Gabriela obtained her BSc degree in physiotherapy from Brazil in 2005 and completed a Master’s degree in Exercise Science in Montreal. She obtained her physiotherapy equivalence in Canada in 2009, and has worked in both the French and English environments, in outpatient, acute care and return to work rehabilitation. She has a keen interest in research and has implemented, with her colleagues, an outcome measure tracking sheet for outpatient neurological population at Community Accessible Rehabilitation.

 

Dr. Julia Alleyne is a Family Physician with a special interest in Sport and Exercise and a degree in Physiotherapy. She holds an academic appointment at the University of Toronto, Department of Family and Community Medicine, as is the Medical Director of Sport Care at Women's College Hospital. In 2009, she completed a MScCH and leads many educational initiatives both nationally and internationally including Chair of the International Sport Medicine Federation-Education Commission and Program Director of the Sport and Exercise Primary Care Fellowship at the University of Toronto. She has served as medical staff for five Canadian Olympic teams including her appointment as the Chief Medical Officer for the 2012 Canadian Olympic Team in London, England. In 2015, she will be the Chief Medical Officer for the Pan/Para Pan Am Games in Ontario and is hoping to build legacy projects for the ongoing promotion of Physical Activity.

 

Maureen Ashe is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia, a Canadian Institutes for Health Research New Investigator and a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar. Maureen is also a physiotherapist and an investigator at the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility in Vancouver, BC. Her research interests include investigating older adults’ physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns. More recently, she has focused on the role of the built environment on older adults’ community participation.

 

Tracy Blake graduated from the McMaster University School of Rehabilitation Science with a degree in Physiotherapy in 2004. She has worked in private practice, acute care and sport therapy across the country, including travelling with Canadian Women's National Teams at all levels. Tracy is currently pursuing her doctoral degree based on research interests in concussion at the University of Calgary

 

Prior to PhD work, Geoff worked as a physical therapist in private practice with a clinical interest in persistent pain disorders. Geoff's PhD work was primarily related to examining the extent pain beliefs were related to delayed recovery in patients with Whiplash Associated Disorder. In addition, Geoff studied the neurobiology of expectations and patients' meaning of pain. Currently, Geoff provides a half-day chronic pain rehabilitation program in conjunction with the University of Alberta Multidisciplinary Pain Centre. Geoff's research interests are broad, but are currently focused on evaluating the relationship between cognitive factors and neuropathic pain outcomes as well as the relationship between opioid use for pain management and function in patients with neuropathic pain.

 

Dr. Chepeha graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy in 1989, a Masters of Science in Rehabilitation Medicine in 1997 and a Doctorate in Rehabilitation Science in 2011. She worked clinically for 18 years at the Glen Sather University of Alberta Sports Medicine Clinic in the area of orthopedics and sports medicine. Since July 2006, Dr. Chepeha has been a full time Clinical Track Professor with the Department of Physical Therapy.

 

Dr.  Chepeha’s doctoral thesis focussed on Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficits in the Overhead Varsity Level Athlete.

 

Her ongoing research interests are primarily in the area of shoulder and upper extremity assessment and rehabilitation, specifically for individuals with instability syndromes and rotator cuff pathology. Additional areas of interest are functional evaluation and outcomes and sports related injuries. Dr. Chepeha's teaching focuses on orthopedics and sports physical therapy. 

 

Stephanie Combs,  is an associate professor at the Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis. Dr. Combs has a PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Science and is a board-certified clinical specialist in neurologic physical therapy. Dr. Combs’ research interests involve investigating the effects of interventions that apply principles of motor control and motor learning for individuals with neurologic dysfunctions, and examining biomechanical characteristics of movement patterns associated with gait in order to develop a better understanding of mechanisms associated with recovery and/or compensatory adaptations. Dr. Combs has published multiple manuscripts in the areas of rehabilitation for persons with stroke and Parkinson disease and has presented her work at numerous international and national scientific conferences.

 

Joanne Dinstan worked for the past 15 years in pulmonary rehab in Calgary developing exercise and education components for the program. Joanne is the co-author of two online COPD learning modules (Chronic Disease Management), is a member of the provincial COPD task force which developed the COPD Action Plan (now endorsed by the Canadian Lung Association), and a committee member for the Home Care COPD project. This project developed the curriculum and provided training for the Home Care staff. She is currently, a trainer for the COPD and Asthma Educator Certification Program for the Lung Association, and is also active as a smoking cessation counselor (MAYO, TRAC, TEACH).

