Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
ALUMNI INSIDER Vol. 4, No. 1, Spring 2019
Colombian student heads home to help kids PLUS
+ Anita Robertson’s legacy to support Nursing students + Brock partnership improves care at Hotel Dieu
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Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
RE-IMAGINING HEALTH SYMPOSIUM
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October 16-17, 2019 | Brock University
Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
A collaborative and catalyzing event that will bring together health-focused researchers, practitioners, educators, health industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss the future of health care. brocku.ca/reimagininghealth Hosted by: Brock University, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Sponsored by:
Community partners:
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FEATURES
DEAN’S MESSAGE
Faculty News page 4
SPMA alumna featured on Cottage Life Network page 7
Student making a difference in Colombia page 8
School start times impact teens’ sleep page 10
Improving care at Hotel Dieu Shaver page 12
Enhancing accessibility in martial arts page 14
Robertson legacy to support Nursing students
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n this seventh edition of the Alumni Insider, we are highlighting how our partnerships, faculty and student research are making contributions to the health and wellbeing of individuals and institutions in Niagara and beyond. We have several exciting announcements, from new programs to the introduction of innovative new technology that will enable our students to experience education in practical and interesting ways. Our acquisition of sophisticated state-of-the-art anatomy teaching equipment, which you’ll read about on page 4, was made possible thanks to the leadership and initiative of Kinesiology student James John Hall, the hard work of the Kinesiology Student Council and the generosity of the Brock University Students’ Union. The new Anatomage Table will enhance the practical education of Kinesiology and Health Sciences students for years to come. This type of gift to the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences by undergraduate students is unprecedented and sets a standard that I hope future students and alumni will try to emulate.
– Peter Tiidus Dean, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
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ALUMNI INSIDER brocku.ca/applied-health-sciences EDITOR: Colleen Patterson COPY EDITOR: Maryanne Firth DESIGN AND LAYOUT: Coderre Design CONTRIBUTORS: Colleen Patterson, Cathy Majtenyi and Doug Hunt Special thanks to: Lakefront Luxury, Architect Films, Solidaridad en Marcha – Medellin Colombia
We welcome your input. Send letters to the editor, articles or ideas to FAHSComms@brocku.ca Send correspondence to: Alumni Insider FAHS Marketing and Communications STH 434, Brock University 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1 For advertising inquires, call 905 688 5550 x5342 Alumni Insider
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FACULTY NEWS Niagara Recycling honoured for ongoing Brock partnership
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Niagara Recycling was celebrated in April for being an ongoing community partner of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. From left, Brock University President Gervan Fearon; Brock Experiential Education Co-ordinator, Inclusive and Adaptive Physical Activity Elyse Lappano (BPhEd ’11, MA ’13); Niagara Recycling Chief Executive Officer Norman Kraft (BA ’90); Niagara Recycling Board Chair Albert Murphy (BSc ’75, Med ’79); Brock Kinesiology Professor Maureen Connolly; and FAHS Dean Peter Tiidus.
he help of Niagara Recycling has allowed Brock’s adaptive programming, which supports youths in the region with special needs, to thrive over the past two decades. Brock’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences (FAHS) honoured the organization in April for its ongoing commitment to the University. Each year, FAHS highlights one long-standing community and research partner for their outstanding contributions, exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to experiential education and research within the Faculty. As this year’s recipient, Niagara Recycling was recognized at the 2019 Community Partners Appreciation Reception held April 16 at the Meridian Community Centre in Pelham. “Some of our partners collaborate with us on research and others provide on-site training opportunities in their workplaces through internships and clinical placements,” says Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Dean Peter Tiidus. “Other partners facilitate learning through financial contributions and support that enable ongoing and significant growth within our Faculty. This is true of Niagara Recycling.” In their capacity as a community partner, Niagara Recycling has been working with Brock University since 1997 and has donated almost $440,000 in financial commitments to disability programming in FAHS over the past 15 years.
Students to get hands-on experience with high-tech Anatomage Table
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tarting in September, Brock students will have access to the most technologically advanced visualization system for anatomy education on the market thanks to the efforts of Kinesiology student James John Hall. Hall envisioned Brock as the first comprehensive university in Canada to have an Anatomage Table for undergraduate anatomy classes and worked for more than two years to raise awareness and the funds needed to be able to give his fellow classmates the table. “While other universities have the tables for their medical schools, the overall goal was to raise funds for a piece of technology that could set Brock ahead in terms of high-quality anatomy and experiential education,” Hall says. Now, thanks to a generous donation from the Brock University Students’ Union and matching funds from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, the learning environment for students will be enhanced. In the 2019-20 academic year, more than 500 Applied Health Sciences undergraduate students in first and second year will benefit from this technology valued at more than $100,000.
