Albert, Ueli

Ueli Albert (MHPCTL 2020), recently graduated with a Master of High-Performance Coaching and Technical Leadership. He grew up in Switzerland and competed on the national athletics team in the 800m. His background in athletics and his decision to move to Canada prompted him to pursue his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. He is the founder of Global Wheelchair Athletics and is also currently an adjunct professor at Acadia University.

In 2004, Ueli received a scholarship from Dalhousie University “to study kinesiology and run for their Varsity track and field team.” He achieved great success as a student-athlete by participating in the World FISU Games and becoming a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) champion. After graduating in 2009, he partook in adapted sport classes and worked at Acadia University’s S.M.I.L.E. program, while serving in his first coaching position as a national wheelchair racing team coach. He continued in his position until he founded Global Wheelchair Athletics and became the head coach for Team Nova Scotia Athletics in 2014.

Ueli always had a passion for coaching, but he did not expect to become involved in para sport coaching. “When I first got involved in para sport, I could not believe how few opportunities were available for people with a disability to get involved in sport,” states Ueli. The lack of opportunities motivated him to create more for para sport athletes. Furthermore, he had not planned to do a Ph.D., nor to have a career in post-secondary education. His career path shifted to academia in 2017 when he enrolled in the UBC School of Kinesiology’s High-Performance Coaching and Technical Leadership (HPCTL) program. Pursuing a Master of HPCTL at UBC required him to “do research, confidently make evidence-based decisions in his work, and communicate his findings to his peers and students.” His time at UBC was nothing short of an eye-opening experience. When asked about his memorable moments at UBC, Ueli enthusiastically responds that he relished his in-person classes and getting to know his coaching classmates. “We had great discussions and really connected in a short time. I might have even yodeled in one of our outings to the pub,” reflects Ueli.

As a coach, Ueli has had many career highlights. He helped five athletes qualify for senior and junior national teams and coached at several international competitions, including the World Junior Championships, the Para Pan Am Games, and the Paralympic Games. Working in para-athletics and para sport leadership gave him substantial insight into the existing issues of inclusion. “When I was coaching para-athletics, I constantly made decisions based on the person and the individuals,” remarks Ueli. “To me, inclusion is non-negotiable, and it starts with the mindset. Everyone involved needs to let go of biases and stigmas attached to minorities.”

A year before he graduated with his master’s degree, Ueli began teaching para sport coaching and inclusive leadership at Acadia University. Despite the obstacles that the COVID-19 pandemic presented, Ueli not only finished his MHCPTL degree, but he was accepted into Acadia’s Ph.D. Education program. Ueli will begin his Ph.D. in July 2022 to explore para sport coach education and improve para sport programs.

Canadian team makeup reflects gender gap at Beijing Paralympic Games

Female athletes at 2022 Games only represent 24 per cent of total competitors

Andrea Bundon, an associate professor at the University of British Columbia, studies the Paralympic Games gender gap because of her experience guiding visually-impaired Para-Nordic skiers Courtney Knight (2010) in Whistler and Margarita Gorbounova (2014) in Sochi, Russia.

“They had a strong preference for a female guide,” Bundon said. “Many of the guides are men. The reason being is it’s kind of easier to find a man who is faster than you than to find a woman who is faster than you, but not herself racing.

“I believe I was one of two female guides in Sochi. We’re lining up at the start line, and despite this being a women’s event, there’s a lot of men on the start line. […]

Read the full article here.

Dr. Guy Faulkner joins the Editorial Board of Journal of Physical Activity & Health

Mar. 7, 2022 – Congratulations to Dr. Guy Faulkner for joining the Editorial Board of the Journal of Physical Activity & Health.

“Exploring emotional-modulation of visually evoked postural responses through virtual reality”

Congratulations to Emma Nielsen, Drs. Taylor Cleworth, and Mark Carpenter on their recent publication “Exploring emotional-modulation of visually evoked postural responses through virtual reality”!

