On Wednesday May 21, 2025, the Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences (RHSC) were proud to usher across the graduating stage four students receiving their Master of Science degrees and three candidates receiving their doctorates, with one graduate receiving their Doctorate in absentia.
The Program is particularly proud to congratulate its first Indigenous students in completing their Master’s degrees! This significant milestone marks an important step forward in our ongoing commitment to equity, inclusion, and representation in health sciences education. Keyara Brody and Makenzie McCallum are welcome to take part in the Indigenous Graduation Celebration this coming Saturday May 24. Watch the live stream of the ceremony here: Indigenous Graduation Celebration Spring 2025 – First Nations House of Learning
While some of our talented graduates go on to careers in academia starting their first post-doctoral fellow positions, others are entering positions in government or industry, and others are pursuing medical degrees with the goal of becoming physicians.
We wish all our graduates continued success in their future careers!
The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science
- Anne-Cécile Delaisse‘s dissertation entitled “Highly Skilled Vietnamese Migrants’ Transnational Occupations, Belongings, and Mobilities: A Cross-National Comparative Ethnography in France and Canada” explored the experiences of highly skilled Vietnamese migrants in France, Canada, and upon returning to Vietnam, focusing on the interplay between their daily life activities, their sense of belonging and their movements across different countries.
Supervisor: Associate Professor, Suzanne Huot - Xiaoxu Ding‘s dissertation entitled “Understanding the Use of Mobile Health (mHealth) to Increase Mental Health Care Service Access for Youth” generates new knowledge that provides evidence to support youth mHealth best practices, standards, and health policies in Canada and beyond.
Supervisor: Associate Professor, Skye Barbic -
Justin Losciale (not pictured) completed his dissertation entitled “Lost but not forgotten. An investigation of muscle performance after sport-related knee injuries.” This dissertation examines persistent deficits in knee muscle strength and power following various knee injuries, exploring their mechanisms, impact on leg-related function, and highlighting that improving function may require more than restoring muscle performance alone.
Supervisor: Associate Professor, Jackie Whittaker -
Kip Squier’s dissertation entitled “Stretching boundaries: Local and systemic influences on tendon function” enhances understanding of tendon health by explaining the impact of several local and systemic factors on tendon mechanics and composition. The findings open new avenues for research – particularly in addressing the tendon alterations in hypercholesterolemia patients that have more severe signs of the disorder, where physical rehabilitation protocols could play a role.
Supervisor: Professor Alex Scott
The Degree of Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science
- Keyara Brody studied under the supervision of Associate Professor Skye Barbic, completing a thesis entitled “Reclaiming Sḵwálwen: Urban Indigenous Young People Bridge Wellness, Land and Urban Life”
- Victoria Cirone studied under the supervision of Professor Teresa Liu-Ambrose, completing a thesis entitled “Feasibility of High-Intensity Interval Training in Perimenopause to Promote Cognitive Function and Brain Health”
- Makenzie McCallum studied under the supervision of Associate Professor Naznin Virji-Babul, completing a thesis entitled “Concussion Knowledge and Awareness among Indigenous Ice Hockey Players”
- Olatioluwase Olatona studied under the supervision of Professor Ben Mortenson, completing a thesis entitled “Understanding the lived experiences of people with disabilities who use taxi and rideshare services”
To read the above theses, visit: Home | cIRcle UBC
