by Julie Dufresne | Oct 22, 2025 | Award / Prize, Students
Congratulations to Emily MacDonald on receiving one of the Brain Health Care Master Trainee Scholarships from the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) Training Program, a prestigious award that supports research on brain health and care for aging populations living with cognitive impairment. Under the supervision of Professors Myles O’Brien (Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé – Université de Sherbrooke) and Olga Theou (Dalhousie University), her master’s project addresses a key public health issue: the role of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the relationship between frailty and cognitive health among older adults, both in community settings and long-term care. By exploring how movement influences physical and cognitive outcomes, Emily aims to identify practical strategies to promote healthy aging and mitigate the effects of cognitive decline. Well done, Emily, on this well-deserved recognition!
by Julie Dufresne | Oct 17, 2025 | Award / Prize, Students
Jasmine Allain, a master’s student in health sciences research at the Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, has been awarded the Excellence Scholarship from the Centre de recherche sur le vieillissement as part of the Université de Sherbrooke’s Excellence Scholarship Program. Her work, conducted under the supervision of Professors Saïd Mekari and Myles O’Brien, focuses on improving cardiovascular health through community-based programs that promote physical activity among aging populations. This two-year, $35,000 scholarship recognizes the excellence of her academic record and will serve as an important lever for the continuation of her future projects. Bravo Jasmine !
by Julie Dufresne | Oct 15, 2025 | Students
Pamela Tanguay is the most recent member of the team to have defended her doctoral thesis, on September 19. Her study, which compares a hybrid cardiac rehabilitation program (combining in-center and at-home sessions) with a traditional program, was conducted across all cardiac rehabilitation centres of the Vitalité Health Network under the supervision of Prof. @Mathieu Bélanger and Prof. Nicole Marquis from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Université de Sherbrooke. The study stands out, among other things, for its human-centered approach, where patients and healthcare professionals were involved throughout the research process. The findings show that the impacts of the hybrid and traditional programs on patients are similar. Given that the hybrid program partially reduces pressure on the healthcare system and offers greater flexibility to patients, this is a very encouraging result for the Vitalité Health Network. The study also provides several avenues for enhancing the current hybrid program, if needed.
by Julie Dufresne | Oct 15, 2025 | Students
Jocelyn Waghorn is undertaking a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Research at Dalhousie University and has recently become a member of the IMPACTS Lab team. She is co-supervised by Dr. Myles O’Brien (Université de Sherbrooke) and Dr. Rebecca Moyer (Dalhousie University). With a background in kinesiology and an Honours BScK from Dalhousie, Jocelyn’s research interests span cardiovascular health, physical activity, and the complexities of chronic conditions like osteoarthritis. Her thesis, » Influence of Health Factors on the Relation Between Frailty and Knee Osteoarthritis », explores the longitudinal relationship between frailty, the incidence of knee osteoarthritis, and physical function. She aims to assess how specific health factors such as physical activity, nutrition, and social engagement, may influence this connection. Outside of her academic work, Jocelyn enjoys hiking and discovering new places and activities across New Brunswick. She also puts her kinesiology training into practice by volunteering as an athletic trainer with local basketball teams—a role she’s proudly held for several years.
by Julie Dufresne | Oct 15, 2025 | Students
Emily MacDonald is currently pursuing a Master of Rehabilitation Research at Dalhousie University and has recently joined the IMPACTS Lab Team. Her research is supervised by Dr. Myles O’Brien (Université de Sherbrooke) and Dr. Olga Theou (Dalhousie University). Her thesis, « Does Physical Activity Explain the Link Between Frailty and Cognitive Health among Older Adults in the Community and Long-Term Care? », aims to better understand how movement and activity influence cognitive health and independence in aging populations. As part of her research, Emily will conduct in-depth assessments with older adults living both independently and in long-term care settings. Her broader interests focus on the impact of aging and physical activity on cognition, and on developing mobility-based interventions to improve quality of life in long-term care environments. Emily holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Neuroscience from Dalhousie University. She is passionate about aging research and is committed to contributing to healthier, more independent lives for older adults. Welcome Emily!
by Julie Dufresne | Sep 18, 2025 | Students
Welcome to Jasmine Allain, a master’s student in health sciences research at the Université de Sherbrooke, based at the Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick. Jasmine is interested in improving cardiovascular health through community-based programs that promote physical activity, particularly among aging populations.
Her research project, supervised by Professors Myles O’Brien and Saïd Mekari from the Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé – Université de Sherbrooke, focuses on designing a community cardiovascular health program by exploring effective strategies for engagement and adherence. With a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and hands-on experience in cardiac rehabilitation and mobilization programs, Jasmine works alongside various healthcare professionals to encourage active and personalized lifestyle habits.
Alongside her academic journey, Jasmine also stands out in university sports as a volleyball player for the Université de Moncton, where she is entering her fifth and final season. She also gives back to her community by volunteering with local volleyball clubs across New Brunswick.
