Congratulations to UBC Kinesiology alum Clare Drake, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday, June 26, 2017.
One of UBC Kinesiology’s most acclaimed graduates, Drake is credited with influencing the careers of Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz, Dallas Stars coach Ken Hitchcock and Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock.
Read full story, “Clare Drake elected to Hockey Hall of Fame as builder” by Arpon Basu here.
Expected graduating year: 2018
Stream: Kinesiology and Health Science
Hometown: Richmond, B.C.
You will be the President of the KUS for the upcoming school year, can you tell us a little about what the KUS does?
The Kinesiology Undergraduate Society (KUS) strives to enhance the academic, professional, and social lives of students in the School of Kinesiology. We organize several events such as KIN Camp, KIN Boat Cruise, KIN Peer Academic Program (KPAC), KIN Ski Trip, Career Fair and more! But ultimately, we work to support students to have the best undergraduate experience they can at the School of Kinesiology.
What is the role of the president for the KUS?
The KUS President chairs and leads the Executive team in cultivating a close-knit community focused on enriching the lives and quality of experience of kinesiology students. Additional to event and workshop development, the President also acts as a voting representative and liaison between students and the faculty of the School of Kinesiology and the AMS Council.
What are you most looking forward to for the upcoming school year?
I am most looking forward to seeing and meeting the fresh incoming students to the School of Kinesiology on Imagine Day and at Kin Camp. They always bring renewed and unique energy and I hope to help them settle in and succeed in their endeavors at UBC.
How can people get more involved with the KUS?
In addition to attending our events and coming into our office hours, there are various coordinator and committee positions for students to apply for in September to take part in the organization of our events. Another great way of getting involved is to simply come meet us, get to know us, and provide us with your thoughts, new ideas, and on how we can improve as student leaders!
Why did you choose Kinesiology at UBC?
I chose Kinesiology at UBC because I believed it was a well-rounded blend of the Faculty of Science and Arts that provided me a unique avenue to pursue my career goals. As a transfer student from Arts, I can testify that Kin at UBC has a caring and spirited community that has greatly supported me throughout my years. Transferring was hands down the best decision of my undergraduate period.
What has been your best experience at UBC?
Kin Camp has been my best experience(s) at UBC. (Yes, I know that might come off as a tad bit biased…) The event was the best thing for me as a new incoming student, because it introduced me to not only the atmosphere and pride of Kinesiology, but also to my fellow peers who would later become my best friends. Since then, attending Kin Camp as a leader and executive member has been a humbling opportunity to share my experiences and love of the program to students that I hope to develop that same love in the years to come.
What advice to have for your peers?
My advice for my peers would be to continue to stay open to and explore new ideas and experiences. Kinesiology is such as multidisciplinary field that is extremely versatile and continues to grow and broaden my perspective. Don’t be afraid to expose yourself to something new and push beyond your comfort zone.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
I hope to enter into the field of health care and one day become either a medical doctor or physiotherapist.
By Eric Chau, Zoe Sarafis, Brian Hayes
Are you a UBC kinesiology student interested in the sciences? If you are, this article was written for you!
As kinesiology students, we study exercise and movement sciences, encompassing in part, theoretical analysis in biomechanics, anatomy, and physiology. But, have you wondered how the information that we learn in a classroom is generated, validated, and disseminated? Research is required to uncover and expand upon our knowledge of microscopic and macroscopic mechanisms underlying physiological, biochemical, and biomechanical functions. Research can help us understand what processes are involved in response to activity or how exercise and/or physical trauma alter bodily functions, as well as organ cell composition and structure. Similarly, in vivo and in vitro imaging in pre-clinical research is able to map anatomical structures and use computed simulations to conduct a functional analysis of organs and tissues. Data generated from such research is statistically analyzed to confirm the significance of the research results, which can then be used as the basis for translation into the human context. UBC offers numerous opportunities for Kinesiology students to explore and participate in research. Here, we provide an overview of our collective experiences in a variety of research areas at the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), a world leading centre for translational spinal cord injury (SCI) research located at Vancouver General Hospital. Collectively, our experiences have enhanced our learning, provided us networking opportunities with current experts in the field, and allowed us to contribute to the communal effort towards SCI research.
My name is Eric Chau and I am entering my fourth year in the Interdisciplinary Studies Stream in Kinesiology. I have had the opportunity to become involved in Dr. Christopher West’s lab at ICORD as a volunteer research assistant for the past year. Collectively, my experiences have included assisting in a variety of imaging and measurement techniques to capture the changes to cardiac function following SCI. My current project, which ties into my Kin 499 directed studies, involves individual work contributing to a larger study investigating the effects of minocycline (an anti-inflammatory drug) on cardiac function following experimental SCI in rodents. Specifically, I analyze and compile in vivo data on heart and cardiovascular (CV) function at different timepoints of the study. During my time here, I have learned the merits of innovative techniques such as pressure-volume catheter conductance technique, magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiography in addition to operating their respective analytical software. Individually, these techniques provide us information on structural dimensions and hemodynamic indices, but together, they can paint a more comprehensive picture of the vast physiological changes that we can see following SCI. From taking part in the live surgeries and recordings, to analyzing and organizing the data, I can firsthand observe the process of how raw measurements from complex lab techniques are converted into sound results for publication.
