Our People

Dr. Jackie Whittaker PT, PhD

Dr. Jackie Whittaker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia and a Research Scientist at Arthritis Research Canada in Vancouver, Canada. She holds a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar Award. As a recognized clinical specialist in musculoskeletal rehabilitation and clinical epidemiologist, her research takes a lifespan approach to preventing osteoarthritis, with a particular emphasis on post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis. This includes reducing the burden of sport-related knee injuries through injury prevention, improving our understanding of the long-term consequences of knee injuries, and developing and evaluating exercise-based interventions to promote knee health. Central to her research is an integrated knowledge translation approach involving patients, health professionals, coaches, and other stakeholders throughout the research-to-practice continuum. Jackie co-led an international consensus exercise called OPTIKNEE, which produced seven meta-analyses and consensus recommendations for preventing osteoarthritis after traumatic knee injury. Her research is guided by 21 years of clinical practice.

Publications

ORCID

Twitter

Xian He (John) Yan BSc

John is a Masters student in Rehabilitation Sciences under the supervision of Dr. Jackie Whittaker at the University of British Columbia. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at UBC in 2019. John’s research will seek to understand the cause of muscle function decline resulting from knee joint injuries. This research will guide the development of preventative and therapeutic interventions to enhance muscle function and reduce burdensome musculoskeletal conditions.

Amanda Cammalleri MSc

Amanda is the research coordinator for the Stop OsteoArthritis (SOAR) study. She obtained a BA in Psychology from McGill University, followed by an MSc in Health, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology at Concordia University, studying the effects of exercise training on sleep in people with Insomnia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Publications

ORCID

Miranda Butler

Miranda is a 4th year Kinesiology student who hopes to become a physiotherapist in the near future. Interacting with participants and working amongst this supportive and kind research team are her favourite parts of being a SOAR RA. 

Tommy Chung

Tommy Chung is a third-year Kinesiology student at UBC. He is passionate about promoting active lifestyles and pursuing a career in sports physiotherapy. One of the main reasons he enjoys working in the SOAR lab is the opportunity for hands-on experience in advancing injury prevention and rehabilitation research.

Nardine Estawro

Nardine is in her second year of Kinesiology and is interested in studying medicine. Her favourite part about SOAR is the amazing team we have, and how collaborative and supportive the entire team is.

Frances Fan

Frances is a third-year kinesiology student in the NMPS stream at UBC Kinesiology. Her research interests lie in neuromuscular and exercise rehabilitation methods for chronic conditions to improve quality of life, patient outcomes, and provide adherable resources and education to patients. Frances’ favourite part about SOAR is that it directly aligns with her research interests, and she is able to see first hand therapeutical interventions for a chronic condition. In the future, as a clinician, she hopes to continue providing equitable healthcare pathways rooted in improving the quality of life for individuals in the community.

Abaigeal Kelso

Abaigeal is in her third year of Kinesiology in the Neuromechanical and Physiological Sciences stream. Her research interests lie within the realm of exercise physiology, with a specific focus on how exercise can be used to prevent adverse outcomes in clinical populations and ageing. She has enjoyed her time volunteering with SOAR so far because it is interesting to learn about the lived experiences of participants who have sustained an ACL tear and is grateful for the opportunity to have a positive impact on their recovery process, through her contributions to the SOAR study.

Julie Kim

Julie is a third year student studying kinesiology. She is interested in understanding the relationship between mental and physical health. Her immediate career goal is to try out physiotherapy after graduation, but she is also open to exploring research opportunities that will help deepen her knowledge in this area. One of the things she loves about being a part of the SOAR team is contributing to meaningful research, while developing practical skills in a collaborative environment. Julie is excited to apply her knowledge and enthusiasm to research initiatives aimed at preventing and managing injuries that could have a great impact on individuals’ quality of life.

Nicholas Lanchester

Nic is a 4^th year Kinesiology student in the Neuromechanical and Physiological Sciences stream. He is interested in biomechanics and optimizing movement, with a goal to become a physical therapist. One of the main reasons he likes SOAR is the focus on preventing the long-term consequences of ACL reconstructions. Nic tore his ACL, which motivates him to explore ways to improve outcomes for others facing similar challenges.

Annie Li

Annie is a 4th year student studying Kinesiology. She is very 
interested in musculoskeletal injuries and pulmonary physiology. Her goal is to work as a physiotherapist in the future. She enjoys being part of the SOAR research team, because everyone in the lab is super friendly and enthusiastic about contributing to the study.

Kyra McKinnon

Kyra is a third year Kinesiology student in the Neuromechanical and Physiological Sciences stream. She is passionate about the fields of rehabilitation and sports psychology, with a focus on helping individuals recover from sports injuries and reintegrate into active, healthy lives. Additionally, she is interested in understanding the psychological and community aspects of sports, aiming to foster supportive environments that promote both mental and physical well-being. She hopes to further this work as a Clinician-Scientist. One of the main reasons she loves SOAR is that, as a Lead RA, she is able to experience all of the aspects of research, especially research that tackles a real-world, prevalent issue in sports injuries. She loves being part of something so impactful to the sporting community.

Samantha Nix

Samantha is in her fourth year of kinesiology, hoping to pursue a career in physiotherapy. She loves how supportive everyone is on the SOAR team, and as someone who has also torn their ACL, finds it interesting to be involved in related research and meet others who have had similar experiences.

Ahanaa Puri

Ahanaa is a fifth year Kinesiology student whose research interests revolve around sports injuries and return to play. Currently a student trainer with UBC Men’s Rugby, Ahanaa is working toward a career in sports physiotherapy. Her favourite aspects of the SOAR lab are the great team environment and being in on a study that works with a range of different people.