Respiratory Rehabilitation Research Chair

West Park appoints Dr. Dina Brooks as new NSA Chair in Respiratory Rehabilitation Research

Dina Brooks 

Toronto (April 10, 2019) – West Park Healthcare Centre is delighted to announce that following a national search, Dr. Dina Brooks, a leader in the study of pulmonary and cardiovascular rehabilitation, has been appointed as the National Sanitarium Association Chair in Respiratory Rehabilitation Research.

Dr. Brooks will take over from Dr. Roger Goldstein, who held the position since it was created in 2002 with an historic $1 million gift to West Park from the National Sanitarium Association (NSA), matched by the hospital’s Foundation. It was Canada’s first research chair in respiratory rehabilitation, and the first research chair at West Park.

Dr. Brooks has received multiple awards, including distinctions such as the 2016 Canadian Lung Association’s Honourary Life Membership Award for her dedication to improving lung health, and the World Confederation Physical Therapy International Service Award in 2015, recognizing her significant contribution to physical therapy internationally. She also held a Canada Research Chair in Rehabilitation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, from 2008-2018.

Among her many achievements is her recent appointment as Vice-Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University in Hamilton, and Executive Director of its School of Rehabilitation Science. She holds a full professorship at University of Toronto since 2011 and holds cross appointments in the U of T's Department of Medicine, the Department of Physical Therapy and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute.

Building on her extensive body of research and proven track record of success, Dr. Brooks will, in her capacity as NSA Chair, continue to play a vital role in:
Championing and advancing respiratory rehabilitation research at West Park and with national and international research networks.
Building on the profile and program of respiratory rehabilitation research, as a means to innovate care delivery that further positions West Park as a leading academic health sciences campus in applied clinical rehabilitation research. 
Advancing scientific knowledge and clinical practice in respiratory rehab research.
Providing opportunities for teaching and supervision of doctoral stream students, mentorship of postdoctoral fellows and more junior investigators.