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Melanie MacKinnon

Linking Values, Identity, and Critically Reflective Practice Across Physiotherapy Education and Practice

Research Platforms

Learning Science and Educational Innovation
Critical, Inclusive, and Equity-oriented Health Professions Education

Research Overview

Advancing values-based, reflective, and equitable transitions into physiotherapy practice. Through curriculum innovation, research and knowledge mobilization, she has two areas of intersecting interest.

  1. Focusing on values, identity formation, workplace fit to support learners during transition to clinical practice.
  2. Exploring critically reflective practice as a situated, relational process, strengthening alignment between how critical reflection is taught, enacted, and meaningfully supported in clinical practice. 

Research Projects

Critical Reflective Practice (PhD)
Examines how critically reflective practice is recognized and described in physiotherapy, advancing more authentic, contextually grounded approaches.
Values & Professional Contribution (faculty-led project)
Explores how students construct professional identity through values-based reflection.
Making Sense of Fit (student-led project)
Investigates values–workplace alignment in early career decision-making.

Physio Network Podcast: June 3, 2026

Listen to Melanie discuss her work on helping physiotherapists navigate the transition from training to real-world practice, ethically and effectively.
Podcast: Managing new graduate expectations and preventing burnout with Melanie MacKinnon

People

Collaborators

Stella Ng, Centre for Advancing Collaborative Healthcare & Education (CACHE) at University Health Network, University of Toronto

Euson Yeung, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto

Eric Robitaille, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto

 

Contact

Email Melanie MacKinnon at melanie.mackinnon@utoronto.ca.