About Kristen

My passion for leadership in the area of health, specifically disease and injury prevention, took root at a young age.

A competitive athlete in my youth, I sustained my share of injuries. Over the course of my elite soccer career, I underwent several knee surgeries including two ligament reconstructions and three meniscal repairs. Recognizing that these injuries could lead to chronic pain and suffering in my later years, I became motivated to explore a career in orthopaedic medicine, specializing in exercise programming and post-traumatic osteoarthritis. I was on a mission.

As a part of the University of Calgary’s JointEffort Program, I love watching my clients overcome their hesitation to exercise with a program customized to their specific pain management needs. My combination of personal experience and scientific knowledge allows me to take a unique approach to exercise not found among other health care providers or personal trainers.

From young adults suffering with athletic injuries to older adults dealing with joint damage and replacement, I identify ways to help my clients move past the limitations of their disease. Nothing makes me prouder than seeing a dedicated client experience functional improvements and mitigate pain in as little as six weeks after beginning the program!

Professional Background

I have previously completed a BSc (Hons) degree in Kinesiology (Exercise and Health Physiology) and a MSc degree in Kinesiology (Biomechanics). I was also a part of the “Accelerated 4+1 BSc/MSc Program” in the Faculty in Kinesiology, where I completed both degrees within five years. My MSc thesis focused on alterations in cartilage lubrication after knee injury in pre-clinical models of osteoarthritis.

Further, I completed my Canadian Society for Exercise Physiologist Certified Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP) designation in 2013.

As a combined MD/PhD student, I was part of the “Leaders in Medicine” program in the Cumming School of Medicine. I completed my PhD in 2016, studying in vivo knee joint biomechanics and the use of a glucocorticoid to mitigate post-traumatic osteoarthritis development in a pre-clinical model. I then went on to complete my MD in 2019.

Currently, I am an orthopaedic surgery resident in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University, as I continue to pursue my passion for strong leadership in the field of health promotion, and both disease and injury prevention.

I love being in the laboratory and applying what I learn in the clinic, and vice versa. My research has specifically focused on understanding the impact sports injuries have on disease progression. I also have training as an exercise physiologist, where I’ve helped osteoarthritis patients better manage their pain through exercise programming and lifestyle modification.

Link to my full CV.