Janet Tapper

Dr. Janet Tapper, MD’11, is a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) specialist who is developing rehabilitation services for the Indigenous population in Calgary and Southern Alberta. 

One of these new initiatives assists Indigenous children and their families who are transitioning from acute care to community-based care to access necessary medical and rehabilitation services.

The goal of this work is to develop a network of support for these children with complex medical and rehabilitation needs, between the hospital-based tertiary care providers and the community-based primary care physicians and allied health teams. If a service gap is identified, options are explored among existing service providers or additional funding is sought through Jordan's Principle to provide equitable care for the child and their family within their community.

Physicians specializing in PM&R are also known as physiatrists. Their practice aims to improve the health, function, and quality of life of patients with neurological and musculoskeletal injuries and disabilities, including neurodevelopmental disorders, brain injury, stroke, amputation, spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy.

Tapper is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM).

To learn more about ii’ taa’poh’to’p, UCalgary's Indigenous Strategy in partnership with the Faculty of Nursing and CSM, including an Indigenous Public Lecture Series which has a presentation later this month, visit ucalgary.ca/indigenous/ii-taapohtop.