What's New in Health Sciences by University of the Fraser Valley

WHAT'S NEW IN HEALTH SCIENCES? 2020/21

Through excellence in teaching, experiential learning, scholarship, and engagement, we prepare the next generation of leaders who strive to foster health and wellness for individuals and communities. Our vision is to be a worldwide leader in health and wellness undergraduate education.

Our Vision

Table of Contents 4

Program Quick Facts

Resources for an Online Semester

Dean's Message

Faculty Research & Projects

Antiracism Statement

Fitness & COVID-19

Director's Message: School of Health Studies

Training the next health science professionals

Director's Message: School of Kinesiology

Antiracism Reading List

Teaching Excellence: Dr. Joanna Sheppard

Connect on Social Media

Quick Facts

Message from the Dean Éy swáyel. Éy kw'as emi elép. Good day. It's good that you are here. Welcome to the Faculty of Health Sciences, where our programs prepare graduates for careers as professionals in the field of health and wellness. Most of our courses are offered at the beautiful Chilliwack campus at Canada Education Park, on the traditional and unceded territory of the Stó:lō people. Our faculty are dedicated educators and scholars, who engage in the latest methods of curriculum delivery and provide innovative hands-on experiences in our small class sizes. Through our School of Health Studies and our new School of Kinesiology, we offer degree programs in nursing and kinesiology, a diploma in practical nursing, and certificates in certified dental assistant and health care assistant programs. Our programs and courses are founded in scientific research, are rich in experiential learning, and offer clinical and practicum training opportunities. Our graduates are highly employable professionals who enjoy careers such as nurses, certified dental assistants, kinesiologists, and health care assistants. Many of our graduates go on to further specialized education leading to careers in medicine, research, nursing specialities, occupational therapy, education, physiotherapy, or chiropractic. Explore our programs, come for a site visit, come and begin your career with us! Dr. Alastair Hodges Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences

The Importance of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion. UFV and the Faculty of Health Sciences strongly condemns any and all forms of racism. We recognize that racism occurs in Canada and emphasize that it will not be tolerated at UFV. In Health Sciences, we know that we need to continue to be better educated and develop a deeper understanding with respect to the principles and practices of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Health Sciences is committed to providing accessible, usable, discrimination-free, and welcoming spaces for all people. This is demonstrated in the ways in which we work and learn together, including becoming knowledgeable and fighting against racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, able-ism, and discrimination. It is the responsibility of each of us to continually educate ourselves and to self-reflect about how we can all better understand the complex issues that impact diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Read the full statement from UFV President Dr. Joanne Maclean on the President's Blog.

Report the incident to your Dean, Dr. Alastair Hodges, or your Directors, Cindy Schultz and Dr. Jason Brandenburg.

Report the incident via UFV's Safe Student Community form

Reach out to the Health Sciences BIPOC student-led group through Gaganpreet Malay at gaganpreet.malay@student.ufv.ca

Reach out to UFV's Race and Anti-Racism Network (RAN) on Facebook or Twitter at @ufvran

Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree Practical Nursing diploma Health Care Assistant certificate Certified Dental Assistant certificate

Director's Message Cindy Schultz We are here to help you. Éy swáyel. Whether you are a new or returning student in the School of Health Studies, we are excited to welcome you back to UFV for the Fall 2020 semester. We gratefully acknowledge that UFV is situated on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Stó:lō people and we feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work, learn, and play in such a beautiful place. As a UFV Alumna myself, I remember all too well my own first day of classes and the excitement that accompanied that. I also recognize that along with that excitement can come nervousness as you adjust to life at university. For all of us this semester, there will be new challenges we face together as we continue to navigate the world of remote learning during times of a Pandemic. We pride ourselves on providing students with high-quality education across all of our programs, regardless of the format the courses are offered in. I would like to reassure you that faculty have been working diligently to ensure your learning environment remains positive and engaging. We are here to help you.

