Student Profile: Julia Tepes

Student Profile: Julia Tepes

Hi! My name is Julia Tepes and I am a third year KIN transfer student in the Interdisciplinary stream. I chose to study KIN because I love people, fitness and health. Kinesiology seemed like the perfect fit! So far, my favorite course at UBC has been KIN 373, Research Methods in Kinesiology. I love research because it gives us the ability to better understand each other and the world around us as a whole. On a different note, something most people do not know about me is that I’ve been singing in a choir for 11 years, I love hiking, and I just bought a long board! Just know that if you see someone face-plant off a rolling object while on your way to class, it could very well be me.

I hear many students talking about becoming a physiotherapist, and I think that’s a great career choice, but part of me can’t help but wonder what that really brings and what else is out there. To find out, I decided to apply to the KIN Co-op Program.

So far we’ve completed a workshop on cover letters, resumes and self-assessment, and another workshop all about applying for jobs and interviewing techniques! I thought I knew all about applying for jobs (I had previously taken professional development courses at BCIT), but it was humbling to realize how much I still had to learn. It’s been so great having Simone, the Co-op Coordinator, and Leah, the Co-op Program Associate here as they’re open to helping with even the nittiest and grittiest of things.

Did you know that there is highly effective way to organize your resume to highlight your relevant skills and experience for each job you are applying to? After our first workshop, my resume has completely changed, and is now suited to be sent out to Kinesiology Co-op employers! The interviewing workshop was also extremely eye-opening, as we not only learned how to talk about ourselves (something I did not think I’d struggle with), but how to tailor and phrase answers in a way that will keep employers engaged and impressed.

I definitely recommend the Co-op Program to other students. You have nothing to lose. If you find that you get overwhelmed with school and zone out during the semester (like me), co-op is a great way to force yourself to get out of your comfort zone and think of the bigger picture – not just the here and now. Simone and Leah become your biggest cheerleaders! If you don’t know what you want to do with your degree (again, like me), this program can expose you to careers you may not have pictured yourself in before. I’m so excited for all that is to come and would love to keep fellow Kinners posted on the adventures that come with this whole co-op experience. Thanks for tuning in!

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KIN Senior Orientation Leader: Aisha Rehman

Hi! My name is Aisha, I’m a fourth year UBC Kinesiology major in the Interdisciplinary stream. I transferred from Capilano University in 2018 and am now completing my second year at UBC. I aspire to have a career in healthcare, particularly in physical therapy or chiropractic. My area of interest lies in rehabilitation and treatments using alternative medicine. I currently volunteer at physical therapy and chiropractic clinics to learn more about new healthcare innovations and practices, and have recently started working as a therapeutic play instructor with a child that has cerebral palsy. After I graduate from KIN, I hope to pursue my passion for healthcare in a professional program.

After transferring to UBC there were countless opportunities to get involved, but the chance to become a Senior Orientation Leader (SrOL) with KIN is what most drew me. As a transfer student myself, I was unhappy with my Imagine Day experience and felt isolated as a result. As a SrOL, I was able to impact the KIN transfer student experience for the better by working with a dynamic team; in particular, working to incorporate more relevant events and to foster a sense of community!

Serving as a SrOL provides several unique experiences and responsibilities for students. Throughout the role, providing insight from a student’s perspective is key. We are encouraged to bring our personal perspectives, leadership styles and work ethics to the table. Senior Orientation leaders are given the opportunity to find a working group dynamic, and to practice public speaking, as well as planning and strategy. I’m really proud of the outcome, and knowing the amount of work we put into a year of planning the upcoming Imagine Day, I can’t imagine spending all that time with anyone other than the Kinesiology Senior Orientation Leaders!

Being a SrOL allowed for lots of self-reflection, community engagement and personal growth. I’ve grown so much over the year, I feel a part of the UBC student body rather than just a student who attends UBC. I’ve learned more about myself, student leadership, student resources and having worked with students from a variety of faculties, about the diversity of the UBC community.

I believe personal growth comes from challenging yourself and pushing the envelope to change something about yourself — I would recommend others also try pushing their boundaries and become involved with UBC in a new capacity. As a SrOL, the opportunity to try new things and challenge myself has been so rewarding! This role has redefined how I perceive leadership; you are a part of something bigger than yourself. Your ideas impact so many incoming students, some you may directly work with and so many more that you can influence but don’t directly work with; recognizing this shows how integral a SrOL is in the process leading up to Imagine Day. After this experience I’m glad I took a chance and applied to be a SrOL. The personal growth I’ve experienced would never have happened if I hadn’t taken on this leadership role!

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New Paper Out

Nov. 25, 2019 – New paper out by Dr. Lira Yun and Dr. Guy Faulkner evaluating ParticipACTION’s 150 Play List (a year-long, national mass reach campaign that included community events). Read it here!

Morrow, Al

1979 UBC Physical Education graduate Al Morrow has accomplished as much or more than anyone in the realm of Canadian rowing.

