UBC School of Health & Exercise Sciences

10/08/2026

Students at UBC Okanagan hosted the EXPO: Student Associations and Services Fair, an annual event that connects students with campus clubs, associations, and support services while promoting student engagement and community involvement.

A message from our HES students:
It was super fun we got to talk to lots of HES students and share with them what we do and what our role is in the HES community such as the events we put on. Overall I think it went really well I think the whole team really enjoyed it.

10/07/2026

Join us on October 19th to honour National Rural Health Week. The School of Nursing will be hosting a Rural Health Research Panel on Zoom with several graduate students and one of our faculty members as panel presenters on BC Rural Research. Please share with your research staff and others in your network. Look forward to having you attend the session.

Registration Link: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bxZQubDplQ3h6M6

09/25/2026

BHES Community Practicum Spotlight
Hands-on learning in the community can help students discover not only how to apply what they have learned, but also where that learning might take them. The summer BHES Community Practicum also provides students with an opportunity to express interest in placements outside the Okanagan. For some students, this can mean returning to their home communities and beginning to build professional experience and connections in places that are important to them, or where they may ultimately hope to work.

Through a summer Community Practicum placement with ORKA Performance in Calgary, Olivia Vanderwater had the opportunity to learn alongside professionals working in health, rehabilitation and sport.

Reflecting on the experience, Olivia shared:

“My practicum opened my eyes to career paths and opportunities that I had never considered before. Being able to learn hands-on, take on new responsibilities, and work alongside such knowledgeable and inspiring professionals helped build my confidence in both my skills and myself.”

Olivia also described the placement as an opportunity to learn from professionals she could look up to and aspire to emulate in her own career. Most importantly, the experience strengthened Olivia’s interest in health, rehabilitation and sport while providing a clearer picture of the different directions her career could take.

Community practicum experiences like this connect academic learning with professional environments while giving students opportunities to explore career pathways, develop confidence and learn from the expertise of community partners.

Thank you to ORKA Performance for supporting student learning and contributing your time, expertise and mentorship to the next generation of health and exercise professionals!

Link in our bio!

09/17/2026

UBC Student Scholarships
These scholarships are intended for current UBC students with good academic standing in any health or human services degree program and who meet the minimum eligibility criteria. Each award has a different application process, including varying required forms and supporting documentation. Applications close October 30. Learn more about the eligibility and apply here https://health.ubc.ca/awards-scholarships

•ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development
•John H. V. Gilbert Interprofessional Scholarship
•Professor Jessie Gordon MacCarthy Memorial Scholarship

Every year, UBC Health offers several awards and scholarships to outstanding individuals and teams who embody excellence in interprofessional collaboration, health education, and research.

09/10/2026

Welcome to a New Academic Year!

Welcome to the start of another exciting academic year in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences at UBC Okanagan.
Whether you are joining us for the first time or returning for another year, we are delighted to have you as part of our HES community. The beginning of a new academic year brings fresh opportunities to learn, grow, connect, and contribute both inside and outside the classroom. We look forward to supporting you as you pursue your academic, research, and professional goals.

HES Happenings is your source for school news, student and faculty achievements, upcoming events, research highlights, and opportunities to get involved. We encourage you to stay connected, celebrate the successes of our community, and discover the many exciting initiatives taking place across the School of Health and Exercise Sciences.

We wish you a successful and rewarding year ahead and look forward to seeing all that you will accomplish. If there is ever a way we can support your journey, please do not hesitate to reach out. Welcome back, and best wishes for a great year in HES!

09/02/2026

Dear FHSD International Students,

Welcome to UBCO!

Join us on September 16th from 12-1:30 to meet the Team and enjoy free pizza and drinks.

Scan to RSVP

07/20/2026

True partnership in spinal cord injury research

For many people living with spinal cord injury, health research hasn’t always reflected their needs or experiences. Too often, partnerships between researchers and communities have been limited or one-sided. In some cases, people are consulted briefly and then don’t hear from the research team again. This kind of tokenism can leave communities feeling excluded from work that is meant to benefit them.

Dr. Heather Gainforth led a partnership that set out to change that. With support from Michael Smith Health Research BC, she sought to improve how spinal cord injury research is done, by shifting focus towards respectful, collaborative partnerships with the community.

linktr.ee/ubco_hes

07/14/2026

On behalf of HABITAT HEALTH
Job Summary: Kinesiologist
We are looking for a motivated Kinesiologist with a passion for rehabilitation to join our growing
team. This is an excellent opportunity to step into an established caseload, as our current
kinesiologist transitions out of the role. You will receive referrals from our multidisciplinary team and
have the opportunity to work with a diverse patient population of all ages.

06/09/2026

Celebrating excellence at last Friday’s Honours & Special Awards reception 🎓✨ Congratulations to all our outstanding students—we’re so proud of you! 👏

05/08/2026

Congratulations to FHSD’s 2025/2026 Outstanding Instructors! Recipients of this award have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to supporting student success in their classrooms, creating meaningful and impactful learning experiences that benefit students. Congratulations to Shirley Chau, Heather Gainforth, Laura Mercer, Alex Santos and Charlene Strumpel! Well done to all of you.