 

Dr. Douglas Gross is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta. He is also currently the Director of the Rehabilitation Research Centre and a Research Affiliate with Millard Health, the WCB-Alberta’s rehabilitation facility. His research focuses on injured workers with musculoskeletal conditions, including prediction of recovery and return to work, clinical decision support tools, as well as investigating the effectiveness of clinical and public health interventions. He has given numerous national and international presentations, with invitations for keynote presentations at conferences in Canada, the United States, Hong Kong, Korea, and Australia. He has published over 60 articles and book chapters and has received over $1 million in research funding. His professional experience includes clinical work as a physical therapist in both private practice and occupational rehabilitation centers.

 

Dr. Haennel research interests focus on the acute and chronic cardiovascular adaptations to exercise in patients with cardiopulmonary and metabolic disorders. He has published extensively in the fields of Clinical Exercise Physiology, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Cardiac Pacing. In addition to his academic credentials Dr. Haennel is a Certified Exercise Program Director with the American College of Sports Medicine and has a research appointment with the Northern Alberta Cardiac Rehabilitation program. Post- Doctoral Fellowship, Faculty of Medicine , University of Alberta 1989 PhD Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta 1987.

 

Mark Haykowsky completed an undergraduate B.P.E. degree (Athletic Therapy) from the University of Alberta in 1991 as well as a MSc (1994) and Ph.D. (1998) in Physical Education and Recreation (cardiovascular exercise physiology) at the University of Alberta. This was followed by a one-year post-doctoral fellowship with the Division of Cardiology, in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta (specialization: heart-lung interactions in heart failure). Mark has been a faculty member in the Department of Physical Therapy since 1999 and a CIHR New Investigator since 2004. His research program has four main initiatives: 

 

Dr. Sheri Koshman received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Alberta and her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of British Columbia. Subsequently, she completed a Post-doctoral Fellowship in Ambulatory Cardiology with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Currently, Dr. Koshman is an Assistant Professor of Medicine with the Division of Cardiology at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton. She practices in the Cardiac EASE Clinic, Heart Function Clinic, and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Clinic at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. She holds a clinical adjunct professor appointment with the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Alberta and serves as a clinical preceptor for the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia. Dr. Koshman is a member of the Alberta Health Services Strategic Clinical Network Heart Failure Working Group and co-developer of the Med-HF App. Her research interests include medication adherence, cardiovascular pharmacotherapy, and heart failure. She was one of the first 15 pharmacists to be awarded independent prescribing rights in Canada.

 

Andrea graduated from Queen’s University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science, Honours, in Biology, then headed on to McMaster University and graduated with a Master’s of Science in Physiotherapy in 2003.  She has worked in a variety of settings, including acute care, private practice, community care and neurological outpatients in both the pediatric and adult populations.  In her current position at Community Accessible Rehabilitation (CAR), she helped to develop an outcome measure tracking sheet along with her physiotherapy colleagues that is specific to patient populations seen at CAR. She is also a co-investigator, with Gabriela Abbud, of a study currently underway at CAR looking at the long term adherence to cardiovascular exercise following stroke.

 

Patricia J Ohtake is an Associate Professor in the Physical Therapy Program at the University at Buffalo. Dr. Ohtake’s recent research focuses on efficacy of clinical interventions for patients with cardiopulmonary disease and the use of simulation for physical therapist and interprofessional education. Dr. Ohtake is currently an Editorial Board Member for Physical Therapy. In 2000, Dr. Ohtake was the recipient of the APTA Margaret L Moore Award for Outstanding New Faculty Member. She has over 40 peer-reviewed publications, two book chapters, and has been a consistent presenter at local, national, and international conferences. Dr. Ohtake’s teaching includes the management of patients with cardiopulmonary disease and interprofessional education.

 

Alex Scott is a full time researcher specializing in tendinopathy. His work examines tendon biology, including the response of tenocytes to movement and the role of inflammatory cells in acute and chronic tendon injuries. He is currently a co-investigator on two clinical trials, one for Achilles tendinopathy and one for patellar tendinopathy.

 

Louise graduated as a physiotherapist from the University of Manitoba in 1991 and completed her MClSc PT from the University of Western Ontario in 2011. Her training includes acupuncture and spinal manipulation and her treatment style involves a strong emphasis on exercise prescription to correct muscle imbalances and empower the patient. Special interests are the ‘aging athlete’, injuries related to running and triathlon as well as problems related to the spine, pelvis and shoulder girdle.

 

Linda is an Associate Professor and holder of the Dr. David Magee Endowed Chair in Musculoskeletal Research in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. This position has a provincial mandate to advance musculoskeletal care. She is also the Scientific Director of Alberta Health Services Bone and Joint Strategic Clinical Network. Linda is a research-clinician with over 20 years experience carrying out clinical research, including randomized controlled trials. Her research work is focused in three areas: