sports keeps her busy. Kapell and her husband Paul enjoy skiing and snowboarding when they can.
The couple has two boys, ages seven and 10, who both play soccer, with mom coaching both teams.
Kapell is very humbled and feels she鈥檚 not deserving of the Clinical Instructor in Physical Therapy Clinical Education Award, but it鈥檚 apparent that her colleagues think otherwise. Congratulations!