We recognize that, for some, online learning can be scary. However, it does not have to be. If you find yourself challenged or feeling overwhelmed, UFV has excellent counselling services available to students. We highly encourage students to access these services by contacting Student Services at 604-854-4528 and ask to set up a counseling appointment. We also encourage you to stay connected and supported with faculty, family, and friends. For many of you, the return to class also means the return to the clinical setting. We know this can lead to feelings of uncertainty given the challenges that come in light of COVID-19. I would like to reassure students that their safety is of our utmost importance. We have been working with the Health Authority to ensure students will have access toÂ appropriate PPE, and we have put guidelines in place to ensure your safety when returning to campus for labs and/or class activities. These protocols have been sent to students and we will ensure they are reviewed when classes resume.

I would also like to take this opportunity to address and acknowledge that racism of any form is hurtful and leads people to feel lonely, angry, sad and excluded. Especially now, in light of current events and the systematic racism rooted in our society, people may detach due to the prejudice and bias they experience. As the Director of the School of Health Studies, I recognize the role I play in ensuring students, staff and faculty feel supported in a non-biased and non-judgemental manner. I promise to work with Indigenous, Black and people of color to ensure we all have a better understanding of the challenges faced. I will help to amplify BIPOC voices and make sure their needs are listened to and met. I will connect with the people in UFV and advocate for change in curriculum, policies, and guidelines to ensure that everyone feels supported and welcome. As part of the Faculty of Health Sciences, the School of Health Studies values excellence, collaboration, professionalism, and respect. These values do not change in the face of a global pandemic or racism. We are in this together, and I am once again pleased to welcome you back to UFV for the Fall 2020 semester. Cindy Schultz Director, School of Health Studies

Bachelor of Kinesiology degree

Director's Message Jason Brandenburg We are proud to be a part of your journey. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the School of Kinesiology for the 2020-21 academic year. Whether it will be your first semester at UFV or your last, I imagine the fall 2020 semester is not what you envisioned. While the path ahead is likely to include some uncertainty and unexpected challenges, the members of the School of Kinesiology are dedicated to delivering high-quality, meaningful education that prioritizes the student experience and provides opportunities to connect, reflect, and explore. While we may not be able to all meet on campus, please be reassured that faculty have been working carefully and collectively to ensure your learning environment remains positive, supportive, inclusive, and engaging. In light of these extraordinary times, I sincerely believe the value of professionals with the ability to understand and apply the knowledge of the kinesiology-related disciplines to health could not be more important. We, in the School of Kinesiology, are proud to be a part of your journey down this path and a play a role in your preparation as future leaders in Kinesiology. I wish you all the best during the 2020-21 academic year. Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay active. Jason Brandenburg Director, School of Kinesiology

I want my students to know that they are more than just a number. Dr. Joanna Sheppard

Teaching Excellence Student-centered, community-focused approach brings results for Dr. Joanna Sheppard by Anne Russell The world is a classroom for Joanna Sheppard. From September to April, she teaches kinesiology at UFV, utilizing classrooms, gyms, fields, and hallways as sites for instruction. It’s not unusual to see her students setting up PE style games on the greenspace on campus, or walking to the nearby gym carrying hula hoops. Then every spring she brings 35 UFV kinesiology and education students to Antigua for an intensive four-week experiential learning opportunity that places students in elementary schools to provide life skills enhancement to schoolchildren through health and physical education activities. (This year’s trip was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19.) This dedication to teaching has led to Sheppard being named the recipient of the UFV Teaching Excellence award for 2020. “I believe in approaching teaching with responsible enthusiasm. I embrace allowing

my personality to show in my lectures and interactions with students so that they see me as a whole person, and I encourage them to do the same in their practice, balanced with professionalism. “I share this part of me to create an environment of trust, commitment and passion. I want my students to know that they are more than just a number. They each have their own story, their own journey and the time we spend together is important not only professionally but personally.” At the core of her practice is her dedication to helping her students develop as people as well as professionals, and to then take that legacy into their own careers. “I come to the practice of teaching with a philosophy of care and compassion,” Sheppard notes. “I want to help my students be the best student they can be, to really push their practice, utilize the information they’re absorbing, and then take it and apply it in the community.”

