BLACK TIE DELEGATE BIOGRAPHIES

Paul serves as an Associate Professor of Teaching and Associate Director of Undergraduate Affairs. He never thought he would be a researcher, let alone an academic. Paul had way too many interests growing up. He grew up on a Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela, learning how to surf after school. When he moved to Canada to go to high school, he was more interested in theatre and creative writing. Paul applied to four different universities for four different programs as he could never settle on “what he wanted to do when he grew up”. He is living proof that the path you take has more to do with the people you meet than anything else. Today, Paul’s focus is on creating effective teams and program building. He is looking forward to chatting with you about this and more.

Dr. Liv Yoon is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology at UBC. Her research is at the intersection of climate change, social inequities, and health, with a focus on community engagement and participatory methods. Her PhD training in social sciences and socio-cultural kinesiology informs her to think about bodies in sociopolitical contexts, provoking thought about how some bodies are considered more ‘dispensable’, and in turn, rendered more vulnerable to environment- and climate-related risks. Dr. Yoon completed her Bachelor of Physical & Health Education at Queen’s University, Master of Arts and PhD in Kinesiology at UBC, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Following, she worked in public service at Health Canada’s Climate Change and Health Office prior to joining UBC in January 2023.

When Dr. Lam was an undergraduate student in physical therapy, she was lucky enough to get a summer placement to help out with a research study on gait rehabilitation in stroke. She hasn’t looked back since and ended up going to Alberta to do her PhD in Neuroscience and then onto Switzerland for post-doctoral training in spinal cord injury research. She has been at UBC since 2005. For many years, Dr. Lam’s research program focused primarily on recovery of walking in people with spinal cord injury. But through a very serendipitous discovery, Dr. Lam’s lab has now shifted focus to explore the possibilities of using exoskeleton gait training and other exercise-based interventions to target the pelvic floor muscles as a possible way to help manage urogenital dysfunction after spinal cord injury. Outside of the lab, she spends her time these days training for a 10K and learning Arabic.

Mark R. Beauchamp, Ph.D., is a Professor in the School of Kinesiology at UBC, where he has been for 19 years. He teaches courses at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. His research primarily focuses on group processes within health, exercise, and sport settings, with his work published in journals such as the Annual Review of Psychology, Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Health Psychology, Group Dynamics, and the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. His research program has received ongoing funding from agencies such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. He is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, and is editor-in-chief for Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology (official journal of Division 47 of the American Psychological Association). Outside of work, he likes to ski (whenever he can)!

Dr. Chua’s research focus is centered on the study of human perceptual-motor control. The long-term objective of this research program is to understand the neurobehavioural mechanisms underlying the sensory and perceptual contributions to the preparation and execution of goal-directed actions. A current objective of his research is to investigate the principles that govern the sensorimotor adaptation of goal-directed actions in the face of systematic perturbations to the sensory/perceptual environment and/or the effector machinery. The capacity of our sensorimotor system to adapt – to detect and correct movement error, to refine our actions and adjust to changing conditions in the environment and/or neuromuscular system – is important to act upon and interact with the world. The aim of this research is to further our understanding of sensorimotor adaptation.

Dr Nicola Hodges runs the Motor Skills Lab in Kinesiology. Along with students, she studies anything to do with practice and the processes underpinning motor skill performance and learning. She conducts laboratory experiments with new learners to determine how and why various practice variables impact motor learning, as well as studying skilled performance and the developmental activities that are best predictors of expertise. She has a particular interest in processes involved in action observation and motor imagery; including the anticipation of action outcomes in sport-related contexts, how people learn from watching others, and how people “share” practice when practising together. She has co-authored the popular book, “Skill acquisition in Sport: Research, Theory and Practice” (Routledge) and she has ~150 published journal articles and chapters, supported by funding from all three National government funding agencies. She is passionate about sport, especially soccer, and her research has led her to do consultancy work with the Canadian National Women’s Soccer team.

Dr. Jackie Whittaker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia and Senior Research Scientist at Arthritis Research Canada in Vancouver, Canada. As a recognized clinical specialist in musculoskeletal rehabilitation and clinical epidemiologist, her research takes a lifespan approach to preventing musculoskeletal conditions, with particular emphasis on sport-related post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis and long-term athlete welfare. Jackie worked clinically as a musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapist for 15 years prior to completing a Ph.D. at the University of Southampton (UK), and Postdoctoral fellowship at the Sports Injury Prevention Research Centre at the University of Calgary in Canada. Over her academic tenure (2015-2023), she has supervised and advised many graduate and undergraduate trainees, and clinician-scientists. She has found collaborating with trainees to be one of the biggest learning experiences of her career and by far the most rewarding.

