Q & A

1. Tell me about what piqued your interest in volunteering at the Bloorview Research Institute’s SPARK Lab.

   I was interested in pursuing a career in either physiotherapy or occupational therapy and was interested in gaining research experience in these fields. When I read about the research projects that  Dr. Virginia Wright and her team were conducting, I reached out to her and was lucky to secure a volunteer position.

2. What kind of volunteer work are you doing at the lab?

   I’m getting trained on how to score and measure motor learning during a research study session. Once I finish the training modules, I can actually record these measurements for researchers. I also was able to help researchers and physio therapists during the Trexo study.

3. How has this volunteer experience helped spark your career path?

   This is exciting to me because I get to see first-hand what physiotherapist do in their clinical practice if they’re involved in research. This is how they think about things when they see a child and their movements. There are so many small things that are done intentionally to improve a child’s learning. It’s so fascinating to me.

4. What do you enjoy the most about volunteering at SPARK?

   I love being immersive in a physiotherapist’s environment. When I see what they’re doing, this is what I picture myself doing. I also love to see how the work is so interdisciplinary and how much teamwork is involved.

5. What impact do you think you’re making as a volunteer at the BRI?

   There aren’t a lot of research institutes that focus on kids with disabilities the way that Holland Bloorview does, so it’s such a blessing to be part of this community to give back and support these children anyway I can.

6. What comes to mind when you think about Holland Bloorview celebrating 125 years?

   We’re working towards a more inclusive and equitable world. It’s exciting to see and I’m very honoured to be a part of it.

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