Highlighted personal benefits:
My name is Zoe Sarafis and I am entering my fourth year in the Kinesiology Health Science Stream. Through the UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Program, I had the opportunity to conduct a research study on SCI in Dr. Andrei Krassioukov’s laboratory this summer. My 8-week project was aimed at evaluating the effects of SCI on the brain. Following SCI, instability results in the autonomic system controlling involuntary bodily functions, causing low resting blood pressure and episodes of transient high blood pressure, termed autonomic dysreflexia. In both able-bodied and spinal cord injured individuals, hypertension, or high blood pressure, mediates an increased risk for stroke and cerebrovascular dysfunction. My project thus aimed to elucidate the cerebral consequences resulting from SCI, by quantifying morphological changes in the brain following SCI. I specifically assessed blood vessel density, cerebral blood vessel fluid leakage, and neuronal density in the hippocampus of spinal cord injured and uninjured animals, using biologic markers. The project required me to learn and apply complementary techniques in immunohistochemistry, such as tissue sectioning, immunofluorescence staining, imaging and performing statistical analysis to validate my experimental results. The outcome of my project will contribute to a larger research initiative aimed at understanding the cerebrovascular consequences of exposure to autonomic dysreflexia in individuals following SCI.
Highlighted personal benefits
My name is Brian Hayes and I recently graduated with a BKin in Health Sciences. I became involved in Dr. West’s lab at ICORD initially as a volunteer research assistant conducting data analysis. I learned that CV issues are actually the primary cause of death following SCI, and to date, our understanding of the exact impact of SCI on the CV system is based off of studies using load-dependent measures of cardiac function. While this is informative, it only allows for the study of the CV system as a whole, opposed to isolating study of the heart in vivo. My initial project involved working with Dr. West to analyze load-independent pressure-volume cardiac data obtained directly from within the left ventricle of rats with varying levels of SCI. Later, I had the opportunity to formulate my own Kin 499 project. The specific aim of my project was to analyze heart tissue from uninjured rats and rats with T2 or T10 SCI to explore the impact of varying levels of SCI on the structure and function of the left ventricle. During this project I learned how to perform immunohistochemical staining, fluorescent light microscope imaging, and how to analyze and statistically compile the data in graphing software. The results corroborated with other findings from Dr. West’s lab, indicating that many of the profound changes seen in the CV system following SCI may not be due to the loss of muscle function, but to the loss of sympathetic activity below the site of injury. I was required to write a full scientific report and a give a ten minute presentation to share my findings with a group of researchers at ICORD. Lastly, I had the opportunity to do a poster presentation about my study at ICORD’s annual research meeting, which provided exposure to additional facets of research and science.
Highlighted personal benefits
Although each of our experiences have been unique and we have contributed to separate projects, working at ICORD has provided us all with an incredible opportunity to participate in cutting edge research in the field of SCI, and to interact with a team of researchers comprised of clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, technicians, graduates and undergraduates. Together, we have been challenged to think strategically, reason, and work through problems encountered throughout the course of our projects. Working in a new environment has helped us to expand our personal skillsets, and has given us confidence to undertake other novel tasks. We believe working in research fosters both independence and teamwork, compelling us to continually search for answers and to collaborate with others. But most importantly, we were able to contribute to a larger research effort to address the secondary consequences emanating from SCI and now recognize the importance of the research we are conducting to the lives of individuals with SCI. We would like to thank Dr. West, Dr. Krassioukov, and Dr. Aaron Phillips for providing us both the guidance and the opportunity to translate theoretical principles we have learned throughout our kinesiology degrees into tangible lessons for personal growth as academics, and to join a community that continually strives to advance the field of SCI. Our experiences in the labs at ICORD have been truly invaluable, for which we will take with us to our future endeavours.
The following is an excerpt from “Multisport training helps Vancouver swim team be better athletes” by Shelley Boettcher that first appeared on Active for Life on June 15th, 2017. Read the full article here.
Part of UBC’s School of Kinesiology outreach programs, the Active Kids classes are geared toward children ages one and a half to 18 years. They operate seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and they are particularly popular because they are recreational and non-competitive, says Dylan Brown, program manager for Active Kids. They’re simply about getting kids moving in a variety of ways: jumping, running, balancing, stretching.
“One of our driving philosophies is to get as many children as possible having positive experiences in sport and trying a range of activities,” Brown says.
“Learning the fundamentals — running, kicking, throwing, catching, safe landings, agility, balance, coordination — these things are so important for kids to learn because it gives them the full package, what they need to be active for life.”
June 20, 2017 – Dr. Guy Faulkner discusses link between physical activity and mental health. “This is an important relationship to examine. People with good mental health are more likely to be active, and being physically active improves mental health. Looking at how to intervene when this cycle is broken is the key challenge of some of my research.” Read more here.
June 19, 2017 – It has been a pleasure working with Dr. Alyson Crozier from University of South Australia for the past 4 weeks!