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From left, Kinesiology Associate Professor Nicole Chimera, Health Sciences Assistant Professor Rebecca MacPherson and Kinesiology Instructor Joe Kenny learn the teaching modules on the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences’ new Anatomage Table.
FACULTY NEWS FAHS researchers demystifying dementia
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Brock University hosted its Demystifying Dementia panel on Jan. 31.
uring January’s Demystifying Dementia panel, Brock researchers aimed to raise awareness of the increasing prevalence of dementia in Niagara and the many agencies and partners across the region that have taken on the roles of education, prevention, intervention and research targeting memory-related issues. Co-hosted by Brock University’s Centre for Lifespan Development Research and the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, the event saw Lynn McCleary, Associate Professor of Nursing, explain what dementia is, why we shouldn’t assume that it is a normal part of aging, and how, through education, stigmas may be broken down. “I hope this panel created a platform for people to be able to talk with each other about their symptoms and how to have a good life with dementia,” McCleary says. “Unfortunately, many are afraid to tell someone they are having difficulty. We hope to shift this perspective.” McCleary and Recreation and Leisure Studies Associate Professor Colleen Whyte joined panelists Naomi O’Brien, Respite Services Manager with Niagara Region’s Community Programs for Seniors; and Jessica Pace, Education Co-ordinator with the Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region in providing an overview of recent and ongoing Brock research, as well as resources available in Niagara.
Concurrent MBA MPH degree program a first in Canada
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tarting this fall, Brock University is launching Canada’s first Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Public Health (MPH) concurrent degree program. Offered through the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and the Goodman School of Business, the two-year program will help develop tomorrow’s health leaders, providing students with a strong foundation in both management and public health. “The MBA MPH blends the best of business and public health education,” says Goodman Dean Andrew Gaudes. “The need for public health officials to have solid business backgrounds is becoming more and more important, and Brock is looking to fill that gap with this program that is
relevant to today’s health administration environment.” During the first year of the program, students will be on campus taking core MBA courses. For the second year, students will take MPH courses delivered online and participate in a mandatory six-month internship offered through the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. “Brock’s MPH and MBA graduate programs are both internationally recognized,” says Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Dean Peter Tiidus. “Both programs overlap in extremely relevant and timely ways. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to launch Canada’s first concurrent MBA and MPH degree program means we can offer a wellrounded approach to learning about public health administration.”
Peter Tiidus, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, and Andrew Gaudes, Goodman School of Business Dean, are pleased to announce the launch of Canada’s first concurrent MBA MPH program.
Alumni Insider
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FACULTY NEWS Sport Management prof gearing up for 2021 Canada Summer Games
Wray Maracle, a member of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council, passed away on March 20. Brock University President Gervan Fearon and Julie Stevens, Special Advisor to the President, Canada Games.
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s soon as she was appointed Brock’s Special Advisor to the President for the Canada Games, Julie Stevens hit the ground running. Since her July 2018 appointment, the Sport Management Associate Professor, whose PhD is in sport and business, has been maximizing the partnership between the Games and Brock University, as well as exploring opportunities for teaching and experiential education, research and community engagement related to the country’s largest multi-sport event. With nearly 20 years of Brock experience and significant Canada Games research, Stevens is eagerly working towards helping faculty, staff and students create connections to the Games. “I’m very familiar with the Games program, its history in Canada and its footprint in different communities,” Stevens says. “I’m excited — for Niagara and for Brock — about what it will mean to have the Games in the region.” In addition to offering support to the Niagara 2021 Canada Summer Games Host Committee, the activities Stevens co-ordinates will provide an academic legacy for Brock. “The Games, as a sport and culture event, connects to all Faculties and programs at the University,” Stevens says. “We will leverage the Games to introduce innovative practices in teaching and experiential education, transdisciplinary and collaborative research that spans the campus, and inventive strategies to connect volunteer opportunities to student career development and work readiness.”
