Dr. Whittaker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, and Research Director of the Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic at the University of Alberta in Edmonton (Canada). Jackie graduated from Wm. E. Hay High school in 1986. After receiving a Bachelor’s of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Alberta (1993) she practiced as a physiotherapist in Calgary, Alberta and Vancouver, British Columbia prior to completing a Doctor of Philosophy at the School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, UK (2012). After a post-doctoral fellowship at the prestigious International Olympic Committee supported Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre at the University of Calgary (2015), she accepted her appointment at the University of Alberta.
Jackie is one of only 14 Clinical Specialists in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy in Canada (2012), a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapists Therapists (1998), and holds certificates for Intramuscular Stimulation from the Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain (1998), and Acupuncture, from the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute (1999). She is an Adjunct Professor at the International Olympic Committee funded Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre at the University of Calgary, and an Associate Member of the Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sport, Exercise and OA.
The focus of Dr. Whittaker’s research program is to understand and prevent the long-term consequences of youth sport-related injuries. She has received over $500,000 in research funding as a principal investigator, and over $1.5 million dollars as a co-investigator. Jackie has published over 33 peer- reviewed scientific papers, 1 textbook, 1 book chapter and given over 40 invited presentations at national or international scientific conferences, including the prestigious International Olympic Committee World Conference on Prevention of Illness and Injury in Sport, and Osteoarthritis Research Society International Congresses. Dr. Whittaker has supervised and mentored numerous physiotherapy and research trainees and currently supervises 3 PhD and 2 Masters students.
Congratulations Dr. Jackie Whittaker on being one of 2018 Clearview Award of Merit recipients.