2025 HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR NOMINEE

Sheila Don

Sheila Don

Nominated For: HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

Sheila Don is a distinguished Occupational Therapist whose unwavering advocacy for clients and commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes has established her as a leading force in acquired brain injury (ABI) rehabilitation across Ontario. With 18 years of unwavering dedication since 2006, Sheila has revolutionized the landscape of brain injury recovery through her innovative treatment approaches, fierce client advocacy, and evidence-based practice methodologies.

Sheila earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from D’Youville College and completed her honours degree in Kinesiology from Brock University. She is qualified to practice as an Occupational Therapist in Ontario and maintains good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. Her commitment to excellence led her to successfully challenge and pass the US OT licensing board exam, where she practiced in the state of Florida for two years in neurorehabilitation. Recognizing the need for more comprehensive and specialized services for ABI survivors, Sheila founded Innovative Occupational Therapy Services (IOTS) in 2015.

Sheila’s exceptional contributions to the occupational therapy field have earned her the most prestigious recognition in her field. In 2024, she received the coveted Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) Award of Merit. This honor was preceded by her company receiving the Rehabilitation Company of the Year award from the Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) in 2022.

One of Sheila’s most significant achievements has been successfully integrating private occupational therapy services into public hospital settings. Her vision was the transformation of healthcare delivery through merging the worlds of private and publicly funded healthcare delivery to achieve greater outcomes. Since 2024, under Sheila’s leadership, Innovative Occupational Therapy Services has opened locations inside the Marrotta Family Hospital, Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, and Benton Medical Clinic. These locations created unprecedented access to brain injury rehabilitation services immediately following acute care. This innovative model ensures that ABI survivors receive seamless, continuous care from the moment of injury through community reintegration, dramatically improving long-term outcomes.

Recognizing the need for more readily available occupational therapy services for children with acquired brain injuries and the lengthy waitlists families were facing, Sheila spearheaded the expansion of IOTS into specialized pediatric services. She assembled and leads a dedicated team of therapists with specific expertise in pediatric acquired brain injury cases, understanding that children’s developing brains require fundamentally different intervention approaches than adult rehabilitation models. This pediatric expansion has achieved formal recognition by the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) and operates as a recognized provider for Urgent Response Services, specifically supporting children and youth experiencing behavioral crises related to their brain injuries.

Throughout her 18-year career, Sheila has consistently delivered measurable, life-changing results for acquired brain injury survivors through her evidence-based advocacy approach. Her comprehensive functional assessments address the full spectrum of challenges faced by ABI survivors, including cognitive rehabilitation, physical restoration, emotional adjustment, social reintegration, and vocational recovery. Her track record includes numerous successful return-to-work outcomes for ABI survivors, enhanced community integration achievements, and measurable improvements in client independence across all domains of daily living.

These consistent positive outcomes have led to her qualification as an expert medical witness in Occupational Therapy by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, where her expertise in acquired brain injury rehabilitation is regularly sought in complex legal cases. Sheila’s approach to acquired brain injury rehabilitation is distinguished by her integration of cutting-edge research with compassionate, individualized care, understanding that no two brain injuries are identical and meticulously tailoring treatment protocols to address each survivor’s unique pattern of strengths and challenges.

Sheila is dedicated to the ongoing evolution of occupational therapy service delivery, continuously integrating emerging research, innovative technologies, and progressive treatment methodologies to enhance care for acquired brain injury survivors.

23 Comments
  • Nicole Pagliuso says:

    Her professionalism is evident in every interaction. She’s an amazing person and I’m really happy to be able to work with her each day.

  • Aleah says:

    Sheila is truly an inspirational OT to her clients and leader to her colleagues. She exudes unwavering knowledge in the field of OT and upholds immense amounts of compassion for clients and their wellbeing.

  • Riz Hackett says:

    Absolutely amazing and beyond knowledgeable. Helpful with every step when it’s time to get you on the mend. Explains various topics in complete detail to make you feel more assured of anything you were once oblivious about. Just makes life easier!!!

  • Nakema Walker says:

    Congratulations on your nomination Sheila! Keep up the good work. You are a Trailblazer in our industry.

