Name: Megan MacGillivary
Program: Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)
Graduated: May 2019
Dissertation: Effects of motor-skill based wheelchair propulsion training on biomechanics, gross mechanical efficiency, and variability in older adults
How would you describe your research project in the UBC Rehabilitation Sciences program?
My PhD research examined the importance of wheelchair propulsion training for older adults. I explored the impact of a wheelchair propulsion training intervention using a three-armed randomized controlled trial- with a wheelchair propulsion training group, a time-matched practice group, and a control group. The intervention group improved their wheeling biomechanics relative to the two other groups, which highlighted that wheelchair propulsion practice may be insufficient on its own for older adults to improve wheeling biomechanics. In other words, training may be necessary to improve wheeling biomechanics among inexperienced older adult wheelchair users.
Where and what is your current position?
I am a tenure track faculty member in the Interdisciplinary Health Program at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I love camping and hiking (I miss the BC mountains). Most of my free time is spent with my two-year-old and four-year-old daughters (Autumn and Cedar).
Congratulations Megan on being our featured Alumni of the Month for September!