Principal Investigator
Dr. Pat Camp, PT, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, UBC
Clinician-Scientist, UBC Centre for Heart Lung Innovation
Dr. Pat Camp is a clinician-scientist at St. Paul’s Hospital. Her clinician-scientist appointment position is jointly supported by the University of British Columbia Department of Physical Therapy and the Providence Health Care Research Institute. Dr. Camp’s research is focused on three main themes: Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Hospitalized Patients with an Acute Exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD); Pulmonary Tele-Rehabilitation (with a specific focus on Indigenous health); and Knowledge Translation and Quality Assessment for Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
Research Team
Ashley Winter, RAD, BCR – Research Coordinator
Ashley Winter is a research coordinator working with Dr. Camp in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Research Laboratory. She graduated in 2008 from Capilano University with her diploma as a Rehabilitation Assistant working mainly in the fields of physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Ashley graduated from the University of Calgary with her undergraduate degree in Community Rehabilitation. She has worked in the PRRL since April 2012, and is involved in a variety of research projects as well as managing and maintaining the lab. Ashley is a professional dance performer and instructor, and enjoys maintaining her fitness and wellness through running, yoga and nutrition. She is also a certified Stott Pilates instructor.
Dr. Briony Gray, PhD – Research Associate
Dr Briony Gray has an interdisciplinary background in geography, data, and natural disaster management from the University of
Southampton, UK. Focusing on health inequalities, community vulnerability, and indigenous methodologies she has worked in many
academic research projects for UK, European and Canadian universities, as well as global research collaborations for at-risk
populations. She is a research associate in the SPIRO project supporting mixed-methodologies, data analysis, summary report and
grant writing, and other admin and management tasks. In her spare time she enjoys being in the mountains and staying active.
Dr. Asaly Skrenes, PhD, MEd – Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Asaly Skrenes completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with UBC, where her research examined the long-term psychosocial and psychosexual effects of childhood sexual abuse and other adverse childhood experiences, with a focus on gender dynamics, attachment, and disclosure. As a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Pat Camp’s lab, her work centres on men’s wellness, the CSFS Healing Centre of Excellence, and the lifelong impacts of early adversity—areas that reflect her core research passion. Outside of academia, Asaly spends much of her time playing sports and exploring the outdoors with her dog, as well as travelling and spending time with family and friends.
Nikol Ensor, BA – Research Assistant
Nikol Ensor is a research assistant under Dr. Camp in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Research Laboratory. She graduated from UBC with her undergraduate degree in 2023 in Environment and Sustainability Geography. Nikol is passionate about research and working to create positive impact through her work. She aims to expand her research capabilities and knowledge within the intersection of geography and health care. Her research interest includes mapping natural disasters and their impact on health and the healthcare system and the environmental effects of climate change within healthcare. She enjoys spending her free time either in, the outdoors hiking, running, and snowboarding or indoors cooking and gaming.
Dr. Mona Khorshidfar, PhD. Research Assistant
Mona Khorshidfar has a strong background in laboratory hematology and biochemistry. She previously worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UBC, focusing on the quality of platelet products at Canadian Blood Services through a groundbreaking investigation of donor characteristics. Before that, she contributed to multiple research projects at the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization. Mona is deeply committed to research and works to create a meaningful difference through her contributions. Now, she has joined Dr. Pat Camp’s Lab to support the team by reviewing articles, writing systematic reviews, and conducting data analysis related to lung rehabilitation research. She is passionate about advancing respiratory health research and expanding her expertise in scientific analysis.
In her free time, Mona enjoys cooking, walking or biking along the Seawall, and attending social gatherings.
Dr. Stephanie Sersli, PhD. Research Associate
Stephanie’s background bridges geography, public health, and the social sciences. She has worked on projects related to active transportation, commercial determinants of health, and community-based initiatives supporting newcomer well-being. At the lab, Stephanie is currently contributing to the SPIRO project. Outside of work, she bikes around the city, swims with a club, and tends an overgrown garden.