Daniel Eisenkraft Klein is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Program on Regulation, Therapeutics, and Law at Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women's Hospital, where he also holds a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) postdoctoral fellowship. His research primarily focuses on the political economy and regulation of medicines, with a particular emphasis on the role of corporate political actors in opioid and psychedelic policy settings.

Daniel graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He received his MSc in Kinesiology and PhD in Public Health Policy from the University of Toronto, where he was a SSHRC Doctoral Fellow. He previously served as a Policy Analyst for Health Canada throughout his PhD.

Daniel also made an inordinate amount of mistakes throughout his academic/life journey and is more than happy to discuss the many different journeys students can take to achieve their goals!

In 2021 Sara completed her Kinesiology degree at UBC and then later completed the Master of Management Dual degree program (B+MM). 

During her undergrad she fell in love with Kin and took on roles such as KUS VP Comms. In 3rd year she went on exchange to Loughborough University in England where she took specific sport innovation courses and completed an internship with a lululemon product testing lab. After graduating, she secured her dream internship at lululemon’s head office as a research scientist. 

Although she loved her job, she went back to UBC to finish her masters degree. After graduating her masters, she traveled around the world including Australia, Korea and moving to Toronto. She now works as a fitness instructor in Vancouver at Equinox, Altea, and TurF and continues to do product innovation with lululemon. As a contractor she also works with companies like Alo, Knix, and Rogers Arena to bring unique events to life. 

Olivia graduated a few years ago from UBC Kin in the interdisciplinary stream. She was highly involved in the KUS, Kin Games, and many other campus communities. While she initially thought she wanted to become a physiotherapist, but through kin she was able to explore different classes in the interdisciplinary stream and ended up developing a strong passion for business classes in the last couple of years of her degree. Business ethics and marketing particularly stood out to her.

Currently, Olivia works in the social media department at lululemon—a culture that she finds very similar to the UBC Kinesiology community. With over 6 years of experience at lululemon, her current goal is to focus on athlete and ambassador-oriented marketing content. Additionally, Olivia aspires to contribute to and be on set for Team Canada projects, as lululemon has recently partnered with them for the upcoming Olympic Games.

Allison Hill graduated with a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology from UBC in 2021, where she was heavily involved in the kin-munity. Most notably, during her time at UBC she acted as KUS VP Student Life, Kin Games Captain, and a UBC Rec Intramurals Leagues Director. Following graduation, she embraced her dual citizenship and passion for travel, moving to Australia in 2022 to pursue Law School at Bond University on the Gold Coast. She graduated with a Juris Doctor and returned to Canada earlier this year, now gaining experience as she works toward her goal of becoming a Sports or Entertainment Lawyer.

With an interest in the musculoskeletal system and injury prevention, Riya Virdi began UBC's BKin program in 2019 eager to pursue a career in sports medicine. During her undergrad, she found ways to explore her passions and engage with the community through connections she made in Kinesiology. For 3 years, she was the student athletic trainer for the women’s basketball team, gaining invaluable hands-on experience. She also co-founded Volentia Translation, an initiative that provides language translation services in both the healthcare and research setting. A semester short of completing her degree, she entered the MD Undergraduate program at UBC, grateful for the foundation her time in Kinesiology provided. She is currently considering Orthopaedic surgery and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for residency, still with an end goal of sports medicine!

Gabriella is a current 1st year medical student at the University of British Columbia. She graduated from UBC in 2024 with a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology. Gabriella was an active member of the UBC community where she served as coordinator for the Kinesiology Undergraduate Society’s Professional Development Committee and volunteered as an Undergraduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach in the UBC Varsity Gym. Beyond UBC, Gabriella was involved in geriatric and pediatric palliative care through volunteer positions with Lions’ Gate Hospital and Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. Gabriella is passionate about advocating for and furthering knowledge in reproductive health and is actively pursuing this passion as a Local Officer of Reproductive and Sexual Health for the Canadian Federation of Medical Students Global Health Portfolio. In her spare time, Gabriella enjoys reading, working out, cooking, and crocheting.

Travis Dodds is a Physiotherapist, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA CSCS) and owner of Lift Performance and Rehabilitation Clinic, Vancouver. Lift Clinic provides physio, chiro, RMT and strength coaching services.

