Brian Chih-Yu Yang, BHK 2011, found his beginnings in Kinesiology as a young athlete who had suffered a devastating sports injury. He had been seriously hurt at the age of 17 while playing a game of basketball, which resulted in a chronic spinal injury — he has multiple slipped discs in his lower back, which cause leg and back pain. However, though his injury was serious, Brian did not let the pain from his injury limit his life.
He realized that his passion for sports nutrition could profoundly influence his ability to overcome his challenges, and subsequently became captivated by the idea of sports injury prevention.
Since then, Brian has gone above and beyond conquering his injury. Brian has become extremely experienced in the international fitness industry in Vancouver, Taipei, and Shanghai, where he is currently situated. He has 10+ years of work in nutrition application to fitness, weight management nutrition, nutrition for professional athletes, and sports injury prevention. He is the managing director of Physical Education Fitness Studio, owner of ‘Freeze Age’ fitness studio, and also Asia’s Consultant & Master Trainer for the ISSN (International Society of Sport Nutrition). The ISSN is the only non-profit academic society dedicated to promoting the science and application of evidence-based sports nutrition and supplementation.
Brian dreams of helping others to find the right nutrition programs, to live injury-free lifestyles and maximize their athletic performance through professional nutrition & fitness guidance. He will also be creating a KIN Alumni chapter in Shanghai with his fellow alumnus, Randy Zhou, BKin 2014.
If you are an alumnus in China and wish to join the Shanghai KIN Alumni Chapter, please contact Brian at: 15601791452@qq.com, or Randy at: 15618571502@163.com
alumni news, alumni stories
I am an alumna of UBC’s School of Kinesiology, having graduated as part of the class of 2017. As a Kin student, I became involved early during my undergraduate studies, volunteering and in research, which inspired my interest to pursue a career path in neuroscience and medicine.
While at UBC, I volunteered at the Special Olympics and also began working at the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), where I was fortunate to contribute to several projects aimed at improving cardiovascular health and function for people with a spinal cord injury. I began by volunteering for the CHOICES project, a Canadian-wide study targeting cardiovascular health in spinal cord injury, through exercise intervention and education. These experiences taught me about the prevalence and devastation of neurological disorders, and also motivated me to pursue neurosciences research. In 2016, I had the opportunity to conduct independent research through the Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Program Award which I performed under the supervision of Dr. Andrei Krassioukov, examining the effects of transient high blood pressure, as a result of spinal cord injury, on structural changes in the brain. In my final year of undergraduate study, I also pursued a Directed Studies project in the lab of Dr. Christopher West examining the acute functioning of the heart and blood vessels after spinal cord injury. Following my graduation, I traveled to Split, Croatia, as part of an international team from ICORD, where we worked on a clinical project examining human physiology and spinal cord injury in collaboration with the University of Split School of Medicine. As a result, I co-authored a series of publications studying sleep, the brain, and blood vessels after spinal cord injury, which further inspired me to pursue graduate studies in neuroscience.
I subsequently travelled to Switzerland through a Go Global award and an international scholarship from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) for a research internship, and for my Master’s degree at Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETHZ) in Health Sciences and Technology (Major in Neurosciences), which is a multidisciplinary program combining natural and engineering sciences. The EPFL internship was centered at Campus Biotech in Geneva in the lab of Professor Grégoire Courtine, and focused on developing a neurostimulation therapy to restore autonomic function following spinal cord injury. Ultimately, this internship became an integral component of my Master’s program at ETHZ. I recently completed my Master’s thesis under the supervision of Professor Denis Burdakov at ETHZ, where I investigated the neuroanatomical projections from the hypothalamus to the cervical spinal cord as they relate to forelimb movement.
Living in Europe provided me the wonderful opportunity to travel and experience different cultures, as well as reconnect with my extended family in Greece. The experiences and education I received abroad that allow me to pursue my career goal as a clinical research scientist would not be possible without the opportunities I was presented during my time as a Kin undergrad. UBC Kin not only provided exceptional educational opportunities but also great memories outside my education such as our annual Kinesiology Ski trip to Big White and the Kin Games.
As a KIN alumna, I hope that I can share my experiences and give back to the Kinesiology program and serve as a resource to the student body. My advice to current students would be to enjoy what you are doing and the path to reach your goal. In the future, I aim to apply to combined MD/PhD programs and ultimately wish to practice medicine while advancing clinical knowledge.
alumni news, alumni stories
When Atila Ozkaplan, BHK 2001 and MSc 2004, arrived in Vancouver from Ontario in 1997, his goal was to become a doctor of Sports Medicine. However, his path shifted significantly when he volunteered with one of his professors, Dr. Ted Rhodes. He helped conduct fitness tests for elite sports teams, such as the Canucks, the Grizzlies, and Team Canada. Under Dr. Rhodes’ guidance, Atila completed a Masters in Exercise Physiology. He graduated in 2004, and immediately landed a job with the Canadian Olympic Committee as a Program Manager in Athlete & Community Relations.