Read their study at:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304394022001434

Limb and Inspiratory Metaboreflex Activation in Healthy Males and Females

Principle Investigator:
Dr. Bill Sheel

Details:
The primary purpose of the study is to observe the blood pressure response to handgrip exercise and respiratory work between healthy males and females.

You can participate in this study if; You are a healthy male or female between the ages of 18-35, do not smoke or vape, have normal lung function, are currently not taking hormonal contraceptives, and have no symptoms of cardiopulmonary disease.

What is involved:
– Measurement of resting blood pressure, heart rate, ventilation, and forearm volume and circumference.
– Resistive breathing exercise
– Handgrip exercise
– Insertion of gastric and esophageal balloon catheters.
– Women: Self report of menstrual history

Time Commitment:
There will be two testing sessions, with the first being ~4 hours and the second being ~3 hours.
Total time commitment – A total of ~7 hours over two visits.

Contact: jenna.benbaruj@ubc.ca

Poster:
LIMA-Study-Poster

Posting expiration date:
08/31/2022

Injege, Boaz

Boaz Injege
Degree: 1st year of Master of Science in Kinesiology (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr. Eli Puterman
Teaching Assistant for KIN 150

What is your research/degree focusing on?
Broadly speaking, my research brings together three threads: stress, physical activity, and mental health in Black Canadians. In the U.S, some research studies have found that Black adults experience more stress. However, they report similar or better mental health relative to White adults who experience less stress. This phenomenon has been termed the Black-White mental health paradox. I would like to extend this research to a Canadian context and further investigate the relationship between race/ethnicity, stress exposure, and mental health outcomes.

Regarding physical activity, something that blew my mind is that the simple act of movement— walking, running, biking, etc.—can elevate mood and motivation partly through increased dopamine transmission in the brain. This has implications for a mental disorder, such as depression. Furthermore, physical activity can help reduce the negative impact of stress exposure on mental health, so that’s how the three topics tied together for me.

Why is this field important to you? Why is it important to the School and/or to society?
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much research investigating these topics in Black Canadians; most of the research on Black-White health disparities comes from the United States. Understanding the relationship between stress, physical activity, and mental health in this specific population is crucial because it will inform targeted and cost-effective physical activity interventions for mental health problems.

What was your undergraduate degree in, and from which university did you graduate? How did your undergraduate studies influence your path to UBC KIN grad school?
I majored in Psychology and minored in Greek & Roman studies at the University of Ottawa. I think to some degree, everyone studying psychology is interested in psychopathology, which is why most people end up in Clinical Psychology. My interests were more towards psychosomatic interventions, specifically physical activity, which inevitably led me to UBC Kinesiology.

Is your work interdisciplinary? Do you work in research clusters?
Yes, my research spans health psychology, neurobiology, and transcultural psychiatry. The great thing about UBC KIN is that it brings together researchers in neuromechanical and performance streams with researchers in the clinical and psychosocial streams. Being in such an expansive and knowledgeable research environment has been invaluable.

What do you hope to do with your degree when you finish your grad studies?
I would like to continue and pursue a PhD at UBC, hopefully with Dr. Puterman again.

Many of our graduate students are athletes or incorporate exercise into their lifestyle. Do you incorporate physical actvity in your life? If so which ones? Feel free to elaborate on this.
I have played footy (football a.k.a “soccer”) since I was a youngin’ with snot running down my nose. I was lucky enough to play at the provincial level and for uOttawa, and I intend to keep playing until my knees can’t take it anymore. Ironically, I used to loathe running, but I am slowly incorporating more trail runs these days.

Have you worked as a TA, Student Rep or in another leadership position? What have you learned from these experiences? And what would you advise prospective grad students about these experiences?
This term is my first as a TA, and the students have been exemplary. It’s very different being on the other side of the evaluative wall but it is very rewarding. I had some wonderful TAs during my undergrad, so I am trying to be as much of a resource as I can be for the students.