  • John says:

    I m happy to say that Sheila is not good she great at what she does. She helps so many people and in so many ways she puts the injured people as top priority in the order of best possible out come for her clients and there is no limits. She’s a wonderful person. I owe her and the team a big thanks for everything they are doing for me and my medical assistants

  • Nicole Bertrand says:

    Sheila Don demonstrates unwavering empathy, dedication and professionalism in support supporting clients and families. Her genuine care for those she serves combined with her tireless commitment and professional excellence shows she truly advocates for our communities needs.

  • Dale Hall says:

    Sheila Don has been fantastic in helping me recover from a traumatic accident. I would not be as far along in my recovery without her.
    I am thankful for all she does!

  • Liz Hall says:

    Thankful for Sheila organizing my healing journey after an accident.
    She advocates for me and my husband, making the therapy we receive possible.

  • Liz says:

    Thankful for Sheila organizing my healing journey after an accident.
    She advocates for me and my husband, making the therapy we receive possible.

  • Justine McKay says:

    Sheila consistently goes above and beyond, demonstrating care and compassion in everything she does. I feel privileged to work alongside her.

  • Jenna Copeland says:

    Sheila is a leader in MVA rehab and pediatric occupational therapy. She delivers compassionate, evidence-based care that helps clients regain independence after traumatic accidents and supports the development of children. Sheila excels at solving problems such as bridging gaps between hospital discharge and home care, ensuring smooth transitions and continuity of support. Her unwavering mentorship uplifts fellow therapists, and her advocacy has strengthened community access to both private and public services. Sheila’s impact is seen in improved client outcomes and a higher standard of care within the occupational therapy industry throughout Ontario. This award is well deserved. I am grateful to work with her and to continue to learn from her every day.

  • Marissa says:

    Working alongside Sheila for the past two years has been transformative for my career. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing her change lives— whether it’s helping individuals recover from car accidents, or supporting children and families in the community.

    What strikes me most isn’t just Sheila’s clinical expertise in MVA rehabilitation and pediatric care, but how she remembers every client’s story, and truly cares about the outcomes of their care. I’ve watched her turn hospital discharges into celebrations of progress, with detailed plans that seamlessly bridge clinical care and home independence.

    During my time here, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing Sheila’s vision come to life as she opened two pediatric clinics in Niagara. Seeing her build these spaces from the ground up—ensuring they were welcoming, accessible, and perfectly equipped to support children in our community—demonstrated her unwavering commitment to filling the gaps in pediatric care where they’re needed most.

    Sheila sees potential where others see limitations. Her mentorship has taught me that evidence-based practice means creatively applying research to unlock each person’s unique path forward. She’s shaped not just my technical skills, but my entire approach to compassionate care.

    This recognition is long overdue. Sheila has elevated the occupational therapy profession, and I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to learn from her wisdom and dedication each and every day.

  • Kevin says:

    Sheila Don is a true trailblazer in the field of brain injury support services. Her unwavering commitment to survivors goes far beyond the typical scope of professional duty time again I have witnessed Sheila working extended hours evenings and weekends to ensure that every detail is perfectly in place for the individuals under her care. What sets Sheila apart is her ability to go the extra mile when it matters most she understands that brain injury recovery does not follow a 9 to 5 schedule and neither does her dedication for tireless efforts and innovative. Her approach to care have made a profound difference in the lives of countless survivors and their families Sheila‘s work exemplifies what it means to be a true advocate and champion for those who need it most her passion, professionalism, and relentless commitment make her an invaluable asset to the brain injury survivor community.

  • Leah Topping says:

    Sheila is an innovative leader in healthcare. I am impressed by her ability to see where the gaps are and break down barriers to insure everyone has access to the services they need. No one gets left behind or ignored. She is an inspiration and I am thankful to be a part of her team.

  • Gwen says:

    Sheila has contributed significantly to my professional growth as a practitioner and the expansion of Occupational Therapy services as a whole. She is dedicated and driven toward excellence for clients and their families.

  • Sydney Livermore says:

    Sheila is truly remarkable. Her deep knowledge and passion for her work shine through in everything she does, and she always puts clients and their families at the very heart of her care. What sets Sheila apart is her gift for teaching; she shares her expertise in a way that encourages and uplifts those around her, inspiring us all to grow and make a real difference. Sheila’s dedication and kindness have touched so many lives, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award.

