Jocelyne Morin
She walks in, bike helmet in hand. A few tiny beads of sweat betray her composure. Still, her smile radiates vitality. “Hi, I'm Rachel Thibeault.”
Despite her 2003 Award for Excellence in Teaching and her impressive list of accomplishments – postdoctorate in psychology, postdoctorate in occupational therapy, 2002 Muriel Driver Prize from the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, publication of several articles in refereed journals – this professor in the Occupational Therapy Program at the Faculty of Health Sciences has no hint of an affectation about her.
“What really opened my eyes was working with Aboriginal people and those in the United States without medical insurance – to see the conditions in which they're treated,” Dr. Thibeault says. “It made me realize how much health and socio-political issues were intertwined.”
As a result, Thibeault's in-class examples are often concrete and taken from her own experiences and travels around the world, where she witnessed war and social inequities.
“In my thought process, I incorporate many Zen practices,” adds Thibeault. “I believe solutions aren't found in confrontation. They're in some sort of middle area, which is active and positive. Before making a professional decision, we have to think about social and environmental consequences. We have to take into account our surroundings.”
Thibeault doesn't just teach occupational therapy to her students, she teaches them life.
“It's easy to see that Rachel Thibeault’s teachings have a profound impact, both on the professional and the personal development of her students,” reflects Denis Prud’homme, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences. “Her ability to share knowledge is complemented by her ability to share her passion for occupational therapy as well as her passion for life.”
In fact, no matter where Thibeault works, she enjoys being in an environment that evokes life. At home, she surrounds herself with plants and birds. In class, she has occasionally called upon Arsène, her parrot who sings La Marseillaise (the French national anthem).
Whether she's teaching to her students, sharing the latest theoretical developments in the field with her colleagues or helping survivors of torture in Lebanon, Thibeault always gives of herself fully.
To those who ask if this devotion depletes her energy, she answers: “No. On the contrary, it feeds me. My work is my passion.”
This passion brings about soul-searching in the people that Thibeault meets, including the three students who wrote her this note: “We're uniting our voices to let you know that this year has taken on special meaning. Just like a tattoo, you've left on us an indelible mark.”
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