Busch, Stephen

Stephen Busch, he/him/his
Degree: 1st year, Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology
Supervisor: Dr. Bill Sheel
Teaching Assistant for KIN 235

What is your research/degree focusing on?
My general research theme focuses on the complex physiological interaction between the human respiratory, nervous, and cardiovascular systems in response to our environment. I’m exploring this theme from the perspective of ambient air pollution produced by human sources, which causes imbalance between all three systems even during short term exposure. This imbalance between all three systems may be the precursor to various harmful cardiovascular conditions often seen within individuals exposed to various air pollutants, such as vehicle emissions, over long periods of time. My research will specifically investigate whether the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for controlling our body’s unconscious “fight or flight” response) becomes more active during both acute and repeated exposure to several vehicle emission related by-products, including ozone and particulate matter. In addition, I will also aim to uncover whether the increase in sympathetic activity is the result of sensory mechanisms within the lungs that may become irritated when exposed to air pollution.

Why is this field important to you? Why is it important to the School and/or to society?
Ambient air pollution is an ever-growing topic of concern as we continue to learn more about its effects on human health. Over the past several decades there has been a growing body of evidence demonstrating the numerous adverse health effects that arise from long-term exposure. Air pollution both causes and worsens chronic disease (cardiovascular and respiratory related) while also increasing the risk of premature death for a considerable portion of the global population.

Though Canada has not traditionally seen levels of ambient air pollution comparable to those in other developing regions of the world, the trend for increased urbanization by young Canadians to metropolitan areas is resulting in greater reliance on vehicle transportation for daily commuting. In addition, the effects of climate change on extreme weather events in western Canada is increasing both the duration and severity of wildfire seasons, which also lowers air quality. To understand the pathophysiology behind the negative health outcomes to air pollution exposure, we must also understand the underlying human physiological response at the onset of exposure in both healthy populations and those with pre-existing health conditions. My research aims to provide important insight into the underlying physiological mechanisms that both initially respond and adapt to air pollution, which may eventually lead to long-term autonomic imbalance and cardiovascular dysfunction.

What was your undergraduate degree in? How did your undergraduate studies influence your path to UBC KIN grad school?
I graduated with a BHK from UBC Okanagan in 2014. I was fascinated with the underlying adaptive biological mechanisms that allow humans to thrive across a wide range of global environments, and was nurtured through my undergraduate courses and 4th year research practicum placement with the Centre for Heart, Lung & Vascular Health. My experience at UBCO led me to pursue a MSc from the University of Alberta, where I studied how the sympathetic nervous system controls blood pressure in response to low oxygen environments. The highlight of my Masters was conducting my thesis study during a month-long multinational collaborative research expedition near the base of Mount Everest in 2016. Upon graduating from U of A in 2018, I moved to Vancouver and worked as a research assistant. I applied to the UBC School of Kinesiology in the winter of 2021. UBC was my first choice for my PhD, as I was both inspired and impressed with the breadth of top-quality physiology research being conducted from across faculty members within the School of Kinesiology.

Is your work interdisciplinary? Do you work in research clusters?
The research I do is highly interdisciplinary, as my research questions address a wide range of interconnected physiology topics. I’m fortunate to work in a lab that also examines a diverse range of physiology topics including exercise physiology, biomechanics and clinical rehab, and lung mechanics. In addition, our lab space is shared with other researchers who focus on environmental physiology, sports medicine, muscle molecular biology and muscle protein metabolism.

What do you hope to do with your degree when you are finished grad studies?
I will continue along the path that involves researching the human physiological response to various environmental stressors. Following completion of my doctorate program, I want to continue studying the relatively unknown area of autonomic-cardiovascular control and pollution in order to uncover the physiological mechanisms surrounding air pollution and human illness. I have also developed a love for teaching during my time as a teacher assistant and lab instructor. I want to continue teaching so I can share the same passion I had for environmental physiology during my undergraduate with the next generation of upcoming physiologists.