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FAHS mourns loss of prominent Sport Management alumnus
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he Faculty of Applied Health Sciences (FAHS) is mourning the passing of prominent alumnus and Dean’s Alumni Council member Wray Maracle. The well-known leader at Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and in sport throughout Ontario died March 20 after a battle with cancer. FAHS Dean Peter Tiidus called Maracle, a 2007 Sport Management grad, “a valuable member of my Alumni Council whose presence and knowledge will sadly be missed.” Tiidus said Maracle provided advice on making Brock a more accessible destination for First Nations students considering postsecondary education, and served as an advisor to more than 50 Brock students who volunteered in the 2017 North American Indigenous Games as part of the Major Games Field Course. Coming to Brock’s Sport Management program as a mature student, he had an impact on faculty and colleagues, said Sport Management Associate Professor Laura Cousens, who taught Maracle. “In my mind, he was doing sport for development long before it became fashionable.” Well-known in the lacrosse world, he was the first Indigenous sportswriter to win the Ontario Lacrosse Association award for exceptional support to the sport. “He worked hard and talked about making the world a better place,” said Sport Management Associate Professor Cheryl Mallen, “which I believe he did for those he served and worked with. He will be missed.”
Brock Sport Management alumna Anna Oliver was featured on the April 11 episode of Lakefront Luxury on the Cottage Life Network.
SPMA alumna featured on Cottage Life Network By COLLEEN PATTERSON
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Brock University alumna has found her way to the small screen. It continues what has been a fascinating career path for Sport Management (SPMA) grad Anna Oliver (BSM ’02). After a Brock SPMA internship at Spruce Meadows, an equestrian centre in Calgary, Oliver was hired to co-ordinate sports for the Canadian Forces stationed in Bosnia. More recently, working in her new career in real estate, Oliver was seen showing properties to prospective home buyers in an episode of Lakefront Luxury on the Cottage Life Network that aired on Thursday, April 11. “People are always curious to learn how a Sport Management grad, who’s worked in a war-torn country, ended up in real estate in Toronto,” Oliver says. “It’s the career that was right for me, and honestly, while the skills learned in Brock’s sport logistics and event planning classes are completely transferrable, it was the entrepreneurship courses that really sparked the idea of being self-employed.”
Oliver, who works for Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, auditioned for a different real estate show a few years ago. While that opportunity didn’t pan out, the network kept her audition tape on file and contacted her about being in a Lakefront Luxury Season 2 episode. “I’ve always had a bit of media interest and it complements my industry really well,” Oliver says. “When the producers contacted me I got really excited.” The episode took Oliver to the Lake Simcoe, Beaverton and Lake Rousseau areas, where she spent three days filming. She called it a “great experience.” Reflecting on her Brock experience and the evolution of her career path, Oliver says her passion for sport has never wavered. “I chose Brock because it was my goal to write the LSAT and go into sport law, but part way through my degree I got sick,” she says. “In the end, I had to make different arrangements for my career.” In the fall of 1999, Oliver was forced to take a medical leave from her degree after
the chicken pox she contracted turned into viral encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. “I remember, I was writing a paper on the impact of unions on professional sports when I first got sick,” Oliver says. “As I recovered, I considered transferring to another university, but everyone at Brock was so supportive that I decided I wanted to cross the stage with the people who were there for me during this difficult time. I never finished that paper, but I am proud to call myself a Badger.” Later that same year, Oliver began basic civilian training at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School located at the Saint-Jean Garrison in Saint-Jean-surRichelieu, Que. “My entire family is in the military, so when my dad sent me a job posting for a six-month sports co-ordinator role, I applied, not knowing he had deleted the location from it,” Oliver recalls. In February 2003, Oliver joined the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry for a tour of post-war Bosnia, where she lived on a military compound of buildings made from converted shipping containers and surrounded by barbed wire. “This job gave me an appreciation for what the Canadian Forces do and the freedoms we, as Canadians, have,” she says. “My role was to use sport to help improve the morale of the soldiers and co-ordinate fundraising initiatives to buy soccer balls for the local children, so they could play together.” Hearing first-hand stories from the Bosnian women and children who survived the trauma of war helped Oliver realize the importance of never taking anything for granted. “Being cut off from the rest of the world was an intense, but life-changing experience that toughened me up for my 16-year career in the realty market,” says Oliver. “While in the military camp, I actually met someone who had attended Brock while I was a student there. This was my first real reminder of the camaraderie and community we as Brock alumni collectively have, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.”
