Reg Urbanowski, MScOT, EdD

Research summary

Dr. Urbanowski research interests focus on human occupation, technology and public policy, including:

• Service delivery models of health care to rural and remote areas
• Services to Indigenous communities
• Use of technology in providing health services to rural and remote areas and to people living in Indigenous communities
• Public policy regarding the above

Reg Urbanowski is the dean of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Manitoba. He is also a professor and an occupational therapist with a strong focus on human occupation, technology, and public policy. His research interests include service delivery models for healthcare in rural and remote areas, services to Indigenous communities, and the use of technology to provide health services to these populations. He also examines public policy related to these topics.

Urbanowski’s career includes prior leadership roles as vice-president for strategy and business development at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and program chair in occupational therapy at Husson University, West Virginia University, and Chatham College. He has also held faculty positions at Dalhousie University and the University of Alberta. Urbanowski previously worked with the Government of Saskatchewan in the Ministry of Advanced Education as assistant deputy minister and special advisor to the deputy minister.

He has written and presented over 90 peer-reviewed papers and chapters, as well as non-peer-reviewed articles. Urbanowski has been an invited keynote speaker at various international conferences, including the AHEAD conference in Amsterdam, the Canadian Society of Occupational Science annual conference in Edmonton, and the Nordic Symposium on Rehabilitation in Helsinki. He was also voted best visiting professor at the World International Centre of Excellence in the Netherlands.

Urbanowski holds a Doctor of Education from West Virginia University, a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alberta, and a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alberta.

He continues to contribute to the field of rehabilitation sciences, focusing on improving health services and policies for underserved communities.

Education

• Doctor of Education, Faculty of Education, West Virginia University
• Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Alberta
• Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Alberta

Awards and recognition

• Invited Keynote Speaker – AHEAD Conference, Amsterdam
• Invited Plenary Speaker – Canadian Society of Occupational Science Annual Conference, Edmonton
• Invited Keynote Speaker – Nordic Symposium on Rehabilitation, Helsinki
• Best Visiting Professor Award – World International Centre of Excellence, Netherlands