What have you learned from being a TA and what would you advise prospective grad students about these experiences?
I have served as a Student Rep, and in TA positions at several points of my Masters and PhD. These positions have all taught me many unique lessons. However, the common theme amongst them all can be summarized through four main points: i.) Be open to new ideas and learning opportunities. You’re still a student and are also here to learn so be ok with not knowing everything, ii.) Be prepared with a plan but also be flexible for whatever situation may occur. Grad school, research, and teaching will throw many unexpected situations so remain calm, confident, and ready to adapt to what the situation requires, iii.) Be compassionate, patient, and inclusive of your colleagues and (especially) undergraduate students. Encourage students to ask questions and also create learning opportunities from their mistakes. Recognize the diverse background and needs of people that work and study at UBC, and iv.) Be engaging and proud of what you know! Show why you became passionate about your topic. People will pick up on this and be equally excited to learn more about the topics you present or teach.

Do you have any advice to give students who are thinking about grad school?
The choice to pursue grad school is both an exciting and daunting prospect. As in life, grad school is filled with high peaks of exciting accomplishments, challenging low points that you will struggle to overcome and learn from, and a few surprises thrown in to keep grad life interesting. There are many things to consider when applying for grad school. One thing I highly recommend before applying is that you meet both your potential supervisor and lab mates. In this way you will see what the lab dynamic is like and ensure that your supervisor and colleagues work well with your learning style. These people will be your main group for collaboration while also being your cheer squad when you need a little extra support.

Remember that grad school is more than just studying and deepening your understanding in a particular field. Grad life is an important time to discover your own dreams and aspirations, while also encouraging lots of self-reflection. You will meet many people in grad school working on amazing projects, so take time to talk with them and broaden your understanding in different areas.

Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Nous remercions le Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada (CRSNG) de son soutien.

Benbaruj, Jenna

Jenna Benbaruj, she/her
Degree: 2nd year of Master of Science in Kinesiology (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr. Bill Sheel
Teaching Assistant for KIN 110

What is your research/degree focusing on?
My graduate research falls under the umbrellas of integrative cardiopulmonary physiology and exercise physiology. Specifically, my thesis aims to investigate sex-based differences in the reflex blood pressure response to exercise using different muscle groups. I have also been assisting with other research projects in the Health and Integrative Physiology Laboratory (HIP) lab that focuses on diaphragm fatigue, sex and gender bias in physiology, and blood pressure control with aging.

Why is this field important to you? Why is it important to the School and/or to society?
As a young kid, I was always curious about anatomy and exercise; my interests quickly morphed into a passion for cardiovascular physiology and exercise when I began my academic career. I chose to pursue research in this field due to my passion and after learning about the role of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as the global leading cause of death. Like many individuals, CVD has had a significant impact on many of my loved ones, which largely influenced my aspiration to contribute to the growing body of research surrounding cardiovascular health. I feel very fortunate to be able to conduct cardiopulmonary research at UBC, in collaboration with well-esteemed researchers. These researchers include Dr. Bill Sheel, Professor and Distinguished Scholar at UBC School of Kinesiology, Dr. Meaghan MacNutt, Assistant Professor at UBCO’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences, and my fellow graduate and undergraduate students within the HIP lab.

As mentioned above, CVD is the global leading cause of death, so research in cardiopulmonary physiology has significant clinical relevance to the healthcare field. Exercise is also gaining recognition for having clinical significance, which can be attributed to the increasing evidence supporting the Exercise is Medicine global initiative.

What was your undergraduate degree in, and from which university did you graduate? How did your undergraduate studies influence your path to UBC KIN grad school?
In 2020, I graduated from UBC’s Okanagan campus with a Bachelor of Human Kinetics, focusing on Clinical Exercise Physiology. I also did a minor in general sciences and completed an Honour’s thesis. During my undergraduate years, I was fortunate enough to spend two years assisting with research under the supervision of Dr. Glen Foster, Associate Professor in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences. I helped investigate several overlapping topics within physiology, such as autonomic physiology, sleep medicine, and cardiopulmonary physiology. That experience was truly eye-opening and helped me recognize the importance and applications of research to kinesiology, education, and healthcare. Recognizing the pivotal role of research inspired me to pursue my current graduate program at UBC and helped me realize my desire to become a clinician scientist.

Is your work interdisciplinary? Do you work in research clusters?
My thesis study is not particularly interdisciplinary because all my collaborators are from the same lab. However, many projects that I assist with outside of my thesis are in collaboration with other research labs at the UBC School of Kinesiology or UBCO.