UFV has an incredibly welcoming online community where you will find strength from faculty, staff, and resources to support and guide you through your challenges and help build your confidence towards your academic goals.

Resources for an online semester

Many new tools have been developed for you to help you on your road to success, and these can be found in your Online Toolkit. Here, you can find resources that include IT help, video tutorials, a digital library, and even helpful tips for studying for an online course.

The fall semester might be different this year, but we've got you covered. This will be a year unlike any you've experienced.

Visit ufv.ca/online 18

You also have access to a great Connected University Experience. As we transition to an online semester, all campus and student services remain available either virtually or in-person with physical distancing measures in place. For information about campus safety, you can review the Eight steps UFV is taking to keep you safe on campus.

Not sure where to start? Get in touch with a student support coordinator at the Student Support Centre. They'll answer questions about UFV, connect you to what you need, and help assist you in reaching your academic and personal goals.

Your online experience can be as enriching — if not more — than the traditional campus life!

Research & Projects

DR. JASON BRANDENBURG

DR. SHELLEY CANNING

Director, School of Kinesiology

Associate Professor, Nursing

Jason's current research is focused on the influence of short-term blueberry supplementation on cycling performance.

As a nurse-researcher, Shelley is interested in addressing issues related to ageism and dementia-ism. Her goal is to improve the ways we understand and care for older adults, particularly those with advanced dementia.

He has been working with Dr. Luisa Giles to measure the effects of blueberry supplementation protocols on running performance, physiological responses, and shortterm recovery. In 2019, Jason and Luisa published an article outlining the results of their early study. Now, they are working on another blueberry supplementation project, although they are currently on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"My research projects have examined attitudes about ageing and dementia, and explored how arts-based interventions can provide opportunities for meaningful engagement for people living with dementia. My research has involved community engagement with local long-term care nursing homes, elementary schools, and dance programs," she explains. Shelley is also a member of UFV's Centre for Education and Research on Ageing as well as the Community Health and Social Innovation Hub.

PAM CAUSTON

DR. LAUREN COUTURE

Associate Professor, Nursing

Associate Professor, Kinesiology

Pam has recently been part of a study with Lee-Anne Stephen and Dawna Williams about interprofessional education and virtual reality experiences.

For the Fall 2020 semester, Lauren is excited to have had the opportunity to offer a Condensed University Block Experience (CUBE) course.

Over the last few years, the trio has beresearching whether virtual simulations support interprofessional competencies between students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Practical Nursing, and Health Care Assistant programs. Pam says, "It was a privilege to watch the students open up and respect each other as colleagues. The entire process was extremely fulfilling." The team says this is just the beginning of their research in this area.

From August 31 to September 11, Lauren is teaching KIN 499G: Special Topics in Kinesiology â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Advanced Leadership and Coaching. This is the same course content and workload of a regular 13-week course, but condensed into 12 days. "It's been overwhelmingly positive," she says. "It's really rewarding for all of the students." Each day of the course is the equivalent of a week during a regular semester. Ultimately, Lauren says that the CUBE course can lead to a better home and work balance for later in the year, although it is a lot of work and time right upfront.

DR. LUISA GILES

DR. DAVID HARPER

Assistant Professor, Kinesiology

Associate Professor, Kinesiology

Luisa'sÂ primary area of research is focused on air pollution, health, and exercise. One of her recent projects is looking into wildfires, physical activity, and mental health. She notes that this project is currently on hold due to COVID-19.

David's current research is part of a three-year program to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of ketogenic diets for women with metastatic breast cancer. He works with Dr. Gerald Krystal at the BC Cancer Research Centre where they conduct studies on the immunohistochemistry of the enrolled participants from samples of their blood.