Alumni Insider
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Brock Medical Sciences student Oscar Palacio shows a head lice specimen to children enrolled in his research study in Colombia.
Brock student educates Colombian community about head lice By COLLEEN PATTERSON
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rowing up in a small city in Medellin, Colombia, Oscar Palacio dreamed of becoming a medical doctor. Now a third-year Brock University Medical Sciences student, he is well on his way to achieving his goals, all while giving back to his home country. Palacio’s family moved to Brampton, Ont., when he was 12. Although he has lived in Canada for many years, he has held his roots close and aspired to return to Colombia to make a difference. “In September 2017, after a family trip to Colombia to visit the small towns and villages of my childhood, I returned to Brock with
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renewed enthusiasm to make a contribution to these close-knit communities,” Palacio says. “I reached out to Professor Sanchez, who was one of the first people I met at Brock and asked her for advice on how to address one of the health challenges they were facing — head lice.” Health Sciences Professor Ana Sanchez, who has done extensive research on parasitic diseases in Honduras, suggested Palacio use her existing research model to expand the lice study into areas of Colombia with similar health and economic factors. “One of the main challenges of expanding a research project into a new region is finding a community organization to partner with,” Palacio explains. “Fortunately, I had
participated in Brock’s Solidarity Experiences Abroad program in Ecuador and was able to work with the University’s co-ordinator to connect with their counterpart organization, Solidaridad en Marcha — Medellin Colombia, or Marching with Solidarity.” The organization works in vulnerable communities with families that are headed by women, Palacio explains. “Each community where Solidaridad operates is very organized around this particular group that supports them,” Palacio says. “They operate within the Catholic value system to offer different types of public health and life skills talks and workshops, as well as some food subsidy programs.”
From left, a child from a rural community in Honduras accepts a snack from Brock alumna Shabana Jamani (BSc ’18) while Carol Rodriguez, a Honduran co-researcher looks on. The Honduras study on human head lice, led by Health Sciences Professor Ana Sanchez, served as the research framework for Oscar Palacio’s lice study in Colombia.
Palacio knew from the beginning he wanted his research to be very grassroots and provide a direct benefit to individuals facing socio-economic challenges and barriers. The partnership with Solidaridad en Marcha provided access to a population that is impoverished, exposed to violence, has limited access to education and has challenges accessing clean drinking water. Guided by Sanchez, Palacio’s project aimed to determine the prevalence and intensity of infestations, as well as the perceptions and beliefs about head lice among children and community members. “I wanted Oscar to be able to give back to the community,” Sanchez says. “This meant creating informational materials and resources in Spanish and finding a Canadian pharmaceutical company to donate lice treatment.” After months of preparations and outreach to several Canadian pharmaceutical companies, Palacio was fortunate to be contacted by Dawn Mucci, President and Founder of Barrie-based LiceSquad.com, just a week before his departure to South America. She generously donated 100 treatments for the study’s participants.
“Lack of knowledge led to some parents attempting to treat the lice with potentially harmful chemicals, such as rodenticides, that are toxic to people but do nothing to address lice.” – Oscar Palacio, student researcher
With everything falling into place, Palacio left for Colombia in May 2018 to start inperson meetings with groups that expressed interest in the project. He worked from midJune to the end of July to collect data for the study. Eighty children, ages two to 14, participated in the research, including 52 girls and 28 boys. “Out of 80 participants 61, or more than 75 per cent, had lice,” Palacio says. He reported that while many of the involved parents were aware their children had lice, the lack of treatment and prevention education and resources from
Oscar Palacio conducts an examination for head lice on one of the participants in his study by using a specialized electric lice comb with suction capacity to collect the parasite safely.
the municipal government led to some very concerning findings. “Lack of knowledge led to some parents attempting to treat the lice with potentially harmful chemicals, such as rodenticides, that are toxic to people but do nothing to address lice,” Palacio explains. “The motivations are an honest attempt to get their children back into classes as school policy prevents them from attending if they are infected.” As the project began to show gaps in the local government’s disease prevention efforts and word of the study got out, Palacio was contacted by a local television station for an interview. “This was an important moment for me because I realized that people were listening and understanding the information I was trying to share with them,” he says. Palacio is currently working with Sanchez in Brock’s Infectious Diseases Lab to look at the pathogens of the samples collected from the 80 research participants. A new collaboration between Sanchez’ lab and an Argentinian research institute will investigate whether head lice collected in Colombia and Honduras have developed genetic resistance against chemicals normally used to combat them. Alumni Insider
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Brock-led research shows impact of school start times on teens’ sleep
The COMPASS study found shifts to earlier start times for secondary school were associated with less sleep among the students.