What do you hope to do with your degree when you finish your grad studies?
After I graduate from my current program, I hope to continue conducting research and eventually become a clinician scientist. In alignment with my passions for research and physiology, I hope to one day have a medical practice that enables me to apply my research to clinical populations.

Many of our graduate students are athletes or incorporate exercise into their lifestyle. Do you incorporate physical activity in your life? If so which ones? Feel free to elaborate on this.
After moving back to Vancouver for graduate school, I have been enjoying running in and around Pacific Spirit Park during my study breaks. In the summer, you might also find me biking along the Stanley Park seawall or Jericho Beach.

Have you worked as a TA, Student Rep or in another leadership position? What have you learned from these experiences? And what would you advise prospective grad students about these experiences?
I currently work as a TA for KIN 110, which I also TA’d for in the Fall of 2020. I had the joy of learning how to assist students both online and in-person. These TAships have taught me many lessons, the most important one being the importance of acknowledging each student’s individual circumstances. Particularly in the context of COVID-19, it’s been fun finding creative ways to keep resources as accessible and inclusive as possible. For prospective graduate students, the advice I would give regarding TAships is to be mindful of each student’s individual circumstances and to be empathetic in your teaching.

Do you have any advice to give students who are thinking about grad school?
For students considering graduate school, I have three small pieces of advice:
1) Be thorough, take your time to consider which area of research you want to pursue, and try to find an area that genuinely sparks your interest.
2) Be unafraid to step outside your comfort zone because that’s where you’ll learn the most.
3) Prioritize your work-life balance whenever possible.

Other points that you feel are important to make about who you are and about your research?
I was born and raised in Vancouver, very close to UBC’s campus. In returning to Vancouver since my undergrad, I have had a few “life comes full circle moments”. For example, when I was a young child, I used to take gymnastics classes in Osborne, and now I work as a TA in a classroom in the same building, just a floor above.

Elsayed, Ahmed

Ahmed Elsayed, he/him
Degree: 1st year of Master of Kinesiology (MKin)
Teaching Assistant for KIN 442

What is your research/degree focusing on?
For my research, I am using clinical applications of exercise prescription to rehabilitate and promote health and wellness in a wide range of populations. These populations vary from post-operational populations learning basic functional movement to creating and altering varsity/elite athlete exercise programs.

Why is this field important to you? Why is it important to the School and/or to society?
Exercise has been a huge relief system for me mentally and physically. The need for exercise as an application to reduce chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular and metabolic syndromes, is something that is heavily researched and understood. Unfortunately, it is not implemented enough in healthcare, so I hope to be a part of that change!

What was your undergraduate degree in, and from which university did you graduate? How did your undergraduate studies influence your path to UBC KIN grad school?
I graduated from UBC Vancouver with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to transition into a master’s degree in the same field. Learning about the multifaceted applications of Kinesiology was what initially drew me to the subject. Along with my passion for helping others, Kinesiology was a great program choice for me.

Is your work interdisciplinary? Do you work collaboratively in your research with other students and faculties?
Yes! My work is interdisciplinary and requires me to work in research clusters. I work collaboratively with a group of kinesiologists and undergraduate KIN students for CHANGE BC, where we deliver exercise programs to underserved communities in Northern BC.

What’s the most important thing you have learned in the program so far, and why?
If I had to select one significant thing from my time in Kinesiology, it would be the concept of knowledge translation. Everyone in Kinesiology understands the benefits of exercise, but how you present this understanding in a way that caters to different audiences is a lifelong skill and can be applied to anything you do in life.

Where do issues of inclusion find a place in your life or at work?
Everywhere! That is why tailoring is so imperative in kinesiology. Over the years you learn about different ways to regress and develop programs and concepts in a way that suits the patient and his/her various needs.

Who have been your mentors? What have you learned from them?
Spending my childhood in Sudan has given me a different perspective on health and I met my mentors while growing up there. At a young age, I learned firsthand about the importance of leadership and community development from being around my uncles and aunts, who worked in generally simple jobs. I hope to implement these lessons in my future career as a physician.

