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MyMSK Lab Members

Meet our team

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Leigh Gabel, PhD

Director, Movement and Musculoskeletal Health Lab

Dr. Gabel is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology. She joined the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary in 2021 and currently leads the Movement and Musculoskeletal health lab. The MyMSK lab is dedicated to studying how movement influences musculoskeletal health across the lifespan. Dr. Gabel is a principal investigator on several research projects supported by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Employees

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Samantha Sutherland

Research Coordinator

Sam is currently the Research Coordinator for over 10 projects in both the Gabel and Manske Labs. Prior to UofC, she coordinated neurodevelopmental disability research at the Faculty of Social Work (UofC), and social determinants of mental health and illness research at Harvard Medical School. She also completed her B.A. in Environmental Analysis & Policy (2017) from Boston University. Outside of work she enjoys playing hockey, tennis, slo-pitch, and working on her novel.

If you have any questions regarding research performed at our lab feel free to contact Sam at samantha.sutherla1@ucalgary.ca

Graduate students

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Christina Alexander

PhD Kinesiology – 1st year 

Christina completed her M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Calgary in 2023. Her M.Sc. project was focused on identifying the impact of physical activity on the bone health of children and adolescents. In a similar vein, Christina's PhD project aims to understand whether high intensity resistance and impact training can slow down bone loss in early menopausal women. Outside of school Christina enjoys exploring the mountains, crocheting, and finding new places to get a delicious cup of coffee. 

If you are curious about her work, you can reach her at christina.alexander@ucalgary.ca

 

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Erin Hodgson

M.Sc. Biomedical Engineering - 2nd year

Erin completed her undergraduate degree in Natural Science concentrating in Biology and Chemistry at the University of Calgary in 2022. She is currently pursuing her MSc in Biomedical Engineering under the co-supervision of Dr. Leigh Gabel and Dr. Elizabeth Condliffe in the Movement and Musculoskeletal Lab (MyMSK) and Pediatric Onset of Neuromotor Impairments Lab (PONI). Erin's research focuses on bone and muscle health in children with mobility impairments.

To learn more about Erin's work, you can reach her at erin.hodgson1@ucalgary.ca

 

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Leah Kaluta

M.Sc. Kinesiology - 2nd year

Leah completed her Bachelor of Kinesiology (2006) and Masters of Kinesiology (2023) at the University of Calgary and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Kinesiology. Leah has extensive experience in strength and conditioning, and exercise physiology with over 20 years as a coach and personal trainer. Her current research seeks to understand how high intensity strength and impact training affect bone density in early menopause, and how to implement such program safely and effectively to this demographic.

If you are interested in Leah's work and would like to know more, you can reach her at leah.kaluta@ucalgary.ca

 

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Patrick Whitman

M.Sc. Kinesiology - 2nd year

Prior to attending the University of Calgary, Pat completed his Bachelor of Science of Kinesiology Honours Conversion at Dalhousie University in 2022. Now our labs favourite Maritimer, also known as Bucket Hat Pat, is currently working on the STOP-EM project investigating changes in muscle mass and performance in menopausal women.

If you would like to know more about his work feel free to reach out at patrick.whitman@ucalgary.ca

 

Undergraduate students

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Alana Lo

B.Sc. Natural Sciences (Biology and Chemistry Concentrations) – 4th year 

B.Ed. Secondary Education – Biology

Alana is interested in the ways in which leading an active life can maintain musculoskeletal health across a person’s lifespan. She is currently working on the STOP-EM project analyzing biomarkers of bone turnover in early menopausal women when undergoing high intensity resistance and impact training. Outside of the lab, Alana enjoys hiking, climbing, and reading. 

To learn more about Alana's work, feel free to reach out at alana.lo@ucalgary.ca

 

Former Students

Maahika Mehta - B.Sc. Biomechanics, University of Calgary, Honours Thesis Student & Summer Student 2024

Anita Westfalewski - B.Sc. Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Honours Thesis Student 2024 

Emily Dittmer - B.Sc. Biomechanics, University of Calgary, Summer Student 2023

Brittney Goodman - B.Sc. Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Honours Thesis Student & Summer Student 2022

Carol Bryans - B.Sc. Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Summer Co-op Student 2022

Madeleine Graham - B.A. Dance/ B.Sc. Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Honours Thesis Student 2024 

Egi Vasil - B.Sc. Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Honours Thesis Student & Summer Student 2024

Kate Kang - B.Sc. Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Honours Thesis Student & Summer Student 2023

Christal Cabrales - B.Sc. Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Summer Student 2022