OUR SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Cindy Barha, PhD
Cindy is a translational researcher with expertise in exercise neuroscience, neuroendocrinology, and aging. Her research focuses on determining why females are more likely than males to develop Alzheimer’s disease and examining how exercise can be utilized as an intervention to promote healthy brain aging. In MOMENTUM, Cindy is interested in examining how different reproductive history variables (e.g., number and health status of previous pregnancies) can alter the trajectory of brain aging across the menopause transition and the potential role physical activity.
Patricia (Tish) Doyle-Baker, Dr PH/PhD
Dr. Patricia Doyle-Baker is a sport scientist and Doctor of Public health researcher specializing in women’s and girls’ health. She studies how hormonal transitions—from the menstrual cycle through menopause—interact with exercise, cardiovascular and bone health, and quality of life in active women. Known to her students as “Dr. DB” she also conducts research on menstrual‑cycle tracking (apps and hormone monitors), ovulation, and low energy availability in female athletes to inform safer training practices. With a new knee, Tish likes to say she has a leg up on recovery and staying active, bringing lived experience to her work on movement and rehabilitation. At Perspectives, she will share evidence‑informed, ready‑to‑use takeaways for exercise professionals, policy makers, clinicians, and facility leaders who want to better support the health and physical activity of women and girls.
Laurie Hillis, MA
Laurie is an executive coach, team coach, speaker and leadership development practitioner whose purpose is to help others examine and create their most courageous self as they rumble with the daunting arenas they navigate in this world. Laurie has a Master’s degree in Leaderhsip and Learning from Royal Roads University, and many other professional designations including Psychological Safety, Professional Certified Coach, Certified Trauma-informed Coach, and Conflict Informed Coach. She is a senior faculty member at the University of Alberta Executive Education and former Director at the Banff Centre for Leadership, where she earned a faculty of the year award.
Nicole Culos-Reed, PHD
Nicole Culos-Reed is a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary, and also holds appointments with the Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, and with the Department of Psychosocial Resources, Tom Baker Cancer Centre. Nicole is the director of the Health and Wellness Lab and the Thrive Centre, a dedicated fitness facility for individuals living with and beyond cancer. Nicole's expertise is in health and exercise psychology, with a focus on health behaviour change. Nicole’s research focuses on developing, implementing, and evaluating sustainable community-based exercise oncology programs, building exercise into standard cancer care.
Keely Shaw, Phd
Dr. Keely Shaw is a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Calgary with research interests in exercise metabolism and nutrition in understudied populations such as Masters athletes, athletes with physical disabilities, and female athletes. Her current research investigates novel strategies to reduce iron deficiency in athletes and the impact of sub-clinical iron deficiency on health and performance as well as strategies to improve health and wellbeing in those affected by fatiguing conditions such as Long COVID and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. In addition to her research, Dr. Shaw is a two-time Paralympian in cycling, winning a bronze medal in both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in the Women’s C4 3000m Individual Pursuit.
LAUREN BURT PHD
Dr. Lauren Burt is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine specializing in musculoskeletal health research. Her work uses advanced skeletal imaging techniques, including high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) and dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), to investigate how growth, ageing, nutrition and physical activity influence bone health and fracture risk. Through longitudinal and intervention studies, Dr. Burt seeks to better understand skeletal adaptation and develop evidence-based approaches to improve musculoskeletal health across the lifespan.