Len Goodman graduated from the Bachelor of Physical Health and Education program at the University of Toronto almost exactly 30 years ago in 1979. He wasn’t interested in becoming a physical education teacher, even though his father was, but he did develop a strong interest in exercise and the heart in the fourth year of his undergraduate degree.
He decided to pursue graduate studies in exercise and cardiac rehabilitation at the University of British Columbia. After completing his Master and PhD degrees at UBC, he went on to do a post-doctoral fellowship at Queen’s University thinking he was going to be an academic, but instead he got recruited by Defence Research and Development Canada, a national leader in defence science and technology.
“I actually went kicking and screaming, I didn’t want to do it even though my family lives in Toronto,” says Goodman. “But, they (his family) told me I’d be foolish to turn down the job, because there are not too many defence scientists, the facilities were fantastic and I’d be doing really cool work in aero-space physiology.”
He accepted the job and has been with DRDC ever since, occasionally lecturing at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education as an adjunct professor.
“I’ve done various things over the years, but my Phys. Ed. background is really what got me here,” says Goodman, who was back at the Faculty on Thursday evening, as one the speakers at the annual Career Café event that sees alumni sharing their stories of success with KPE students.
“Tonight I’m joining my colleagues in showing students that there are many opportunities and choices of careers. They’re in excess of what the traditional model was,” says Goodman. “When I graduated, most people stayed in the sport sciences, a few went to do graduate work and the majority went to the Faculty of Education to become Phys. Ed. teachers.”
Goodman said he feels delighted and honoured to be considered one of the success stories from the Faculty.
“I especially enjoy seeing how the student mentality has evolved in terms of possibilities of careers after a kinesiology degree,” he says.
April Bayona, a second year kinesiology student, came to the event to explore what career options are available for KIN graduates.
“A lot of people say you can only go into physiotherapy or medical school or chiropractic after a degree in kinesiology, but there are so many options available for students. Seeing who’s here, talking about what they did and how they went from kinesiology to their present careers is a great opportunity,” she says."
KPE student April Bayona deep in conversation at the 2019 Career Cafe
That’s music to Andrea Mulder’s ears, who is eager for students to look at pharmaceuticals as a career option. Mulder graduated with a BPHE in 1984 and now works as a senior marketing manager for a pharmaceutical company in the area of neurology.
“I learned a lot about anatomy and physiology as a BPHE student and now I work in the area of health promotion. Drugs often require lifestyle changes, so that’s where my background in physical health and education comes in very handy,” said Mulder.
“I realize it’s a difficult time when you’re graduating to know what you’re going to do and pharmaceuticals are a great area to explore if you have a bachelor degree in kinesiology, specifically working on health promotion and patient management” she said.
Fourth year kinesiology student Jonathan Felix admits to sometimes questioning his career options after he graduates with a kinesiology degree.
“I saw the list of presenters and their backgrounds were quite a bit different, so I came here to try to get some ideas, talks to some people who have similar backgrounds and see if I can learn something,” he says.
Between fourteen alumni speakers sharing their experiences of finding successful careers in fields as varied as anesthesiology, optometry, physiotherapy, marketing and science, there was much to learn, indeed. Perhaps nothing more exciting than the news announced by Dean Ira Jacobs about the QS World University rankings by subject placing U of T sport-related subjects 5th in the world.
Following a thunderous applause, Jacobs said: “You made a wise choice.” Another lesson filed away.
Below is the full list of speakers at the 2019 Career Café, sponsored by TD Insurance.
Karen Start
Claims Adviser
TD Insurance
Dr. Robert Smyth BPHE, MSc, MD
Anesthesiologist
Southlake Regional Health Centre
Andrea Mulder BPHE
Senior Marketing, Manager, Neurology
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
Dan Thompson BPHE
CEO
Myrtha Pools Canada
Helga Gonzalez Leyton BPHE, M.P.P.A.L.
Employment Standards Officer
Ministry of Labour
Dr. Karim Riskallah BPHE, CSCS, ARTR, FRR, D. Ac, DC
Chiropractor, Clinic Director/Owner
Infinity Health Centre
Dr. Rebecca Anidjar BPHE, O.D.
Optometrist
Yonge and College Optometry
Dominic Sawa MPK
Disability Management Specialist
Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
Peggy Corkum BPHE, RPT
Physiotherapist
Providence Healthcare
Peter Mastorakos BPHE, OT
Occupational Therapist
Slaight Centre for Early Intervention Services, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Jessica Caterini BSc, MSc
PhD candidate, Department of Exercise Sciences, U of T
Graduate trainee, Translational Medicine, SickKids
Martha Cumming Buchanan BPHE
Director, Major Gifts & Campaign Director
West Park Foundations
Liz Corson BPHE, MPH
Supervisor (A), Health Status and Epidemiology
Toronto Public Health
Len Goodman BPHE, PhD
Senior Defence Scientist
Defence Research and Development Canada – Toronto Research Centre
Gerry Aloise BPHE
Director, Marketing, Sales, Sponsorship
Canlan Ice Sports Inc.