"This is a collaboration that I am leading between myself, Dr. Jason Brandenburg, Dr. Cynthia Thomson and Dr. Iris Lesser. In this project, we are asking those who live in communities where the air quality has been affected by wildfires to fill out an online questionnaire related to how much physical activity they are undertaking, as well as their current well-being related to mental health. We will then have participants fill out another questionnaire when the air quality has returned to normal and compare the two time points."

"Our lab is collaborating with colleagues at The Ohio State University where the patients are located. The results so far are very encouraging and should be made public later this year or early next year," David says. Recently, David has also published a book, BioDiet, which has been a regular on the global best-sellers list.

DR. GILLIAN HATFIELD

BETHANY JEAL

Assistant Professor, Kinesiology

Associate Professor, Nursing

Gillian's overall research focus is on muscle activity, and how it changes in clinical populations.

One of Bethany's favourite classroom activities is a poverty simulation she does with her students to demonstrate how a person's income affects their lives and access to health care services.

Elaborating, she says, "I use wireless sensors that stick on the skin and are able to measure how active your muscles are. My two current studies in this area look at muscle activity in people with a history of low back pain, and in people with knee osteoarthritis," In the first study, Gillian is looking at the effect of an 8-week exercise program on abdominal and low back muscle strength, endurance, and activation patterns.

In the second study, she is looking at knee muscle activity during walking, and whether the patterns we see in people with knee osteoarthritis are related to poor balance and/or knee instability.

During this activity, Bethany sends her students on a scavenger hunt with different amounts of money, ranging from $0 to $40, to complete the tasks.Â "My hope is that this is a humbling experience that will encourage a sense of empathy and understanding that will be carried forward in our nursing careers, and influence us to provide care that is non-judgmental and relevant to the patient's actual needs," she says, "It helps us to understand the barriers they face. Especially barriers to selfcare, or to accessing health care services."

DR. IRIS LESSER

DR. JOANNA SHEPPARD

Assistant Professor, Kinesiology

Associate Professor, Kinesiology

Iris' recent research has been focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and how physical activity impacts a person's mental health during quarantine. She has been working on this study with Dr. Carl Neinhuis.

In her research, Joanna works alongside her colleagues in the elementary and secondary physical education environment. She provides practical models, tools, and assessment ideas while studying the significant impacts these environments can have for students.

"Outdoor physical activity was shown to have beneficial effects on mental health and generalized anxiety of Canadians during the phase one lockdown," she says. The study also showed that those who were less active in the early weeks of social isolation reported less enjoyment of life. "As we move into a challenging fall, I strongly encourage everyone to take time to engage in physical activity in a natural setting to improve quality of life and combat the mental duress caused by the pandemic."

Last fall, along with Dr. Lauren Couture, Joanna launched the Physical Literacy Action Network (PLAN). PLAN brings students into local elementary schools to teach them fundamental movement skills early in their development. "Physical Literacy is a journey for each of us. We must be motivated, confident and physically competent to want to be physically active." PLAN is an in-demand program that continues to grow to this day.

SHELLIE STEIDLE

LEE-ANNE STEPHEN

Associate Professor, Nursing

Shellie has recently won an Innovation in Education grant where she and her colleagues will be working on developing virtual simulations for students. Using a special software program, the students will be presented with virtual scenarios and move through a series of questions as the simulation progresses. The scenes will be shot using a first-person perspective so the student will feel part of the scenario. Keeping with her instructional focus, her specialty within this project will be focused on ethical scenarios in nursing practice.

Lee-Anne has recently been the project lead for a study with Pam Causton and Dawna Williams about interprofessional education and virtual reality experiences.

"I use the analogy of a 'tool belt'. I help students fill their 'ethical tool belt' with a number of different theories and perspectives, recognizing that sometimes you need more than one tool for the job, and not every job requires the same tools" she says.

"This was our first time delving into virtual simulations," she says. "It will be a great tool to help break down some of the learning barriers both during remote learning and in the future."

