Biography

Theresa completed her undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia in 1998, and her Masters in International Health at Curtin University, Australia in 2005.  She spent 8 years working as a clinician in pediatric therapy, primarily at BC Childrens Hospital and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children covering a wide range of practice areas from acute care to remote community outreach.  After moving into the international health field she spent a year engaged in various community research initiatives in Uganda and then devoted two years to managing the Centre for International Child Health at BC Childrens Hospital.

Theresa is currently pursuing her PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of British Columbia.  Working in partnership with the Child Health and Development Centre at Makerere University (Uganda), her research explores early childhood development (ECD) (birth to three years) during the transition from 20 years of brutal conflict and mass internal displacement to peace and recovery. Over a twelve-month period, she is conducting fieldwork in three sites of the Amuru district in Northern Uganda.  Using a range of qualitative methods, her research documents the influences that promote or hinder early childhood health and development as the population repatriates from camp to village living.  She is highlighting community perceptions regarding the impact of war and displacement on young children and families and is engaging with communities and program planners in dialogue about the pertinent issues and means of addressing ECD in this context.  Her research work is supported by grants from the International Development Research Centre and the Human Early Learning Partnership