By CATHY MAJTENYI
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elaying high school start times by as little as 10 minutes can increase adolescents’ length of sleep by almost 25 minutes, says new Brock-led research. Similarly, shifts to earlier start times for secondary school were associated with less sleep among the students, says the study, “School start time changes in the COMPASS study: associations with youth sleep duration, physical activity, and screen time.” Lead author, Brock Assistant Professor of Health Sciences Karen Patte, says the results are significant because at least one-third of adolescents don’t get the recommended eight to 10 hours of sleep. “Sleep deficiency increases the risk of various health concerns and risk behaviours, such as substance use, lower academic
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achievement, poor mental health, accidents and injuries, obesity and unhealthy eating habits,” says Patte. Patte and her team examined data on students’ health behaviours and school policies included in the wider COMPASS study.
“Delaying high school start times by as little as 10 minutes can increase adolescents’ length of sleep by almost 25 minutes.” – Karen Patte, Health Sciences Assistant Professor
Headquartered at the University of Waterloo, the nine-year study follows about 70,000 students from Grades 9 to 12 at more than 120 Canadian schools to learn more about youth health behaviours and the effect of programs and policies over time. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Health Canada fund the research. Patte and her team examined data on students attending 49 secondary schools across Ontario. Thirteen start time changes of five to 10 minutes were reported among the group of schools while participating in the study. “We found that students slept an average of 23.7 minutes longer after their school delayed the start time by 10 minutes, whereas changing start times to 10 minutes
earlier was associated with shorter sleep durations,” says Patte. Changes of five minutes either way had no effect on sleep. Patte says there were concerns that adolescents would use the extra time from the later start of school to be on their phones or devices. There were also fears that starting school later would mean less time for extracurricular activities, particularly those involving sports and other physical activities. When the COMPASS researchers compared adolescents’ screen times and physical activity levels with changes in school start times, they found no association. “Results do not support notions that youth will spend more time on their phones or other screens instead of using the extra time afforded to sleep — at least when it comes to minor shifts in start times,” says Patte. Patte explains that during puberty, there’s a shift in the body’s circadian clock so that melatonin is released at a later time, meaning that adolescents get tired later at night.
Department of Health Sciences Assistant Professor Karen Patte is the lead author of the COMPASS study.
The result is that teenagers need extra sleep time in the morning to adjust to this biological change to get sufficient rest, hence the advantage in starting school later, she says. “This study demonstrates how sensitive student sleep is to school schedules and suggests we need to take caution when making changes.”
In addition to delaying school start times, there are several other ways of getting adolescents to get the sleep they need. A comprehensive approach is likely needed, including consistent bedtimes, avoiding caffeine in the evenings, being active during the day, getting natural light and keeping phones outside of the bedroom, says Patte.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Summer Movement Camps VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Aug. 19-23 and 26-30
Training dates: Aug. 18 and Aug. 25 Volunteer to gain practical experience. Volunteer for credit. The ASD Movement Camp provides developmentally appropriate movement programming for our participants. If you are interested in teaching and working with youth and teens in a movement context, this is for you. Learn strategies that are transferable to any teaching profession.
For more information, including credit options, please email elappano@brocku.ca Alumni Insider
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A recent Brock Interprofessional Education for Quality Improvement Program (I-EQUIP) project explored best practices for wound care and prevention within hospitals.
