Anatomy and human biology was what initially attracted Shgufta Docter to the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE). But throughout her undergraduate degree she became fascinated with translating often complex research for the public.
Throughout her four years she has helped the community better understand sport psychology and has worked with Toronto’s South Asian community to become more active. She has also helped guide three years of undergraduate students in complex anatomy while finding her own footing as a teacher and mentor.
In the future, as a Master of Physiotherapy and PhD candidate at the University of Western Ontario, she plans to leverage the growth of technology in fields such as rehabilitation and physical therapy to benefit patients across Canada.
She describes her journey through KPE and her plans for the future.
Why did you decide to come to KPE?
I was really interested in health sciences, medicine and physiotherapy and I knew U of T would provide me with the best opportunities to pursue my goals. I attended a few recruitment events and saw that KPE offered extensive courses in anatomy and human biology and I was immediately interested!
How did you get started in research?
In my third year I took a stress and coping course with Professor Katherine Tamminen and I became really interested in sport psychology. In my fourth year, I worked with her on a research project studying how youth hockey players and parents searched for information on nutrition, concussions, and aggression. Our findings revealed a gap between what’s out there and the accessibility of it – a finding that necessitates future research on how to make important information easy to access. While information and policies may be published in journals, there’s no real way of knowing if the people it should reach – the stakeholders – are getting it.
What were your placement experiences like?
In my third year I did a placement with the Faculty of Medicine in the Division of Anatomy. We dissected human cadavers to carefully reveal different vessels and nerves. It was fascinating to understand not only the technique required, but also how the human body works and to see that level of detail.
My second placement was in Orthopaedic Surgery at Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network. I worked at the Krembil Research Institute to help collect data for research in osteoarthritis patients undergoing total knee and hip replacements for the ongoing Campaign to Cure Arthritis. The role required interacting with patients and professionals, and I learned how large institutions conduct research.
What do you hope to do in the future?
My experiences have led me to want to become a clinician-researcher, and I will be pursuing a five-year Master of Physiotherapy and PhD degree at the University of Western Ontario in the fall. I’m really interested in musculoskeletal health and at Western I’ll be researching how technology can help patients' rehabilitation following orthopaedic surgery.
I’m excited to pursue this path because I can collaborate with different professions and there will be a lot of flexibility with future pursuits – my practice will inform my research and my research will inform my practice.
I’ll also continue my work in the community, helping minority women to get active and live healthy lives. As a future scientist, I hope to help translate knowledge to the community in easy ways.
What were your most memorable moments at KPE?
I’ll always remember the friends – now friends I call family – I’ve made at KPE. They really helped me build confidence and encouraged me to accomplish my goals. The first day of one of our classes, the Outdoor Project Course, was when I met my best friends and I’m confident that they’ll become lifelong friends.
What advice would you give to students?
It’s important to take advantage of opportunities. I think that’s what has helped me most – I was presented and sought out many opportunities to explore different paths and I’m always looking to better myself as a person, student and researcher. We don’t always have the answers to where we’re going in life, but if you take chances and explore as many opportunities as possible you can gain a better sense of what you’d like to do in the future. Try to get a taste of everything and have a keen sense of curiosity!