While a student at UBC during the early 1970s Morrow rowed for UBC then coached the Thunderbird men’s rowing crews until graduating. While at UBC he represented Canada in the eights at the 1976 Olympics then again was selected to Canada’s team for the 1980 Games. As the UBC coach he along with fellow coach Glenn Battersby, established for the first time a women’s rowing program at UBC, launching it in November, 1976.

Morrow’s UBC rowing experience was an early chapter in what would evolve to become one of Canada’s most impressive coaching resumes. For five decades Morrow either rowed for or coached Canada’s National team with his teams winning eighteen medals at World Championships in addition to four golds, one silver and eight bronze in Olympic competition. Within this accomplished body of work, he is best known as head coach of Canada’s women’s rowing teams for the 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games and assistant coach of the Olympic silver medal-winning women’s eights in 2012.

As the coaching guru at the national level Morrow has also served as the director of Canada’s National Rowing Centre and as of 2012 is the Performance Director for Canada’s lightweight men’s program.

Morrow has been well recognized for his longevity and expertise. He has been awarded several times the Wittenauer/Longines coaching excellence award, a Federal Government meritorious service award, the Geoff Gowan Coaching Award and was named the 1999 World Rowing Federation Coach of the Year. He is an inductee in the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and in 2006 was inducted into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame.
Fred Hume
2013

In Memoriam: Jack Pomfret, 1922-2019

It is with great sadness the School has learned that Emeritus, Jack Pomfret passed away on Nov 6th. He was 96 years old. Jack was an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Education (School of Kinesiology) at UBC from1946-1988, serving a 41 year career as a dedicated teacher, and a remarkable 37 years as a varsity coach. Jack was exceptional, and ‘felt that teaching kids was his most important responsibility’. He excelled in sport and was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1971, and in the UBC Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. Details of Jack’s incredible career are captured here. Our deepest condolences to the Pomfret family, and friends.

A memorial service will take place at St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Vancouver in early January. Formal details and a full obituary will be circulated once confirmed along with flag lowering date.

Obituary details

Healthy Aging From Cells to Society: A Public Lecture Series

Event Details:

  • Date: 7th January, 2020,
  • Time: Sign-in time 5:30 PM  | Start time 6:00pm – 7:30 PM
  • Location: Vancouver General Hospital, Jim Pattison Pavillion South, Room 1891

Hosted by the UBC School of Kinesiology and the Physical Activity and Precision Health Research Cluster and supported by the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Killam Connection Award. We’ve invited internationally renowned researchers and physicians to engage  the topic of healthy and successful aging from different perspectives. It is our hope that through this series of five lectures, that our public audiences will emerge with a greater appreciation for the many different ways to think about what promotes or hinders healthy and successful aging. Our goal is to support a Canadian culture that values science and discovery to support decisions – at the individual and policy levels.

The first lecture takes place on January 7th, 2020 with the Dean of the Stanford School of Medicine, Dr. Lloyd Minor, who will present on “Precision Health: Stanford’s Vision for Healthy Aging.” With Dr. Minor’s leadership, Stanford Medicine has established a strategic vision to lead biomedical revolution in Precision Health – a fundamental shift to more proactive and personalized health care that empowers people to lead healthy lives.

Dr. Minor’s presentation will speak to that the fact that life expectancy in the US has dropped for three consecutive years, and life expectancy at birth in Canada has simply stopped rising. Many factors contribute to this lack of progress, but one is the traditional reactive model of healthcare. Stanford Medicine’s Precision Health vision is ushering in proactive healthcare that will improve health and wellness throughout the lifespan by predicting, preventing and curing disease-precisely.

Attendance is free, but registration is required. Please click here to register.

Lecture Poster

Scheduled Upcoming Lectures:

  • January 7th, 2020

    Precision Health: Stanford’s Vision for Healthy Aging
    Dr. Lloyd Minor, MD
    Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine

  • January 28th, 2020

    Winners and Losers in Global Action on Aging
    Dr. Norah Keating, PhD, FCAHS, FGSA
    Director, Global Social Issues on Aging, International Association of
    Gerontology & Geriatrics

  • February 11th, 2020

    Self-Determination As We Age, and Indigenous Ways of Knowing
    Dr. Evan Adams, MD
    Chief Medical Officer for the First Nations Health Authority

  • March 10th, 2020

    The Environment and Our Health: New Discoveries Using Novel Approaches
    Dr. David Rehkopf, PhD
    Associate Professor of Medicine and Health Research and Policy at Stanford University

  • March 24th, 2020

    Step Counting and Cadence Tracking in Older Adults:Implications for Health
    Dr. Catrine Tudor-Locke, PhD, FACSM, FNAK
    Professor and Dean of the College of Health and HumanServices at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Origins of Balance Deficits & Falls Annual Conference

Event Details:

  • Start: 2nd December 2019, 08:30 AM to 4 PM
  • End: 3rd December 2019, 08:30 AM to 4 PM
  • Location: Ponderosa Ballroom, 6445 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2

The Origins of Balance and Deficit Research Cluster will gather together on December 2nd-3rd at UBC for our Annual December Conference.

School of Kinesiology Seminar Series: What startles tell about motor control in health and disease

Event Details

Speaker: Dr. Vivian Weerdesteyn, Associate Professor, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University

Host: Dr. Mark Carpenter, Professor, UBC School of Kinesiology

Title: “What ‘startles’ tell about motor control in health and disease”

When we make a voluntary movement to an external cue, such as lifting our foot from the brake when the traffic light turns green, it typically takes us (at least) 200 ms to react. Yet, when the cue is paired with a startling acoustic stimulus, the motor response can be initiated at much shorter latencies (below 100 ms). This early release, and sometimes also augmentation, of motor responses is called StartReact. It was first demonstrated for voluntary single-joint movements, and later studies confirmed that this effect also pertains to more automated whole-body responses, such as postural responses, stepping and avoiding sudden obstacles. StartReact latencies appear too short to allow cortical processing, which has led to the hypothesis that a prepared movement is released at the brainstem level, with the motor command being conveyed to the spinal motorneurons through the reticulospinal tract. In her talk, Dr. Vivian Weerdesteyn will 1) present work in patients with corticospinal lesions that supports the involvement of the reticulospinal system in StartReact, 2) discuss how conflicting findings in choice reaction tasks may be understood within this framework, and 3) discuss implications of StartReact results for motor control in health and disease.

*Following the Seminar presentation, students (and interested others) are invited to stay for a 20-30 min discussion on broader themes related to the talk and of interest to graduate students. This will be led by the KIN student reps and graduate co-directors.

*Light Lunch will be provided from 11:45 pm to 12:30 pm

This lecture will be recorded for podcasting.

Seminar Poster

Industry Night – Spotlight on Cannabis

Event Details:

  • Start: 18 November 2019 6:00 PM
  • End: 18 November 2019 8:00 PM
  • Venue: Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre
Greenhouse At this exclusive event for UBC students, alumni and faculty, you are invited to discover all the opportunities within the Cannabis industry, now valued at $5.7 billion dollars in Canada, and how you can position yourself for a career in the sector. This will be of particular interest to students and professionals in the he

This educational event, put on by UBC’s Centre for Student Involvement and Careers in partnership with alumni UBC, will have a keynote address by cannabis expert Dr. Jonathan Page, who is both Chief Science Officer at Aurora Med and UBC Adjunct Professor of Botany, followed by a panel of professionals who are currently leaders in the field, to share their experiences and insights.

There will also be a Q&A session and an opportunity to network with many UBC alumni who are working in the cannabis industry. This event is open to students and alumni from all faculties and majors including undergraduate, masters and PhD students. Leading cannabis companies will also be exhibiting in a mini-job fair format and share job opportunities.

For more information and event registration click here.
 

KIN Senior Orientation Leader: Katie Ng

Hey everyone! My name is Katie, I am a 4th year Kinesiology student and am in the dual degree program in the Faculty of Education. I am a transfer student so this is technically my second year at UBC. Growing up, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher because I loved working with children.

I’m in Kinesiology because it perfectly combines my love of being active with my desire to teach. I’m now finishing my BKin and aim to complete my teaching degree the year after.

Once I arrived at UBC I made a point to become involved and make connections; so I volunteered with Active Kids and UBC Rec. This year I took another step by transitioning into an Active Kids coach role and joining the KIN Senior Orientation team.

I wanted to challenge myself by stepping into a bigger role and meet more people. I’d always had difficulty with public speaking and this role allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone to practice this skill. I felt nervous speaking at Imagine Day, but I persisted as I knew I could help new students, whose shoes I’d stood in only one year before!

Weeks after Imagine Day one of my peers approached me, thanking me for speaking that day and mentioning that many aspects of Imagine day had resonated with them. That simple thank you helped me to understand the important part I played as a KIN Senior Orientation leader. I’m especially proud of my transfer orientation leaders team for launching the first annual ‘welcome back’ pancake breakfast!

As a senior orientation leader I worked with a diverse group of staff and students. I learned that a leader isn’t necessarily the person with the loudest voice. And it’s not necessarily the person who speaks at the front of the room.  Often the leader is the one doing the work behind the scenes who no one sees. Whichever leader you are, know that you will leave a lasting impact on your team and the community!

I really enjoyed developing new leadership skills and applying them in this role. Serving as a Senior Orientation leader has created many lasting and treasured memories for me – building strong bonds with likeminded and caring people allowed our team to develop even deeper more meaningful friendships.  I’m excited for the next team of Senior Orientation leaders to come together and create more lasting memories for the KIN student body, for themselves, and for the School of Kinesiology.