Atila was surprised to find himself in this position, as he had graduated with a heavy focus in Science. However, he quickly began to utilize his scientific research; and analytical and critical thinking skills to solve daily business challenges.
He decided to pursue a career in major sport event management. He worked for the FIFA U20 World Cup Canada, the BC World Police & Fire Games, and the Vancouver Whitecaps. These opportunities ultimately led to a position with NBC Olympics during the Vancouver 2010 Games, working as a Production Logistics manager.
In 2013, he moved with his family to the NBC Sports Group headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. And today, Atila is the Vice President of Production Operations – Olympics. He oversees NBC’s operations at the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) for the Olympic Games and oversees the set/studio builds for all other major sports events, such as the FIFA World Cup and the Super Bowl.
Atila will also be overseeing NBC’s IBC operations at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, which will mark his 7th Olympic Games. He and his team at NBC Olympics have been awarded 5 Sports Emmys. He was also honored as one of the 5 To Watch – Canada’s Sports Business Awards in 2017, recognizing the top sports business leaders in Canada under age 40.
Atila and his family have lived in Connecticut for 6 years now — he loves his job and works with the brightest minds in the business. He considers himself a lifelong learner and wishes to continue to grow in his career with the NBC Sports Group.
alumni news, alumni stories
As a UBC student in the 1970s the name Shelley Winter was associated with being one of the best, not just at UBC but across the nation, in the sport of field hockey. This native of Oak Bay graduated from UBC in Physical Education in 1975 and later achieved a successful teaching career on Vancouver Island. But for the majority of her life she has not only been actively participating in field hockey, she has literally appeared on the world stage.
While playing for UBC 1975 through 1985 she was selected MVP, won the league sportsmanship award and was named the 1975/76 UBC female Athlete of the Year.
From 1975 through 1986 Shelley was a member of Canada’s National team – her 12 years being the most of any BC woman in this sport. She was also the first Canadian female field hockey player to appear in more than 100 international test mathes.
Considered a “real leader” Shelley was a co-captain of Canada’s team at the 1984 Olympics. Following the Olympics she was the one chosen to accept the International Fair Play Award, awarded to Canada in Paris by the United Nations. She was also awarded the player of the match trophy following Canada’s 1986 impressive victory over England at Wembley Stadium. “England Shelley-shocked” announced one newspaper headline.
Shelley, who was still playing hockey into the 2000s, is an inductee in the Greater Victoria, British Columbia and UBC Sports Halls of Fame.
Fred Hume, 2019
Bill Sainas, who passed away in 2018 at age 93, was a member of UBC’s first Physical Education/Kinesiology graduating class in 1949. This small, pioneer class represented the first graduates in Physical Education in Western Canada.
Sainas played varsity rugby and football at UBC from 1945 through 1948. During those years he played for a Hardy Cup-winning football team. While in rugby his teams won two McKechnie Cups, two Miller Cups and a World Cup. Later in the 1950s Bill with his friend, teammate and future UBC Chancellor, Alan McEachern, founded Vancouver’s Kitsilano Kats rugby club. Kats have been an integral piece of the BC rugby scene ever since.
In 1953 Bill attained a degree in physiotherapy from California-Berkeley where he also played rugby and later opened one of the first private physiotherapy practices in Vancouver, which he ran for 27 years.
Sainas in later life continued his athletic pursuits including golf where he consistently shot his age. He, like many Kinesiology graduates, promoted a healthy lifestyle knowing the value of the physical aspect of life and the need to stay active, all of which he encouraged continually.
Fred Hume, 2019
Alumni, alumni stories, Stories
Jan. 31, 2019 – Congratulations to PhD candidate Negin Riazi, Dr. Guy Faulkner, and Dr. Erica Lau whose animated video on the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (0-4 years) took the Runner Up Prize in the CIHR’s IHDCYH Talks Video Competition!
[youtube]https://youtu.be/6OflvwtFovs[/youtube]
Congratulations to Dr. Guy Faulkner, Negin Riazi, and Dr. Erica Lau, for winning the Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH) 2018 Talks Video Runner Up award.
The team’s video, 24-hour movement guidelines for the early years (0-4 years): Disseminating the guidelines through an animated video is an informative and engaging approach to ensuring the guidelines are clarified in a fun and engaging way.
UBC Studios helped the team put the video together.
Congratulations to the team on your hard work!
Congratulations to Andrew Au, KUS President and recipient of the 2018-2019 Premier Undergraduate Scholarship & Wesbrook Scholar award. The scholarships are the University’s most prestigious designations, given to senior students at all levels of study with outstanding academic performance, leadership, involvement in student and community activities, and participation in sports.
Andrew is one of 20 outstanding students selected as Wesbrook Scholars and recipient of the prestigious Premier Undergraduate Scholarships. Andrew is awarded the Carl Bradford Robertson Scholarship, endowed through a bequest from Edna Mary Robertson as a memorial to her late son. Open to students entering the penultimate or final year of a baccalaureate program, the first year of a graduate program, or in any year of an MD, DMD, or JD program. Candidates are expected to have good academic standing, and have demonstrated achievement in sports and participation in student and community activities.
