Council Members

Dimitra Pouliopoulou

President

Research Interests / Specializations: PhD Candidate - Physiotherapy
Biography: Dimitra Pouliopoulou is a PhD candidate in the Physical Therapy Stream specializing in the development of a Joint Protection Program for individuals with Hand Osteoarthritis. She is a registered Physiotherapist in Greece and the UK, holding master's degrees in Sports and Exercise Medicine and in Epidemiology. Her research primarily focuses on Hand Osteoarthritis and Long COVID.

George Philip

VP Finance

Research Interests / Specializations: PhD Candidate - Health and Aging
Biography: George Philip is a fourth year PhD candidate in the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program, specializing in the Health & Aging stream. He obtained his MSc in Translational Medicine from Queen’s University and his BSc with Honours in Medical Sciences from Brock University. George’s research aims to understand dementia-related stigma among racialized persons living with dementia, their care partners, and community. Recognizing the expression of stigmatizing behaviour and language can provide insight into effective education, training, and knowledge translation efforts. George aspires to have his research findings contribute to the improvement of dementia care, diagnosis, and treatment.

Grace Norris

VP Internal and External Communications

Research Interests / Specializations: MScOT/PhD Student
Biography: Grace is a first year combined PhD/Master of Occupational Therapy (MScOT) student. She recently obtained her MSc in the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program, specializing in the Health & Aging stream at Western. Her BHSc with Honours in Chronic Illness and Disability was obtained from Carleton University in Ottawa. Grace's research aims to critically investigate occupational inequities from the perspectives of persons living with dementia and their caregivers.

Julia Yates

VP Student Development

Research Interests / Specializations: PhD Student - Health Promotion
Biography: Julia Yates is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Promotion at Western University under the supervision of Dr. Tara Mantler. She previously received a Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Science in Health Promotion from Western University. Julia’s program of research focuses on health-promoting behaviours of equity-deserving populations, such as children, parents, and women experiencing gender-based violence. Her thesis is a longitudinal study exploring both internal and external protective factors among young children (aged 5 to 12 years) previously exposed to parental gender-based violence.

Cara Davidson

Senior Advisor

Research Interests / Specializations: PhD Candidate - Measurement and Methods
Biography: Cara is a 4th year PhD candidate in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Western University. She has been a member of the HRSGSS since 2021. Her research focuses on women’s health with an emphasis on gender-based violence, health equity, and trauma- and violence-informed care. Her doctoral work explores the biopsychosocial relationships between gender-based violence and breast cancer in the Canadian context. She is also developing a trauma- and violence-informed care tool to promote individualized care and prevent re-traumatization for breast cancer patients who have experienced gender-based violence. If you’d like to connect with Cara, you can find her on LinkedIn or email cdavid53@uwo.ca.

Varsha Vasudevan

VP Social and Media Relations

Research Interests / Specializations: PhD Student - Health Promotion
Biography: Varsha is a PhD student in Health Promotion at Western. She completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences with an Honours Specialization in Health Promotion from Western in 2021, and her Master of Science in Health Promotion from Western in 2023. Broadly, Varsha’s research interests involve promoting the well-being of university students, such as exploring the influences of mindfulness in graduate students, reducing sedentary time in undergraduate students, and using strengths-based approaches for campus thriving.

Sarah Park

Co-VP Academic

Research Interests / Specializations: MScOT/PhD Student
Biography: Sarah is in her second year (PhD2) of the MScOT/PhD program and is co-supervised by Dr. Jeffrey Holmes (School of OT) and Dr. Jessica Grahn (Department of Psychology). She received her BSc in psychology and math from Mount Allison University and MA in psychology and neuroscience from York University. Sarah’s current research surrounds behavioural training interventions to improve gait in people with Parkinson’s Disease. Her doctoral work aims to use cognitive and video feedback training to improve walking confidence and reduce fall risk.

Andrew Scicluna

Co-VP Academic

Research Interests / Specializations: PhD Student - Measurement & Methods
Biography: Andrew just entered the second year of his PhD in HRS, and is currently preparing for his comprehensive exam. He received his BA and MA at Western University in Anthropology and Media Studies, respectively. The topic of Andrew's Comprehensive Exam is the Philosophy and Mathematics of Statistical Techniques for inferring Causality, and his Dissertation will likely explore the utility of Causality as a concept from the perspective of Statistics Pedagogy. Outside of Methodology, Andrew has research interests in diverse disciplines, such as Philosophical Problems of Representation and Consciousness in the Philosophy of the Cognitive Sciences, and Textual Criticism of 2nd-Temple Apocalyptic-Eschatological Scripture and Apocrypha in "Near East" Studies.

Rachel Reynolds

Combined Student Representative

Research Interests / Specializations: MPT/PhD Combined Student
Biography: Rachel is a first year combined PhD/Physical therapy student in the Health and Rehabilitation sciences program under the supervision of Dr. Laura Brunton. She completed her Bachelor of Arts with a Honours Specialization in Kinesiology from Western in 2022, and her Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Science in the Physical Therapy field, from Western in 2024. Rachel’s research focuses on child development, specifically children with delayed development, and the health literacy of their parents. Rachel will continue her research within this field for her PhD. You can connect with Rachel via email (rreyno6@uwo.ca) or LinkedIn.

Sima Vatandoost

PhD Student Representative

Research Interests / Specializations: PhD Student
Biography: Sima is a Ph.D. student in HRS and she received her BSc at Iran University of Medical Sciences and MSc at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences in Iran. Her thesis focuses on low back pain in patients who are candidates for total hip arthroplasty under the supervision of Dr. Alison Rushton, Dr. Brent Lanting, and Dr. Katie Kowalski. The project aims investigate the associations between physical measures and patient reported outcomes measures especially low back pain in total hip arthroplasty and explore patient’s experiences and perspectives of low back pain following the surgery. Results of this research will contribute to optimizing outcomes and minimizing low back pain after total hip arthroplasty.

Amber Briar

MSc Student Representative

Research Interests / Specializations: Master's Student - Health and Aging

Saghar Soltanabadi

VP International Student Representative

Research Interests / Specializations: PhD Student - Physical Therapy
Biography: Saghar is currently pursuing a PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Science at Western University. She received her BSc and MSc in Physical Education, Sport Sciences and Kinesiology from the University of Tehran, Iran. Saghar’s thesis is a transdisciplinary project based on the clinical use of virtual reality under the supervision of Dr. David Walton and Dr. Alison Rushton. The project aims to gain insight into how individuals respond to traumatic events by studying their reactions to virtually simulated trauma. Results of this research can contribute to the development of targeted interventions and support systems for trauma survivors.