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School of Physiotherapy

Faculty of Health

Professors

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Our Professors
Dr. Alice Aiken
Professor
Vice President Research and Innovation

BSc (Ottawa), BScPT (Dal), MSc, PhD (Queen's), CD

Office: Room 200, Henry Hicks Building
Tel: (902) 494-6513
Email: alice.aiken@dal.ca

A proud Dal alumna (BSc'94 in Physiotherapy), Professor Alice Aiken, PhD, MSc, BScPT, BSc is the Vice President for Research and Innovation at HÂþ»­. She is past President of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and spent 10 years as a faculty member in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queens University. A veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces (serving first as a ship's navigator in the Royal Canadian Navy, then as a physiotherapist), her research in health services and health policy has a focus on military personnel, veterans and their families.

Dr. Aiken is co-founder and former Scientific Director of the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research, a consortium of over 46 Canadian and 13 international universities, and her awards and honours include the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal and induction into the Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

Dr. Aiken is an exceptional team-builder, passionate about university research and has a strong understanding of Canada's broader research landscape. Her ability to engage across disciplines and build strategic partnerships serves her well in helping HÂþ»­ expand its reach and impact as one of Canada's leading research institutions. www.dal.ca/research

Dr. Shaun Boe
Professor
Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Health

Hon BPhEd (Kin) (Brock), PhD (UWO), MPT (UWO)

Office: Room 429, Forrest Building
Tel: (902) 494-6360
Email: s.boe@dal.ca

Dr. Boe completed his undergraduate degree in 2002 from Brock University (Hon BPhEd in Kinesiology), followed by graduate and clinical training at the University of Western Ontario (PhD Kinesiology, 2006; MPT, 2008). Prior to joining the School of Physiotherapy at HÂþ»­ University in 2010, he completed postdoctoral training through the Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery (HSFCSR) at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and the Rotman Research Institute.Ìý
Dr. Marie Earl
Assistant Professor
Graduate Coordinator, MSc-PT

BScPT (UWO), MSc, PhD (Waterloo)

Office: Room 303, Forrest Building
Tel: (902) 494-2633
Email: marie.earl@dal.ca

Dr. Marie Earl (BSc Physiotherapy, University of Western Ontario) completed her doctoral work on the neuromuscular control of posture and movement at the University of Waterloo (PhD Kinesiology). At the School of Physiotherapy, HÂþ»­ University, her teaching and research activities focus on exercise techniques to reduce falling and improve function of seniors who have balance problems. Changes in muscle and sensory function can have major effects on a person’s mobility. By applying better knowledge of muscle and sensory systems to clinical assessment and treatment options, Dr. Earl is working to find better ways to protect or restore balance and mobility of people whose health is threatened by inactivity, illness, or injury.

Dr. Scott Kehler
Assistant Professor
Graduate Coordinator MScRR-PT
Affiliate Scientist, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine

BPE , BKin, MSc, PhD (UofM)

Office: Room 402, Forrest Building
Tel: (902) 494-2822
Email: scott.kehler@dal.ca

Scott joined the School of Physiotherapy team at HÂþ»­ University in September 2019. He completed his graduate training at the University of Manitoba in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management Master’s degree program in 2012 and the Applied Health Sciences PhD program in 2017. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at HÂþ»­ University in the Division of Geriatric Medicine before starting his appointment in Physiotherapy.

Scott’s research focuses on the clinical and epidemiological aspects of frailty and aging, with a special interest in patients living with cardiovascular disease. In particular, he studies the impact of physical activity and sedentary behaviours for the prevention and treatment of frailty.

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Dr. Cheryl Kozey
Professor

Co–Director of the Dynamics of Human Motion Laboratory
Cross-appointments: School of Biomedical Engineering (BME) Nova Scotia Health Authority Affiliate Scientist, Department of Surgery
Maritime SPOR Unit, Research Associate

BPE (UNB) MSc (Waterloo), PhD (Dal)

Office: Room 316B, Forrest Building
Tel: (902) 494-2635
Email: cheryl.kozey@dal.ca

Dr. Kozey's research is focused on bone and joint disorders (musculoskeletal), specifically lower back disorders and osteoarthritis: two of the most prevalent and costly healthcare problems worldwide with particular relevance to Nova Scotia. ÌýA healthy musculoskeletal system is vital for mobility and physical function. ÌýThe ultimate goal of Dr. Kozey's research is to impact the health of Nova Scotians and have a global impact as this problem is highly prevalent in other industrialized nations.

Dr. Caitlin McArthur

Assistant Professor

BSc(KIN) (University of Waterloo), MScPT (University of Toronto), PhD (University of Waterloo)

Office: Room 316D, Forrest Building
Tel: (902) 494-1371
Email: caitlin.mcarthur@dal.ca

Dr. Caitlin McArthur joined the School of Physiotherapy at HÂþ»­ University in September 2020. She completed a BSc in Kinesiology (University of Waterloo), MScPT (University of Toronto), and PhD in Kinesiology with a specialization in aging, health, and well-being (University of Waterloo). Dr. McArthur also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the GERAS Centre for Aging Research within the Department of Medicine at McMaster University.