Brock partnership brings improved care to Hotel Dieu Shaver By DOUGLAS HUNT
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hanks to an outward-looking Brock program, Riley Cleverdon is spurring practical change in local health care. Cleverdon recently wrapped the final semester of a two-year health services project within Brock’s Interprofessional Education for Quality Improvement Program (I-EQUIP). The lengthy term has allowed the Burford, Ont., native to research best practices for wound care and prevention within hospitals as well as to explore how new wound care strategies could be effectively implemented at Hotel Dieu Shaver (HDS) Health and Rehabilitation Centre in St. Catharines. “There is a high incidence and prevalence of chronic wounds — including hospitalacquired pressure wounds, venous ulcers and diabetic ulcers — at health-care facilities across the country,” she said. “We want to keep their incidence as low as possible to ensure the best patient outcomes. My role was to assess the gaps that might be
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“Our students are able to understand the complexity that comes with working in the health system. It’s not just about knowing the science behind good health-service practices, but also the soft skills, such as leading change and being part of a team, that allow it to be implemented.” – Madelyn Law, I-EQUIP Director
happening in terms of best practice. To do this, I conducted an analysis that found nurses felt they needed more information on what to look for and what specific products were needed for different types of wounds.” Cleverdon is one of 30 I-EQUIP students working on an array of projects with local health-related organizations, including HDS, Niagara Health, Niagara Region Public Health and the Niagara Falls Community Health Centre, working on topics such
as infection control in the emergency department, patient satisfaction, care transitions and the implementation of an innovative telemedicine pediatric resuscitation process. After spending months acquiring data and preparing informative guides for HDS nursing staff, the findings from Cleverdon’s project have been met with rave reviews. “Riley’s work has provided a tool to give our staff an additional comfort level,” said Advanced Practice Nurse Sandy Robinson.
“We are seeing more complex wounds, and the way we have been doing wound care is evolving. The new tool fits in with shifting what our whole process is.” The wound care guide displays different pictures of wounds for nurses to reference. Having completed the first phase, Cleverdon is moving on to create a more interactive, user-friendly model of the guide that has been embraced by the nursing team, Robinson said. “She is doing something that is going to help staff and they are very appreciative of her efforts.” Hotel Dieu Shaver Chief of Staff Dr. Jack Luce says the energy the seven I-EQUIP students who have completed projects at HDS contribute to the organization is beneficial to everyone. “We appreciate the youthful presence the students bring,” he said. “We have a very special culture here at HDS. When we have students come in who are very engaged with what we are doing, it adds to that culture and who we are.” Luce also said the partnership between HDS and Brock strengthens the region as a whole. “It helps us to provide better information to the community,” he said. “Geographically, we are right across the street from Brock. It makes sense that we are partners, because we are a smaller hospital and we rely on our partnerships to give the best care to our patients.” I-EQUIP Director Madelyn Law said the life-changing opportunities the program offers through its experiential projects allow students from many health-related programs to understand how their classroom lessons can apply to health settings.
I-EQUIP student Riley Cleverdon (right) discussed her wound care guide with Dr. Jack Luce, Chief of Staff at the Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre.
“Our students are able to understand the complexity that comes with working in the health system,” she said. “It’s not just about knowing the science behind good health-service practices, but also the soft skills, such as leading change and being part of a team, that allow it to be implemented.” Cleverdon believes taking part in experiential learning opportunities, such as the I-EQUIP program, offers substantial benefit. “I think this has been the most important part of my education,” she said. “I can take what I’ve learned and apply it to different areas.” Luce said the outside consultation Cleverdon provided has helped the organization to grow as well.
“We get fresh eyes that can work with us and have a renewed energy,” he said. “It’s always interesting to see what someone comes up with when they have a fresh look at a problem. We also want the community to know who we are and what we do, and projects like Riley’s help to increase our profile.” The chance to help others has made the months of hard work worth it to Cleverdon. “I’ve seen that if we all work together, we can create better outcomes for patients and practitioners alike,” she said. “I would encourage anyone who is looking for a rewarding experience where they can connect their classroom learning to realworld projects to consider I-EQUIP.”
EXPERIENCE. MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH. COME BACK TO BROCK. For more information visit
brocku.ca/nextstep Alumni Insider
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Brock alumna increasing accessibility in martial arts Felicia Calder holds Brock alumna Steffannie Hancharyk for balance support while they practise their side kicks as part of an adaptive karate lesson.
By COLLEEN PATTERSON
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ll it took was one volunteer experience for Steffannie Hancharyk (BPhed ’08, BEd ’08, MA ’14) to become hooked. There was something so heartwarming about the big smiles and determination on the faces of campers from Brock’s Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Summer Movement Camp that she could not resist. It was after completing her master’s degree in 2014 that the Brock alumna, a third-degree black belt in Wado Kai Karate, was invited to be part of the camp where she ran a martial arts station. “It was such a rewarding experience that I was inspired to start my own company,” said Hancharyk, who shortly after her camp
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participation founded Experience Physical Activity. The not-for-profit organization partners with various not-for-profit agencies such as Autism Ontario, RAFT and the Welland Martial Arts Centre to offer martial arts training to individuals experiencing disability. “When I offered my first camp session, I didn’t know what to expect,” Hancharyk said. “It was an awesome experience. After providing some background to the participants and volunteers, my lesson plan went out the window and I just started teaching basic skills, before progressing to combinations.” The martial arts station became an immediate success and has been integrated into the ASD camp every year since.
