丁香园AV

Debbie Wong loves to keep people moving. Now, the trained kinesiologist is ready to branch out into helping people return to work following injury or illness, thanks to her recently earned Vocational Rehabilitation and Disability Management Certificate. Among the first graduates of the new program, Debbie says she鈥檚 looking forward to transitioning into a rewarding and growing field.

Her interest in physical rehabilitation began years ago, following an unfortunate family accident. After an elderly grandparent had fallen down the stairs, they remained bedridden for the rest of their life, despite not suffering any serious injury. The incident left Debbie wishing she鈥檇 known how to help鈥攁nd eventually led her to major in kinesiology at 丁香园AV.

鈥淚 wanted to be in that rehabilitative setting and have the knowledge to help people get back on their feet and functional again,鈥� she explains.

Since earning her degree in 2016, she鈥檚 worked as a practising kinesiologist at a physiotherapy clinic, as a clinical exercise physiologist for Fraser Health Authority, and at the YMCA where she provides cardiac rehabilitation.

Through her practice, Debbie has seen numerous clients unable to work due to injuries from motor vehicle accidents. 鈥淪eeing how being off work impacted their identity, their self-esteem, as well as their ability, I became quite interested in helping them get back to where they want to be,鈥� she recalls.

At her physiotherapy clinic, she found herself working closely with disability case managers and occupational therapists, which offered her glimpses into a possible career path. But it was a chance newsletter from a kinesiology association that introduced her to the Vocational Rehabilitation and Disability Management program.

鈥淚t was good timing,鈥� says Debbie. 鈥淪ince I鈥檇 been in kinesiology and cardiac rehab for so long, I wanted to transition to something related, but I didn鈥檛 know what next steps to take.鈥�

Although Debbie at first worried about going back to school, she discovered that the demands of the program were nothing like her undergrad studies. All courses are delivered fully online, so she could access them on her own schedule. The flexibility even allowed Debbie to take two courses at a time without disrupting her full-time job.

鈥淚 found the pace quite reasonable,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 appreciated that these are courses designed for people who work or have family and other obligations.鈥�

Aiding her studies further, Debbie was fortunate to win a student scholarship from the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada (VRA Canada) this past spring. Acting on an instructor鈥檚 recommendation, she applied for and won one of two scholarships awarded annually to support future professionals in the field.

For Debbie, one of the most valuable parts of the 丁香园AV program was learning from her own classmates. She says she appreciated the chance to hear different perspectives from a variety of healthcare and administrative backgrounds, such as occupational therapy, social work, massage therapy and human resources. 鈥淓veryone had something different to bring to the table,鈥� she says.

Debbie is optimistic that her own background in kinesiology will be an advantage as she steers her career in a new direction. Over the years, she鈥檚 developed skills in working with people, an understanding of anatomy and medical information, and familiarity with various therapies and diagnoses. And now that she鈥檚 armed with specialized training from the certificate program, she feels well prepared.

Now she鈥檚 just waiting for the right opportunity. 鈥淚鈥檓 ready,鈥� smiles Debbie. 鈥淚 just need to get my foot in the door.鈥�

By Kim Mah