Two health scholars join national academy

Exercise psychologist Ryan Rhodes and palliative care researcher Kelli Stajduhar have been elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS), considered the highest honour for a Canadian health scholar.

The CAHS is one of three national academies within the Council of Canadian Academies. Fellows are elected based on their leadership, creativity and commitment to advancing academic health sciences.

Rhodes is a faculty member in UVic’s School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, director of the Behavioural Medicine Laboratory, and associate director of the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health. Much of his research is focused on early family development of physical activity, and finding ways to motivate people to become more active. He maintains a secondary focus on physical activity and aging.

To date, Rhodes has held more than 80 external grants for his research. He’s contributed more than 252 peer-reviewed publications, given 250 presentations and written 20 book chapters and an undergraduate textbook.

Stajduhar is a professor with UVic’s School of Nursing and Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health. Her research and clinical work is focused on palliative care and gerontology, especially relating to health service needs for those at the end of their lives and their families.

Stajduhar is lead investigator with iPANEL—the Initiative for a Palliative Approach in Nursing: Evidence and Leadership—a provincial project to advance the further integration of palliative care into our health system. She also leads an international research collaborative on family care-giving and a Victoria-based study on access to end-of-life care for structurally vulnerable populations.

Stajduhar received the 2016 Award for Excellence in Nursing Research from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, and the Confederation of University Faculty Association’s 2017 Academic of the Year Award.