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

Linda K. Truong BScKIN, MPT, PhD Candidate

Linda is originally from Edmonton, Alberta, and moved to Vancouver to complete her PhD in Rehabilitation Science under the supervision of Dr. Jackie Whittaker at the University of British Columbia. Her passion for her work comes from being a physical therapist with more than 10 years of clinical experience working with patients with traumatic knee injuries.

Linda’s research focuses on understanding the role of social support after a traumatic knee injury. The goals of her research will be centered on identifying and integrating social support to interventions aimed at delaying osteoarthritis risk after a knee injury. This research will provide both researchers and clinicians with strategies to leverage social support in clinical interventions and practice.

Publications

ORCID

Twitter

Justin M. Losciale DPT, PhD Candidate

Justin Losciale is a PhD student in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of British Columbia and a research trainee at Arthritis Research Canada in Vancouver. Justin holds a PhD Salary Award from the Arthritis Society (2021-2024), the UBC Four-Year Fellowship (2022-2026), and his training has been further supported by the UBC Rehabilitation Sciences Alumni Jane Hudson Scholarship (2020) and the Arthritis Society Vancouver Branch Scholarship (2021). Justin’s research program focuses on applying an epidemiologic lens to understand the consequences of sport-related knee joint injuries and how these consequences may lead to poor future knee health and higher knee osteoarthritis risk. Justin’s research is informed by his clinical practice as a licensed physiotherapist and board-certified specialist in sports physical therapy (USA).

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.

Christopher Lamb BKin, MScPT

Chris completed his undergraduate degree (Kinesiology) from the University of Victoria in 2003, and Master of Physical Therapy from the University of Western Ontario in 2006. Chris worked as a physiotherapists in private practice settings from 2006-2023, initially in sports therapy, and then gradually shifting towards treating people (including athletes) with more complex/chronic orthopedic conditions. In 2023, he started his thesis-based Masters of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of British Columbia, under the supervision of Dr. Jackie Whittaker and Dr. Lara Boyd. Chris’ research will focus on merging orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation – specifically focussing on maladaptive sensory/motor neuroplastic changes associated with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. He hopes these findings better direct exercise rehabilitation strategies in this population.