Barry TrenthamBarry TrenthamAssistant Professor

Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
(416) 978-0302
b.trentham@utoronto.ca

 

 

 

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Biosketch

Barry has worked as an occupational therapist with older adults living with physical/emotional challenges to everyday living in a variety of practice contexts including rehabilitation programs, long-term care and primary health care settings. His academic work is informed by his participation in community organizations including membership on the Toronto Central LHINs, Aging at Home Steering Committee and Care Watch, a seniors’ advocacy organization focused on community-based care of older adults and their caregivers.

Barry obtained a BSc(OT) from the University of Alberta, a Master of Environmental Studies (MES) from York University and a PhD from OISE/University of Toronto’s Institute for Life Course and Aging. His research interests continue to be fueled by questions about occupational perspectives on diversity, inclusion, social change processes, aging and the life course as well as narrative and participatory approaches to occupational therapy practice, education and research. His major projects have included studies on: enabling community development strategies with older adults living within diverse environments; life histories of gay men aging in rural environments; and occupational therapy history. He is currently engaged in multidisciplinary research bridging HIV, aging, LGBTQ studies and rehabilitation service contexts.

Selected Recent Publications

  1. Cockburn, L., &  Trentham, B. (2010). Meaningful occupation and health. Invited chapter in N. Thapa-Gorder & S. Boight-Radloff (Eds.) Occupational therapy in prevention and health promotion. Stuttgart, Germany: Georg Thieme Verlag Publisher.
  2. Trentham, B., &  Dunal, L. (2009). Identifying occupational performance issues with older adults: Therapists’ perspectives. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76, (5), 326-334.
  3. Trentham, B., Cockburn, L., & Shin, J. (2007). Health promotion and community development: An application to occupational therapy in primary health care. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 26(2), 53-70.
  4. Townsend, E., Trentham, B., Clark, J., Dubouloz-Wilner, C., Pentland, W., Doble, S., & Laliberte-Rudman, D. (2007). Enabling individual change (Chapter 5). In E. Townsend & H. Polatajko, (primary authors). Enabling occupation II: Advancing an occupational therapy vision for health, well-being, & justice through occupation. Ottawa: CAOT Publications ACE.
  5. Trentham, B., Cockburn, L., Cameron, D., & Iwama, M. (2007). Diversity and inclusion within an occupational therapy curriculum. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal (Early on-line version).
  6. Kirsh, B., Trentham, B., & Cole, S. (2006). Diversity in occupational therapy: Experiences of consumers who identify themselves as minority group members. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal (Early on-line version).
  7. Trentham, B., & Cockburn, L. (2005). "Participatory action research: Creating new knowledge and opportunities for occupational engagement". In F. Kronenberg, S. Algado, & N. Pollard, (Eds.) Occupational therapists without borders: Learning from the spirit of survivors. Oxford; Elsevier Science.

Recent Thesis/Projects Supervised

  1. Gereghty, M., Schwartz, L., Cameron, J. & Trentham, B. Experiences of service provision of adult child caregivers of older parents. (co-supervisor) 2010.
  2. Ortal, A., Davis, J., & Trentham, B. The life history of a retired Jewish occupational therapist. (primary supervisor) 2009.
  3. Hastoo, T., Trentham, B., & Mihailidis, A. Perceptions of human resource personnel of potential occupational therapy roles within corporate settings. (primary supervisor) 2009.
  4. Badun, M., Mihailidis, A., & Trentham, B. Perceptions of medical students of the role of occupational therapists. (secondary supervisor) 2009.
  5. A. Atkins, L. Layzelle and S. Stewart, Davis, J., & Trentham, B. Reflections on the professional lives of retired occupational therapists. (MScOT), 2008.

Research Interests

Diversity and inclusive processes in OT education, practice and research; aging and the life course; occupational perspectives on health promotion, mental health promotion and enabling community participation of older adults and their caregivers; narrative and participatory approaches to occupational performance assessment, enablement and research. A specific and growing interest focuses on rehabilitation service provision to people aging with HIV.

Current Courses

OCT 1272: Enabling Occupation with Older Adults - Part 2

OCT 1190Y: Building Practice Through Mentorship

 

 

Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy

Faculty