Andrew is in his final year in the Health Sciences Stream. Congratulations Andrew on this momentous achievement.
Position title
UBC Active Kids Gymnastics Instructor
Volunteer or Employment?
Employment
Employer email address
kin.outreach@ubc.ca
Organization
UBC Active Kids
Organization website
http://outreach.kin.educ.ubc.ca/active-kids/
Job description
UBC Active Kids Gymnastics Program, an Outreach Program of the School of Kinesiology, is led by instructors that plan and deliver developmentally appropriate gymnastics classes to participants aged 12 months- adults at both recreational and advanced levels. Gymnastics Instructors report to and receive direction from the Active Kids Program Manager and Program Coordinator.
The main job responsibilities for this position are to:
• Assist the Kinesiology Outreach Program in implementing the Active Kids Program, a program that engages
children in the local community in developmentally-appropriate physical activity.
• Provide developmentally-appropriate gymnastics and movement instruction to children, youth, and adults of all
abilities a safe, fun and physically active environment.
• Plan and lead lessons tailored to the developmental characteristics of the group, adjusting activities as necessary
to provide optimal challenge for each participant.
• Maintain a safe instructional environment, which includes setting-up and inspecting equipment, bringing forth
health and safety concerns to the Program Manager and Program Assistant.
• Provide ongoing feedback to parents and participants, including the preparation of progress reports.
• Demonstrate a professional attitude and appearance, especially when interacting with parents and participants.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate is a Kinesiology undergraduate or graduate student with a passion for working with children and leading physical activity programs. Preference will be given to students pursuing a career in Kinesiology or Education, but students from other disciplines will be considered.
To be eligible for this position, at a minimum, students must have or be willing to obtain the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Gymnastics Foundations Intro and Foundations certifications. Successful candidates must obtain a criminal record check and emergency first aid certification- both of which are at least partially subsidized by the School of Kinesiology Outreach Programs.
Required skills and experience: The successful candidate will have:
Experience instructing developmentally appropriate programs for children
Knowledge and passion for gymnastics as an athlete or coach
Knowledge of developmentally appropriate skill development for gymnastics
An ability to professionally represent the School of Kinesiology
A passion for working with children and be an enthusiastic, responsible, and reliable team player
Excellent leadership, interpersonal and communication skills
Experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds/cultures, the ability to speak other
languages is an asset
Rate of pay: $12.75/hour – $26/hour depending on certifications and experience
Hours/time commitment
Ability to commit to a regular shift for the duration of the session
How to apply
Interested parties should submit a cover letter and resume to kin.outreach@ubc.ca
Posting expiration date
ongoing. Please contact for upcoming term deadlines.
Position title
UBC Active Kids Multisport Coach
Volunteer or Employment?
Employment
Employer email address
kin.outreach@ubc.ca
Organization
UBC Active Kids
Organization website
http://outreach.kin.educ.ubc.ca/active-kids/
Job description
The UBC Active Kids Program, an Outreach Program of the School of Kinesiology, is led by instructors
that plan and deliver developmentally appropriate physical activity and sport specific classes to
participants aged 18 months- adults. Instructors report to and receive direction from the Active Kids
Program Manager.
The UBC Active Kids Program is seeking passionate and knowledgeable instructors to join its team of
Multisport and Physical Literacy Instructors. The Multisport program is a partnership program with the
University Neighbourhood Association which introduces children to sport specific skills and reinforces
fundamental movement skills such as running, jumping, kicking, throwing, and catching. Using a variety
of sports and games all led by an instructor, the emphasis is on fun, lifelong love of physical activity, and
basic skill and sport development for ages 1.5 – 3 YRS (parent and tot style class) and 3-5 YRS.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate is a Kinesiology undergraduate or graduate student with a passion for working with
children and leading physical activity and sport specific programs. Preference will be given to students
pursuing a career or have experience in Kinesiology or Education, but students from other disciplines
will certainly be considered. Successful candidates must obtain a criminal record check and emergency
first aid certification- both of which may be partially subsidized by the School of Kinesiology Outreach
Programs. *NCCP certifications will be considered a strong asset.
The successful candidate will have:
Experience instructing developmentally appropriate programs for children
Knowledge of fundamental movement skills and ABC’s
Ability to professionally represent the School of Kinesiology
Passion for working with children and be an enthusiastic, responsible, and reliable team player
Excellent leadership, interpersonal and communication skills
Experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds/cultures, the ability to speak
other languages is an asset.
Hours/time commitment
Weekly Schedule The program is offered during the following times:
Mondays, 9:30am – 11:15am
Mondays, 1pm – 230pm
Mondays, 330pm-530pm
*Candidates need to be available for a minimum of 1 of the program times, not necessarily all three
How to apply
Interested parties should submit a cover letter and resume to kin.outreach@ubc.ca
Posting expiration date
ongoing. Please contact for upcoming term deadlines.