“One of the reasons why these lessons are so successful is because the structure involved in the martial arts movements is exactly what these participants need,” says Hancharyk. “The routine of martial arts, knowing what to expect when a participant arrives, as well as social skills are useful for daily living and can all be adapted to the learners who thrive in this type of environment.” Hancharyk has garnered a reputation as an advocate for unconventional bodies and diverse populations. To gain more access to movement programs in Ontario, she has now returned to Brock as a doctoral student. “After four years of partnering with Brock’s inclusive and adaptive physical activity programs and seeing first-hand the gaps in research, I’m hoping to find ways to support Ontario dojos in the transition to accessible and sustainable martial arts,” Hancharyk says. Part of her research involves using the accessibility laws in Ontario as a framework for identifying the barriers that dojos might face to implementing accessible programming and seeking out resources to facilitate these changes. “My ability to do this is the result of a positive rapport with multiple umbrella organizations which serve as an oversight governing body to karate in Ontario.” Reflecting back on her motivations for taking karate classes to begin with, Hancharyk talks about growing up in underserved neighbourhoods and having barriers of her own. “I was able to learn and grow in a dojo at a time in my life when I needed it most,” Hancharyk says. “I want to help create access for vulnerable populations and those in rural regions. I want them to have the same opportunity I did.”
Anita Robertson’s legacy to support Brock Nursing students I
n her years as a nurse and community volunteer, Anita Robertson’s nurturing nature touched countless lives. And though she’s no longer here, her impact as a great supporter of Niagara and of Brock University will continue to be felt for generations. Anita, along with her husband Joe Robertson, a long-time member and former Chair of Brock’s Board of Trustees, and their daughter Laura were killed in a plane crash on their way to a family vacation in July 2018. In life, Joe and Anita were known as a philanthropic couple generous with their time and finances. At Brock University, where both were heavily involved, that giving legacy will live on through the creation of a $1-million endowment fund in their memory. The substantial bequest, which came in addition to the donation of a cherished piece of artwork from the family, will support undergraduate and graduate students in their pursuit of higher education. Half of the money will be used to create five Nursing scholarships and five Nursing bursaries in Anita’s name. The financial support will improve students’ ability to participate in the Niagara community, much like Anita did, while focusing on their mission to become dedicated and quality health-care providers.
“I believe that as our students learn about Anita… they’ll be able to relate to her legacy and connection to her family and community.” – Zaida Rahaman, Department of Nursing Chair
“On behalf of the Department of Nursing, we are honoured that Anita Robertson’s legacy will live on through our students and their future contributions to health-care practice and research,” says Department of Nursing Chair Zaida Rahaman. “These esteemed scholarships and bursaries will enable our students to learn and give back to the community with the opportunity to help ease their financial needs in pursuing their educational goals.” Brock’s high-performing Nursing students have a reputation for academic and practical excellence, which sees them through the transition to exceptional health-care providers and leaders. With the Robertsons’ endowment enhanced by a $600,000 contribution from the University, the family’s gift to the Nursing program will impact students for generations. Scholarships and
Joe and Anita Robertson.
bursaries have also been established in Joe’s name to support Brock students in the Goodman School of Business. As students apply for the Anita Robertson Scholarships and Bursaries in Nursing, they will learn about the awards’ namesake, Rahaman says. “I believe that as our students learn about Anita studying nursing in Kingston, her work in the neo-natal intensive care unit at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and her time in health care in Niagara, they’ll be able to relate to her legacy and connection to her family and community,” she says. As did Anita, Brock’s Nursing program places value on giving back to the community. “Brock Nursing students work with members of the local community throughout the program, beginning in year one to enrich their learning experience,” Rahaman says. “They apply concepts from the curriculum outside of the classroom through the integration of experiential learning and clinical opportunities.” Paired with these learning opportunities is the state-of-theart facilities with spaces and equipment that offer additional advantages in preparing students for their health careers.
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brocku.ca/alumni/kindmail Faculty of Applied Health Sciences