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Dr. McArthur’s research focuses on improving the effectiveness of and access to rehabilitation for people living with chronic health conditions across the continuum of care, particularly home and long-term care. She is interested in fall and fracture prevention and improving functional mobility. With a passion to improve mobility and quality of life of clinically complex older adults, Dr. McArthur is a lead instructor of the continuing education course Bone Fit™ hosted by Osteoporosis Canada which teaches exercise professionals about safe movements, physical activity, and exercise for people with osteoporosis (). Dr. McArthur is also an associate interRAI fellow (). Read more about her research .
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Dr. Ellen McGarity-Shipley
Assistant Professor

BSc(Kin) (Queen’s University), MScPT (Western University), PhD (Queen’s University)

Office: Room 316A, Forrest Building
Email:Ìýellen.ms@dal.ca

Ellen joined the School of Physiotherapy at HÂþ»­ University in July 2024. After completing a BSc in Kinesiology (Queen’s University) and enjoying her volunteer work in several physiotherapy programs, she decided to pursue physiotherapy as a career and completed an MScPT degree at Western University. During her time there, she became very interested in understanding how sociopolitical factors such as stigmatization get under our skin to affect our health so she decided to go back to Queen’s for a PhD in Kinesiology. She also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Queen’s University where she co-founded a health equity research program (SPACE for Health) centered on routinely screening and addressing the social determinants of health in healthcare settings (also known as social prescribing). .

Dr. Rebecca Moyer
Associate Professor

BScH(Queen's), BPHE(Queen's),MPT(Western), PhD(Western)

Tel: (902) 494-2028
Office: Room 316C, Forrest Building
Email: rebecca.moyer@dal.ca

Dr. Moyer’s clinical research program is focused on individuals with musculoskeletal conditions with a specialization in rehabilitative and surgical interventions for patients with osteoarthritis. Her work consists of various research designs that incorporate clinical gait biomechanics, radiographic, performance-based and patient-reported outcomes to improve mobility and activities of daily living. Dr. Moyer’s interests also include imaging outcome measures of disease progression using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – derived measures of knee and hip morphology, and their use in clinical research methods. This research aims to clarify the relationships between mechanical, biological and structural markers of osteoarthritis progression, how these markers differ across patients with osteoarthritis and how they respond to novel strategies.

Dr Adria Quigley
Assistant Professor

BScKin (UofS), MScPT (UofT), PhD (Dal)

Office: Room 430, Forrest Building
Tel: (902) 494-2784
Email: adriaquigley@Dal.Ca

Originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Dr. Quigley obtained her BSc in Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan, followed by her Master’s in Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto. In 2019, she obtained her PhD from HÂþ»­ University during which she worked closely with Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+ and equity-deserving communities to study the feasibility and impact of yoga on cognitive and physical function among people living with HIV. Dr. Quigley completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the McGill University Health Centre in 2022. Dr. Quigley’s research focuses on four key areas: walking and balance, improving cognitive function, optimizing rehabilitation outcomes, and improving access to rehabilitation for stroke survivors and people living with HIV. Dr. Quigley’s current research projects include the use of a virtual reality rehabilitation game and an omnidirectional treadmill (a treadmill that allows the user to move in all directions), a virtual and in-person yoga trial, and a trial aimed at improving the recruitment and enrolment of women in stroke studies. Visit Dr. Quigley'sÌý.

Dr. Derek Rutherford
Associate Professor
Director
Hon BSc (UWO), BScPT (Toronto), MSc (Rehabilitation Research) (Dal), PhD (Dal)

Office: Room 417, Forrest Building
Tel: (902) 494-2616
Email: djr@dal.ca

Dr. Derek Rutherford obtained undergraduate degrees in Kinesiology (University of Western Ontario) and Physical Therapy (University of Toronto) before completing his MSc in Rehabilitation Research and PhD in Biomedical Engineering at HÂþ»­ University. Dr. Rutherford is an Assistant professor in the Schools of Physiotherapy, Biomedical Engineering and Health and Human Performance at HÂþ»­ University and affiliate scientist with the Department of Surgery: Orthopaedics, at Capital Health.
Dr. Rutherford specializes in quantifying mechanics and muscle activation characteristics of lower extremity injury and disease to develop and evaluate conservative and surgical management strategies and is the lead researcher in the newly established Joint Action Research laboratory in the School of Physiotherapy.

Dr. Olga Theou
Canada Research Chair
Associate Professor
BSc (Greece), MSc (USA), PhD (UWO)

Office: Room 316A, Forrest Building
Tel: (902) 494-4248
Email:Ìýolga.theou@dal.ca

Prior to joining the School of Physiotherapy in 2019, Dr. Olga Theou was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at HÂþ»­ University. She is cross appointed with the Department of Medicine at HÂþ»­ University and continues to be an Affiliated Scientist of Geriatric Medicine with the Nova Scotia Health Authority and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer of Medicine with the University of Adelaide, Australia.ÌýShe obtained her BSc in Physical Education and Sports Sciences at Aristotle University in Greece, MSc in Gerokinesiology from the California State University in Fullerton, and PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences with specialization in Health and Aging from Western University. She also completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the University of British Columbia Okanagan at the Department of Human Kinetics, and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at Dahousie University.ÌýHer research interests include aging, frailty and physical activity.