Debora Petry Moecke, PhD – Post Doctoral Fellow
Débora Petry Moecke is a Physical Therapist from Brazil. She did her postgraduate studies in a two-year Multi-professional Residency Program with an emphasis on Intensive Care at the University Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC/Brazil), and has experience working with hospital physiotherapy. She holds a Master Degree in Physiotherapy by the Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC/Brazil), developing research focused on the pulmonary effects of exercise in chronic diseases. She is joining the group as a post-doctoral student after obtaining her PhD at UBC in Rehabilitation Sciences. She will continue her work learning about First Nations communities in Canada, working on the development of a COPD Telehealth System seeking to improve lung-related health services for this population. In her spare time, she enjoys going to parks, hiking, traveling to new places, watching TV series and playing board games.
Ian McDonald, Research Assistant
Ian McDonald rejoins the UBC Pulmonary Rehabilitation Research Laboratory (PRRL) under Dr. Camp as a Research Assistant. He is a fourth-year student in UVic’s political science program, but he enjoys his Summer’s in Vancouver with his cherished family, friends, and colleagues. His background inspires a passion behind the normative aspect of research and how understanding the world, its problems and its virtues, can be a means to change it for the better. He aims to enhance his own researching prowess and elucidate the connections between health research, health policy, and people’s lived experience of BC’s health system in his time with the PRRL. When he is not working, you may find him playing games, taking hikes, attempting to hit a golf ball straight, practicing mindfulness, or enjoying local music.
Ilan Meghelli, Research Assistant
Ilan Meghelli is an international student at UBC studying Biology, with aspirations to pursue a career in the medical field. He grew up in the United States and comes from a French and Algerian background. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and staying active through fitness.
Trainees
Justin Turner, MOT, PhD Candidate
Justin Turner is an occupational therapist and doctoral student in the UBC PhD program in Rehabilitation Sciences. He graduated in 2017 from UBC’s Master of Occupational Therapy program, and has worked since then with Northern Health Authority as an OT in a variety of practice settings in Prince George, BC. Outside work, Justin enjoys going for hikes in Northern BC, practicing yoga, and volunteering with his local Métis community. Justin’s research with Dr. Camp’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Research Laboratory examines how wildfires in Northern BC affect First Nations people living with chronic lung disease. The project is a collaboration between UBC and Carrier Sekani Family Services.
Sunaina Chopra, MPT/PhD Student
Sunaina Chopra is currently pursuing an MPT/PhD in Rehabilitation Science at UBC. Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, she earned her
BSc in Biology from UBC in 2021. In 2024, she completed her MSc in Rehabilitation Science under the supervision of Dr. Camp.
During her doctoral studies, Sunaina plans to collaborate with Carrier Sekani Family Services to explore how physical activity can
enhance the health and wellness of First Nations communities in north-central BC. Beyond her academic pursuits, Sunaina works as a
physiotherapy assistant at a private clinic. She enjoys baking, watching movies, and staying active through daily walks with her
dog, strength-training sessions with her family, and biking around her neighbourhood.
Maryke Peter, MSc Trainee
Maryke Peter is a paralegal. She graduated in 2020 from Capilano University’s Bachelor of Legal Studies program. Maryke has a clear interest in developing skills in academic research along with a desire to pursue a career path in Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Medical Technology patents. Maryke is currently completing her Master’s degree in Experimental Medicine at UBC. Maryke’s research with Dr. Camp’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Research Laboratory will focus on the themes: Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); Exploring Relationships Between Medicine and Law through the Lens of Policy and Patents; and Innovations in Health Technology.
Jinelle Panton, PhD Trainee
Jinelle Panton is a PhD student currently enrolled in the Experimental Medicine program at UBC. She graduated in 2016 with her Bachelor in Basic Medical Sciences in Pharmacology and immediately went on to complete an MSc in Biomedical Research at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. During her Masters, her research focus was on Jamaican ethnopharmacology within the
context of asthma. Since then, her interest in integrative medicine has deepened as this focuses on multiple evidence based therapies to improve patient health. Her focus in Dr. Camp’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Research Laboratory will be on health equity and improving respiratory care in BC. She enjoys watching movies and resistance training to stay fit.