In honour of International Women’s Day (March 8), the Canadian Lung Association salutes all the wonderful women who have made a contribution to improving the lung health of Canadians.
In particular, we celebrate the many achievements of Dr. Dina Brooks who has been recently selected by the World Confederation for Physical Therapy Executive Committee to receive an International Service Award in the area of research.
This award honours individuals who have made a significant contribution to physical therapy internationally or within their region. Dr. Brooks was nominated for this award by the International Confederation of Cardiorespiratory Physical Therapists and will be presented this award on April 30 2015 in Singapore.
Dr. Brooks is chair of the Canadian Respiratory Health Professionals, a multidisciplinary respiratory health professional section of the Canadian Lung Association and a professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto.
Recognized internationally as a leader in cardiorespiratory rehabilitation, Dr. Brooks is the Canada Research Chair in Rehabilitation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. She has received many honours, from the Enid Graham Award (highest honour given to a Canadian physiotherapist) and the Meritorious Service Award of the Lung Association to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
She is scientific editor of Physiotherapy Canada. She has served as a member of the Canadian Institute of Heath Research Advisory Board -- Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, and is co-chair of the Canadian Respiratory Conference.
Dr. Brooks is involved in research at the Department of Respiratory Medicine at West Park Hospital, the Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, and Toronto Rehab Institute. Her innovative research has led to significant improvement in patient care and deepened our understanding of the impact of respiratory disease.
By exploring more effective treatment and rehabilitation plans—from improving physical activity prescriptions for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), to evaluating rehabilitation technologies like wheeled walkers and home oxygen use, to establishing better long-term strategies—Dr. Brooks aims to bring hope to people with this chronic lung disease by ensuring lasting benefits from rehabilitation and helping them maintain quality of life.
Through her work, Dr. Brooks will cut down on costly and resource-intensive COPD hospitalizations and provide specialized training for researchers and practitioners in the health-care system.
By providing better treatment protocols for COPD symptoms like shortness of breath, Dr. Brooks’ research will make daily life much more manageable for people with COPD.
About the Canadian Lung Association
Established in 1900, The Lung Association is one of Canada’s oldest and most respected health charities, and the leading national organization for science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy on lung heath issues.
Media contact:
Janis Hass
Director of Marketing and Communications
Canadian Lung Association
613-569-6411 ext. 252
jhass@lung.ca
