Biography
Dr. Jackie Whittaker is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia and a research scientist at the Centre for Aging SMART and Arthritis Research Canada. As a recognized clinical specialist in musculoskeletal rehabilitation and a clinical epidemiologist, her research takes a lifespan approach to preventing painful musculoskeletal conditions, with a particular emphasis on knee injuries and post-traumatic osteoarthritis. This includes reducing the burden of sport-related knee injuries through injury prevention, improving our understanding of the long-term consequences of knee injuries, and developing and evaluating practice support tools and exercise-based interventions to promote knee health. Central to her research is understanding how gendered environments disadvantage women and gender-diverse persons and contribute to them experiencing a disproportionate burden of poor musculoskeletal health across the lifespan, and an integrated knowledge translation approach involving patients, health professionals, coaches and other stakeholders throughout the research-to-practice continuum. Dr. Whittaker co-leads an international consensus for preventing osteoarthritis after traumatic knee injury called OPTIKNEE. Her research is guided by 21 years of clinical practice.