Many of our graduate students are athletes or incorporate exercise into their lifestyle. Do you incorporate physical activity in your life? If so which ones? Feel free to elaborate on this.
I am a pretty washed-up basketball player, but I played competitively in high school. Funnily enough, I would say that I could have made it to the NBA if it weren’t for my knees. I play mostly recreational football, and the occasional drop-in basketball in the summertime. I spend most of my leisure time resistance training, I find it can be a great stress relief especially after a tough finals’ week. I hope to one day complete in a local bodybuilding competition— mainly for the experience but also to show off my major gains.

Have you worked as a TA, Student Rep or in another leadership position? What have you learned from these experiences? And what would you advise prospective grad students about these experiences?
I currently work as a TA for KIN 442 here at UBC. I took this exact course the year before as an undergraduate student and learned to appreciate the course a whole lot more while being a TA. As an undergraduate student, you are eager to chase after the grade and forget to appreciate the course material. Now, I can honestly say that I have learned more in this course as a TA than when I was doing my undergrad.

This experience has helped me apply and develop my leadership skills. I would recommend it to any graduate student, not only to those wanting to pursue a career in teaching. My time as a TA taught me how to professionally manage and communicate with individuals that evidently share the same passion for health and wellness as I do. One piece of advice I have to prospective TA’s is to communicate any questions or concerns you have early on, and do not leave marking to the last minute!

What do you hope to do with your degree when you finish your grad studies?
I will be pursuing a career in medicine and use my knowledge of kinesiology, and exercise prescription, in conjunction with what I will learn in medical school. I hope to bolster my scope of medical practice when prescribing treatments for future patients as a future family physician!

Lunde, Nicole

Nicole Lunde, she/her
Degree: 1st year of Master of Kinesiology
Teaching Assistant for KIN 120

What is your research/degree focusing on?
My degree focuses on both sport science and clinical kinesiology. I take courses in both fields.

Why is this field important to you? Why is it important to the School and/or to society?
I chose this field in order to prescribe the best possible rehabilitation practices, prevent injuries and diseases, to help others improve their overall health and become active for life. What makes this work important to me is that I am able to provide people in my community with the resources and tools to stay healthy.

What was your undergraduate degree in, and from which university did you graduate? How did your undergraduate studies influence your path to UBC KIN grad school?
I have a Bachelor in Human Kinetics from UBC Okanagan, with a focus in clinical exercise physiology. During my time at UBCO I worked in the Pediatric Inactivity and Exercise Physiology Research Laboratory studying the effects of prolonged sitting and brain health in children and adults. My background in clinical exercise physiology and active rehabilitation led me to the MKin program in the School of Kinesiology as I wanted to further my knowledge and hands-on skills in both the sport science and clinical realms.

Is your work interdisciplinary? Do you work in research clusters?
My course work is interdisciplinary with a current focus on injury prevention, sports physiology, as well as chronic disease prevention and management.

What do you hope to do with your degree when you are finished grad studies?
I hope to become a Certified Exercise Physiologist and work as a Sports Physiologist for a bit, maybe come back to do a PhD and teach one day!

Do you incorporate exercise into your lifestyle?
Growing up I was a multi-sport athlete playing soccer and volleyball, sports helped shape me. I am grateful that being so involved in sports gave me the physical literacy skills to continue to be active as an adult. Now that I am older, I stay active through exercise classes, team sports, running, skiing and hiking our local mountains.

What have you learned from being a TA?
The biggest thing I have taken away from this experience is knowledge translation. I have improved my ability to share my knowledge and expertise in ways that are inclusive and accessible within the community. I would advise prospective grad students to pursue a TA-ship and use the time to connect with your professor to learn from them. Also connect with your students to help foster their interests in Kin and learn ways to best support their journey.

Do you have any advice to give students who are thinking about grad school?
Take the time to find what interests you and study that, chances are there are courses and professors who have the same interests! Never be afraid to ask questions, and participate in as many activities, and research or work opportunities as possible.