Guy Faulkner, professor in the School of Kinesiology and head of the Population Physical Activity (Pop-PA) Lab, shares his research insights on the relationship between physical activity and mental health.
What does the Pop-PA Lab do?
The Pop-PA Lab conducts research incorporating a range of disciplinary perspectives and research designs, theoretical and methodological approaches in addressing three critical questions:
From your research, can you comment on how physical activity impacts or influences mental health?
This is an important relationship to examine. People with good mental health are more likely to be active, and being physically active improves mental health. Looking at how to intervene when this cycle is broken is the key challenge of some of my research.
Can you break down the term “physical activity”? Are some types of physical activity better for mental health than others?
Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that result in energy expenditure. Physical activity in daily life can be categorized into different domains like leisure or recreation, occupational, household, or other activities like travelling to work.
Exercise is physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive and often with the goal of improving or maintaining fitness. I think it’s likely a case of different strokes for different folks – different types and doses of physical activity work for people differently and at different times.
There is some suggestion that the physical activity we choose to do, is more reliably associated with better mental health than activity you have less control, interest or choice over – like doing housework.
What advice would you offer to readers who would like to integrate physical activity as an approach to improve their mental health and wellbeing?
The best dose of physical activity for mental health is the dose you’re going to do. Find what you enjoy and do that. It’s got to be a pleasurable experience and of course what people find pleasurable will vary widely among individuals.
Looking at the big picture, what are the most effective physical activity interventions for the general population?
Initiatives supporting active travel – to the workplace or to schools for example – show promise at the population level. Initiatives that help people integrate greater physical activity into their day are more likely to have a sustainable impact.
Can you share some updates from your research?
I have been working on the development of the new Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2016 Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Adults with Major Depressive Disorder.
In an important change to the guidelines, exercise is now recommended in Canada as first-line mono therapy (a single treatment for a particular disorder or disease) for mild to moderate depression and as second-line adjunctive treatment (a secondary used together with the primary treatment) for moderate to severe depression. This is an exciting opportunity for examining how kinesiologists can be integrated as part of the mental health care team.
About Dr. Guy Faulkner
Dr. Guy Faulkner is a Professor in the School of Kinesiology, head of the Population Physical Activity Lab and a Canadian Institutes of Health Research-Public Health Agency of Canada (CIHR-PHAC) Chair in Applied Public Health. Dr. Faulkner is currently an investigator with the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit (OTRU) and a Research Affiliate of the Alberta Centre for Active Living. Dr. Faulkner serves on the ParticipACTION research committee and is a member of the Research Work Group for the annual Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. Dr. Faulkner is the founding editor of the Elsevier journal Mental Health and Physical Activity.
Broadly, his research has focused on two inter-related themes: the development and evaluation of physical activity interventions; and physical activity and mental health. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Faulkner’s research, follow him at @guyfaulkner on Twitter.
Bev Barnes’ teammates and friends speak fondly of her when they refer to her as a “basketball player, coach and lunatic”.
Bev, who passed away in 2016, was a cherished friend and teacher to many. Along the way, she exhibited impressive athletic skills in many sports but particularly in basketball. After excelling as an athlete in high school (at both Comox and Gibsons, BC) she played J.V. basketball at UBC in 1969/70 and then starred for four years with the Varsity Thunderbirds, 1970/71 through 1973/74.
This was an era when UBC dominated women’s basketball both provincially and nationally. In her first year, UBC, who also competed in the strong local Senior ‘A’ league, won the Western Canadian university championship. In 1971/72 Bev and her teammates powered UBC to the Canadian Championship winning the Bronze Baby while also winning the BC Senior ‘A’ title. In this university championship final game (a 74-69 victory over the University of New Brunswick), Bev led UBC scorers with 20 points. In 1972/73 the Blue & Gold again won the Canadian university championship with an impressive 24-1 overall record. Bev was a stalwart on this Hall of Fame team, a team that included several future Olympians.
Next season Bev became one of the very few basketball players to play on three consecutive national university champions as she along with her teammates led the ‘Birds to the 1973/74 title and a third Bronze Baby.
During the summer of 1972, Bev made the Canadian National team coached by Darlene Currie. From 1972 through 1976 Bev played for Canada including the 1974 Pan Am Games and the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. At the same time, she had an extensive Senior ‘A’ basketball career starting with UBC in the league in 1970/71 through to the 1980s. With teams such as Vancouver Buzz Bombs, Horizons and Kirby’s Kutters she represented BC at the Canadian Championships several times, winning the title in ’81. During the 1980s she toured the US with BC’s senior team.
Bev graduated from UBC with a degree in Kinesiology (1973) and a Masters degree in Education. She taught at the Junior and Senior high school levels and was well-loved by all her students. She was considered a fair and compassionate person who inspired school pride and was seen as an all-around role model for young women. She retired as a Vice-Principal in 2009.
Bev acknowledged the positive benefits of playing at a high level such as the Olympics and with Hall of Fame teams but felt it was more important to be able to give back. Bev was inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of fame in 2019.
Written by Fred Hume, UBC 2017