  • Josh says:

    Sheila is an amazing advocate who truly fights for her clients every single day. When her clients need help, she becomes their voice and stands up for them when things get tough.

    She never takes “no” for an answer when her clients need something important. She’s really good at cutting through all the confusing stuff and finding the help her clients need.

    What I love about Sheila is that she really gets to know each person she works with and figures out exactly what they need. She doesn’t just speak up for them—she also teaches them about their rights and helps them understand their choices.

    Sheila’s hard work has changed so many lives. She turns problems that seem impossible to solve into real opportunities for people to get better and live more independently. She shows what it really means to put clients first.

  • Sarah says:

    Sheila is an outstanding teacher who brings together the best of both worlds in brain injury rehabilitation. She has this amazing ability to blend tried-and-true traditional methods with cutting-edge new technology to create a complete approach to helping people recover.

    What I really admire about Sheila’s teaching is how she shows others that you need both the old reliable techniques and the exciting new tools to give people the best chance at recovery. She doesn’t just pick one way or the other—she teaches how to use everything available to help each person.

    Anyone who has learned from Sheila has to smile when they think about her famous Wellness Wheel! She absolutely loves using it as her starting point to really understand someone as a whole person. Sheila teaches that before you can help fix what’s broken, you need to know who that person really is— Only then can you figure out the best way to treat their specific challenges.

    Sheila’s approach to teaching shows others that brain injury recovery isn’t just about treating symptoms—it’s about understanding the whole person and using every tool available, old and new, to help them get their life back.

  • Helen says:

    Sheila’s presence in the occupational therapy profession has left a noticeable mark over the years. For over 13 years, I’ve had the opportunity to witness Sheila’s influence on clinical care and the growth of Innovative Occupational Therapy Services — from a small group of consultants focused on motor vehicle rehabilitation to an organization with employees, clinic sites, and expanded services in the pediatric and workplace sectors. One of the most impactful expansions under Sheila’s leadership has been in the area of brain injury rehabilitation, where she has led the development of comprehensive assessment and treatment tools. She is committed to evidence-based practice and strong clinical outcomes.
    Sheila is known for setting exceptionally high standards — both for herself and for everyone around her. Her leadership style demands continuous growth, sharp problem-solving, and resilience. Whether navigating complex discharge plans, coordinating community reintegration after traumatic brain injury, or building bridges between systems, she ensures that no detail goes unchecked. She pushes her team to exceed expectations and, in doing so, leaves a lasting impression on all who work with her.
    Working alongside Sheila over the years has been both inspiring and unforgettable. She demonstrates drive, attention to detail, and a firm leadership style. She ensures every aspect of care and team operations aligns with her vision. Her approach undeniably pushes those around her to grow, adapt, and rise to challenges. Her unwavering standards have shaped a workplace culture that demands focus and strength.
    Her mentorship is transformative, and her advocacy has played a notable role in expanding access to care — often navigating difficult systems and dynamics along the way. This recognition is a reflection of her uncompromising approach and the unmistakable impact she’s had on the field. A well-deserved nomination. Congratulations, Sheila. It’s certainly been a journey.

  • Faiza Afzal says:

    Sheila Don is an extraordinary Occupational Therapist whose passion, innovation, and dedication to her patients are truly inspiring. Her ability to deliver exceptional, personalized care while continually advancing the field of brain injury rehabilitation sets her apart as a leader and changemaker. I feel incredibly grateful to work with her and witness firsthand the life-changing impact she makes every day. Supporting her in delivering such high-quality patient care is both a privilege and an inspiration.

  • Kaitlin M says:

    Sheila is incredibly knowledgeable in her profession and applies her knowledge with compassion in every situation with her clients. She has been a great leader as I have had the pleasure of working along side her.

  • Pat says:

    Sheila’s passion for client care is awe-inspiring. It has been a pleasure working along side of her over the past few years.

  • Sandeep Brar says:

    Sheila is an amazing person. It has been a great experience working with her over the years. She is great leader and very knowledgeable in her profession.

Leave a Reply to Liz Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *