Why did you choose to explore research at McMaster University?  

I was drawn to McMaster University because of its reputation for multidisciplinary research on aging. As someone who was interested in aging research and improving health services for older adult populations, I felt that McMaster University would provide me with the best opportunity to develop my skills as a future researcher.

McMaster University is also one of two universities in Canada that offers a dual-degree program in Occupational Therapy. Throughout this program, I will gain important clinical experience specific to occupational therapy, engagement in personally valued activities, and discharge planning that will help further inform my current and future research projects. I will also develop important research skills such as 1) establishing partnerships and collaborating with older adults, 2) leading qualitative data collection and analysis methods as described in this application, and 3) planning and conducting Knowledge Translation activities with various stakeholders. 

Why did you get involved in your specific area of research or academic program, and what interests you about it?  

My interest in improving care to better support older adults’ decisional autonomy, health, and well-being began in high school when I was a patient visitor on a rehabilitation inpatient unit. As a patient visitor, I spent numerous hours talking with older adults, listening to their stories, and witnessing the importance of engaging in meaningful activities like walking outdoors, listening to live music, and creating art. Although my other interests in sports and high performance led me to a career as an athletic therapist and a strength and conditioning coach, I quickly sought to expand my practice to provide exercise programs and coaching for community-dwelling older adults. The desire to expand my practice to provide evidence-based exercise programs for community-dwelling older adults sparked an interest in research and, more specifically, fall prevention research. While completing my master’s degree, I realized that I was most interested in the importance of engaging in personally valued activities for health and well-being and how we can improve as clinicians to better support clients’ needs by taking a client-centered approach.

Why do you think patient-oriented research is important in the research you are involved in?   

As someone interested in improving health care services, I believe that there is so much we can learn from people with lived experience. I recognize that as a 26 year-old graduate student I don’t know what it is like to be an older adult in the health care system. I do not experience the same interactions with health care providers as older adults do. While I can make some observations and interpret what I think is going on, I think it’s best to collaborate with people with lived experience and have them help direct research inquiries, to help guide us to what is important, and to help make decisions on subtle things.

What do you find most challenging as a trainee/about your specific research area and how have you overcome these challenges?  

As a trainee, you are learning as you go, and that can be really challenging. You are bound to make some mistakes as you go along in this journey, but that is the best way to learn. You are also going to face a lot of rejection, that is also challenging.

I found the best way to overcome these challenges is to have a support network —  to connect with other graduate students and to hear their stories, to learn that you are not alone in this. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone faces rejection. You just must pick yourself up, learn from the mistakes and try again. We are all learning; we are building new skills. No one expects you to be perfect. 

What experiences or advice would you like to share with prospective/new trainees?  

Get involved with a student network or community. Graduate school can be lonely, and there will be days when you question why you are pursuing this degree. Having a network/community of graduate students helps alleviate those feelings. It is difficult to put into words how helpful it is to talk to people who are in similar situations to you, but it does make you feel less alone.