While most physio students were entering the profession with rehab goals in mind, Travis set out to apply the physio skillset broadly to meet client goals in rehab, performance, injury prevention, longevity and functional movement. Helping clients meet these goals was a driving force that led to the creation of Lift Clinic, with the aim to break down barriers to clients achieving these goals through innovations in teamwork, mentorship and clinic design. 

Having mentored and advised many students, Travis is very approachable, and is keen to help you find answers about how to develop your career journey and what steps you can take to become a rock star clinician or small business leader. He looks forward to meeting you and hearing your story. You can learn more about Lift Clinic at www.liftclinic.ca or instagram @liftclinic!

Dr. Michelle Kwok is an evidence-based chiropractor with over a decade of experience in multidisciplinary healthcare settings. She completed her Bachelor of Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, followed by her Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine from the University of Western States. Before pursuing her chiropractic career, Michelle worked as a Kinesiologist, where she discovered her passion for patient-centered healthcare. Beginning her journey in multidisciplinary clinics during her undergraduate studies, Michelle has since held diverse roles in both clinical administration and practice, giving her a well-rounded perspective in patient care.

Outside the clinic, Michelle enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants, and staying active through workout classes like Pilates, spin, and HIIT. For a closer look at her chiropractic practice, visit her on Instagram: @dr.mkwok.

Shauna acquired her Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology from the University of the Fraser Valley. During her time there she was heavily involved with her program's Kinesiology Student Association for several years in both volunteer coordinator and co-president roles. She also served as a student trainer as well as helped develop the curriculum for physical literacy camps. After working as a Kinesiologist for a year, she went back to school to complete her Master's in Kinesiology at UBC. During her time at UBC she completed a 2.5 year internship with UBC's varsity performance program, working with various athletic teams. She now works at LIFT Clinic working as a Kinesiologist, Strength and Conditioning Coach and Mentorship Lead. She is working with clients 5 days/week as well as helping create and run workshops, taking on practicum students and providing practical experiences for undergraduate students.

Sam is a physiotherapist at Lift Clinic. He completed both his Bachelor of Kinesiology and Masters of Physiotherapy at UBC. 

Jeanelle received her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of British Columbia in 2024 and is currently in the Master of Kinesiology program also at the University of British Columbia, specializing in coaching sciences. As a former competitive swimmer and swim coach, Jeanelle has a passion for working with athletic populations and people who like to move! Through her experience working at the Delta Hockey Academy and LIFT Performance and Rehabilitation clinic, she interacts with various populations in both rehabilitation and performance settings. Additionally, she is completing an internship with UBC’s Varsity Sports Performance program working with teams such as Basketball, Field Hockey, Soccer, and Rugby.

After graduating from the University of British Columbia with a bachelors degree in Kinesiology, Johnny went to pursue a career in massage therapy at the Vancouver College of Massage Therapy (VCMT). 

Through Johnny’s experiences with his own injures in both physical and daily living activities, he believes manual therapy combined with active rehabilitation exercises is the best solution to achieve pain free movement and reduce injuries. 

Johnny values working through a client centred approach and is committed to helping his clients achieve their goals.

On days when Johnny isn’t at the clinic, Johnny enjoys playing ice hockey, golf, and volleyball to stay active.

Aisha is a graduate of the University of British Columbia (UBC), holding both a Bachelor of Kinesiology and a Master of Occupational Therapy. With a strong foundation in human movement, rehabilitation, anatomy and health promotion, Aisha combines evidence-based practice with a client-centered approach to support individuals in achieving their personal goals and improving their quality of life in Acute Care at Royal Columbian Hospital. Throughout their studies and variety of clinical placements across the lower Mainland and Victoria, she developed a keen interest in functional and cognitive rehabilitation, working with individuals recovering from brain injuries, strokes and acute medical situations. Throughout her undergrad, she was involved with working with in Physiotherapy clinics, working with children with developmental conditions, and retail. During her Masters of Occupation Therapy, Aisha contributed to research surrounding Developmental Coordination Disorder and published a paper with clinical supervisor Jill Wicker.  With a dedication to lifelong learning, Aisha continues to enhance their skills through professional development opportunities, striving to make a positive impact in the field of occupational therapy and exploring community access and implementation.

Sharon is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist and founder of Seasons Occupational Therapy, a mobile practice supporting children in becoming calm, coordinated, and confident. With a holistic approach, she offers individualized therapy, parent coaching, and collaborates with schools and other professionals. Passionate about neurodiversity inclusion, Sharon empowers children and families through education and advocacy.

