Meet the Team

Gordon Tao

RSEC Position: Chair

RHSC Status: PhD Student, Dr. William C. Miller

Research Background: Gordon completed his BSc in Life Sciences at Queen’s University and his MSc in Rehabilitation Sciences at McGill University. Gordon is passionate about the role of digital media and assistive technologies in supporting independence and improving quality of life. His doctoral research focuses on the design of digital games for rehabilitation.

Get to Know Me: Gordon is a hiker, food fan, and technology nerd (go figure). Gordon especially likes potlucks.

Smruthi Ramachandran

RSEC Position: Co-chair

RHSC Status: MSc Student, Dr. Linda Li

Research Background: Smruthi completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Psychology at UBC. Being a proponent of the Exercise is Medicine movement, her thesis will explore strategies for promoting exercise uptake and adherence among patients with knee osteoarthritis. This research aims to improve our understanding of how and why patients choose to engage in exercise in order to better inform future physical activity promotion interventions.

Get to Know Me: Smruthi enjoys going to the gym, hiking, kayaking, cooking, and spending time with her friends and family. As she doesn’t have her own dog (yet) you can also often find her squealing while looking at cute dogs in public or on social media!

Nárlon Cássio

RSEC Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow Representative

RHSC Status: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr. Theresa Liu-Ambrose

Research Background: Narlon received a PhD degree in Kinesiology from Western University in London, Ontario. Originally from Brazil, Narlon received a BSc degree in Physical Education from Nove de Julho University in São Paulo. The overarching goal of Narlon’s research is to investigate the impact of physical exercise on health outcomes in older adults at risk of dementia. In Dr. Liu-Ambrose’s lab, he is investigating whether exercise can prevent or slow down pathological processes affecting the white matter of the brain in older adults with vascular cognitive impairment. He has established international collaboration in dementia research through the Vascular Cognitive Disorders Professional Interest Area (VPIA) within the Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART). His postdoctoral fellowship in Dr. Liu-Ambrose’s lab is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and a joint grant by the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR)/Pacific Alzheimer Research Foundation (PARF).

Get to Know Me: Narlon is passionate about research, exercise, poetry, music, and Brazilian food.

Christy Jones

 

RSEC Position:  Scientific Committee Lead, Website

RHSC Status: PhD Student, Dr. Lara Boyd

Research Background: Christy obtained her Bachelor’s in Kinesiology & Health Sciences at UBC and her MSc in Kinesiology at McMaster University. Her past research has looked at neuroplasticity in healthy and clinical populations using non-invasive brain stimulation as well as balance and gait in Parkinson’s disease. Currently she is interested in using neurotechnology and portable devices for upper limb rehabilitation of individuals following stroke.

Get to Know Me: Christy is stoked on all things outdoors! You will routinely find her in the mountains rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and skiing and is always happy to share her love of these activities with anyone who is interested. Shoot her a message anytime if you’d like to join!

Thalia Otamendi

RSEC Position: Professional Development Committee

RHSC Status: PhD Student, Dr. Naznin Virji-Babul

Research Background: Thalia completed her BA in Psychology at McGill University and her MA in Kinesiology at UBC. Her research focuses on the psychological aspects of concussion recovery following my own prolonged recovery from the injury.

Get to Know Me: Rec sports, sushi, and watching hockey consume most (well, a significant part) of Thalia’s time!

Kohle Merry

RSEC Position: Scientific Committee

RHSC Status: PhD Student, Dr. Alex Scott

Research Background: Kohle completed his BASc in Mechanical Engineering (Biomedical Option) at UBC and his MASc in Mechatronic Systems Engineering at Simon Fraser University. Kohle’s main area of interest is the design of evidence-based interventions for musculoskeletal disorders. His doctoral work is focused around the development of a home-based physical therapy intervention for individuals with Achilles tendinopathy.

Get to Know Me: In his personal time, Kohle enjoys working out and is constantly trying to read more.

Linda Truong

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Sunaina Chopra

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Melika Farahani

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Holly Reid

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Ellen Wang

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Niloufar Benam

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Alumni Members

Joanne Callow
Myrah Malik
Jasmin Ma
Jesse McDougall
Kim Bennett
Sarah Park
Kendra Zadravec
Lauren Marcotte
Katie Attard
Jenn Ferris
Andrew Ramsook
Kamaldeep Gill
Sue Peters
Bolette Rafn
Kelcey Bland
Bea Francisco
Laura Bulk
Riley Louie
Brodie Sakakibara
Sarah Sayyari
Jesse Charlton
Gurk Singh
Calvin Tse
Kate Hayward
Julia Schmidt
Sarah Weller
Logan Meyers
Yannick Molgat-Seon