Goodbye and good luck to Dr. Brenda Loveridge who retires at the end of the year.
Dr. Loveridge has been a physiotherapist for over 40 years, graduating from the University of Manitoba in 1968, completing her bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy= in 1971 after a mandatory two years of clinical experience. On graduation with the University Gold Medal for highest standing, she was recruited into a clinical leadership role as assistant director of the Department of Physical Therapy, St. Boniface General Hospital – a tertiary care teaching hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Dr. Loveridge was a faculty member at the University of Manitoba from 1976 to 2002, including serving as Department Head from 1990 to 1994 and then Director of the School of Medical Rehabilitation from 1995 to 2000. Since June 2005, she has held a series of interim administrative leadership roles in UBC’s Faculty of Medicine including Director, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Head, Department of Physical Therapy and most recently as Associate Dean, Health Professions.
Her transformational leadership style elevated everyone who interacted with her from students, staff, faculty, UBC administration and government which led to great advances for our profession. Dr. Loveridge spearheaded recent achievements in our Department such as the creation of the Department from the former School of Rehabilitation Sciences, doubling the size of the MPT program from 40 to 80 students, the expansion to UNBC as well as the recruitment of several high quality faculty members.
Her excellence as a teacher was acknowledged early in her career when in 1980 she was awarded the University of Manitoba’s Dr. and Mrs. H. Saunderson Award for Excellence in Teaching. In addition, Dr. Loveridge has received many professional awards including the Manitoba Branch of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) Susan Macdonald Memorial Award for outstanding professional contributions (1998), life membership from CPA (2000) and twice honored by the Physiotherapy Association of BC with the Leadership Award (2006) and the Professional Contribution Award (2009).
Brenda Loveridge’s incredible and exceptional work has raised the profile of Physical Therapy at UBC, and consequently, across the province. We thank Dr. Loveridge for her devotion during her many years of service to the Profession of Physical Therapy and wish her a long and happy retirement.