Over the last few years, the trio has been researching whether virtual simulations support interprofessional competencies between students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Practical Nursing, and Health Care Assistant programs. Lee-Anne, specifically, took charge as the project manager and facilitator for the study.

DAWNA WILLIAMS PN/HCA Program Coordinator Associate Professor, Nursing Dawna has recently been part of a study with Pam Causton and LeeAnne Stephen about interprofessional education and virtual reality experiences. Over the last few years, the trio researching whether virtual simulations support interprofessional competencies between students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Practical Nursing, and Health Care Assistant programs. "My favourite part of the process was the hands-on aspect and the collaboration. I loved watching the students interact with their counterparts in other disciplines," she says. Dawna was also able to put her acting skills to the test as the voice of the mannequin for the simulation. The team says this is just the beginning of their research.

Physical fitness & COVID-19 Does physical fitness influence COVID-19 symptom severity, symptom duration, and complications? by Anne Russell

Does physical fitness influence COVID-19 symptom severity, symptom duration, and complications?

symptoms, severity of symptoms, and any complications associated with having the COVID-19 virus.”

Our research team wants to find out. And they need the cooperation, via an online survey, of people who have had COVID-19.

The research team is looking for individuals who have been infected with the COVID-19 virus (as indicated by a positive test for COVID-19) to complete an online questionnaire.

Dr. Jason Brandenburg, an exercise physiology researcher, is leading a team of researchers from the Faculty of Health Sciences at UFV for this study, including colleagues Dr. Iris Lesser, Dr. Cynthia Thomson, and Dr. Luisa Giles. “Regular exercise is associated with lowering chronic inflammation,” Brandenburg notes. “The main objective of our project is to understand if fitness level influences the number of symptoms, duration of

It will take approximately 30 minutes to complete the online questionnaire, which can be found at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/fit nessandcovid. If you have any questions or concerns contact Dr. Jason Brandenburg at Jason.brandenburg@ufv.ca

Read the full story on the UFV blog. 29

Training the next generation of health science professionals In June, as part of our virtual Convocation celebrations, we celebrated Navdeep Rai as the 2020 award recipient of the Dean's Medal of Excellence. Navdeep graduated with a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree with an exceptional GPA of 4.25Â â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the highest GPA of any Dean's Medal recipient in the history of Health Sciences!

Navi stands out for her exceptional academic abilities and her extreme involvement outside the classroom in research, student life, and the greater UFV community. Later this summer, we were able to highlight three more of our past Dean's Medal award recipients, Jessica Walesch (2016), Brittany Eckstein (2017), and Mia Harries (2018). Proving the diverse opportunities in her field, Jessica told us, "After UFV, I felt like there was a world of possibilities that awaited me. I found a few solid positions in Kinesiology to help me explore the branching opportunities that come from such a vast field of practice. I fell in love with not only teaching movement therapy, but also performing fascial stretch therapy." Another option after graduation is continuing your education and persuing graduate studies, as Brittany reminds us. "For the last two years, I've been studying at the University of Alberta for my masters, which I'll be completing this year. After graduating, I'm open to starting in different areas, but the end goal is to be a pediatric occupational therapist." Likewise, Mia is currently studying medicine at UBC. She says, "A combination of getting my degree and seeing health care delivery in rural communities across Canada led to my interest in practicing medicine in a multidisciplinary and holistic way. I am excited to return to my hometown of Chilliwack for my 3rd year hospital rotations. My goal is to learn as much as possible from patients and preceptors!"

See more from these alumni on our Facebook page.

Antiracism reading list Want to learn more about antiracism? Check out some of these great books: The Next Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander One Person, No Vote by Carol Anderson The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates Tears We Cannot Stop by Michael Eric Dyson Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi Heavy by Kiese Laymon So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo Breathe: A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad Assata by Assata Shakur My Vanishing Country by Bakari Sellers The Fire This Time by Jesmyn Ward

List curated by The Good Trade. For more Antiracism titles, see our Instagram page.

@ufvhealth Stay in Touch

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