Inspired by the Sydney Olympics, Sharon pursued her Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of Sydney, earning scholarships like the Australian Collaborative Education Network’s Work Integrated Learning Scholarship. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminology from Simon Fraser University, where she discovered her passion for OT.

Outside work, Sharon embraces a beginner’s mindset, often traveling, hiking, foraging, scuba diving, gardening, and enjoying K-pop dance for fun.

Gina is a Registered Occupational Therapist, writer & dancer.

She began her career at WorkSafe BC in claims adjudication, prior to becoming an OT. She has worked as an OT in palliative care and oncology, geriatric mental health, with a chronic condition outpatient program, and with inmates at forensic facilities. Recently, she implemented the paediatric mental health OT program for Fraser Health.

In 2014, she established a clinic for neurodivergent youth and adults with neurological diagnoses, providing unique OT treatment through kayaking, rock climbing, dance and boxing. She annually partners with the Parkinson’s Society of BC to deliver Indian dance classes as treatment.

Gina enjoys writing and frequently writes for the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists publication and was a reporter for The Dance Current magazine.

Gina has a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Occupational Therapy, along with advanced certifications in paediatrics, stroke/brain injury rehabilitation, and Parkinson’s Disease.

Casey is a proud Vancouverite, that holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Simon Fraser University. When she’s not at her desk or hanging out with her dog, Casey loves getting outdoors in BC, doing everything from biking to scuba diving with enthusiasm for the next adventure.

With experiences living, working, traveling, and even playing rugby in Australia and New Zealand, Casey has a deep understanding and love for the region. This fuels her passion for helping students find their path to studying abroad.

As an OzTREKK Territory Manager, Casey works closely with students and schools across Canada. Whether she’s chatting with students at fairs, advising high school counsellors, or linking students to opportunities in Australia, Casey’s focus is always on putting OzTREKK students first. Her dedication ensures they get the support they need for successful academic journeys abroad.

People that know Ben appreciate that he is an open book and loves sharing his experience and knowledge to students and other professionals. Ben earned his Bachelor of Kinesiology (2015) followed by Master of Physical Therapy (2018) from the University of British Columbia. He has worked in various areas such as: in hospitals, public clinics, and private clinics. Recently, Ben started his own physio practice which is the first in Canada to utilize virtual reality (VR) for rehabilitation. Ben is passionate about integrating modern technology into the field of physiotherapy and hopes to be an ambassador for change among new generations of rehab professionals.

Sarah Lem and is a Registered Nurse at BC Children’s Hospital. Born and raised in Ontario, Sarah graduated from Western University with a BSc in Kinesiology where she had the opportunity to be the Varsity Athletic Trainer for the Women’s Field Hockey Team. Her Kinesiology degree provided her with an exceptional foundation to explore various health sciences professions. She then decided to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Toronto. Throughout her nursing studies, Sarah worked part-time as a Research Assistant with a focus on Indigenous parenting and cultural safety in the healthcare system. She enjoys working as an RN and aspire to further her career as either a Nurse Practitioner or in healthcare management. She is looking forward to getting to know you all!

Liam Worsley is a student in UBC's Faculty of Education, completing a Dual Degree in Kinesiology and Education. His journey through the Kinesiology program offered him extensive experiences across various fields, ultimately guiding him to a fulfilling path in teaching. Driven by a desire to support others, Liam has focused his studies on inclusive education, specializing in teaching students with diverse needs. His approach to education is rooted in creating accessible, adaptive learning environments that encourage all students to succeed. Beyond academics, Liam brings practical experience in curriculum design and physical education, blending his knowledge of kinesiology with strategies that enhance student engagement and holistic well-being. He is committed to fostering inclusive, student-centered classrooms that inspire growth and resilience.

Jessica is a graduate of the UBC Kinesiology program, where she completed the Interdisciplinary stream. The program gave her the opportunity to explore various kinesiology-related fields, offering a holistic perspective on the study of human movement. Through exploration and mentorship from professors, she was inspired to share her knowledge with others, which blossomed into a passion for teaching. During her time at UBC, Jessica participated in extracurriculars, including the Kinesiology Case Competition with the Canadian Kinesiology Alliance, where her team placed second. These experiences helped her develop analytical skills and self-confidence. Currently, Jessica is a pre-service teacher in the Health, Outdoor, and Physical Education program and a coach in figure skating and badminton. She aims to inspire her students to move, stay active, and find joy in physical and health education by creating inclusive and meaningful learning environments that foster creativity, personal growth, and a lifelong love for learning.