Dr. Jackie Whittaker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, at the University of British Columbia, and Senior Research Scientist at Arthritis Research Canada in Vancouver, Canada. As a physiotherapist, her research takes a lifespan approach to injury and illness prevention. A central focus is the long-term welfare of athletes and knee health after sport/recreational-related injury. This includes research to improve knee injury care, understand knee injury consequences, and develop approaches to optimize function and healthy behaviours after injury. Two cross-cutting themes of her research are exposing and overcoming gendered environments that disadvantage female/woman/girl and gender-diverse athletes, and partnering with end-users to ensure solutions that are acceptable and relevant. Jackie’s research is guided by 21 years of clinical practice. She has published over 130 peer-reviewed research articles and led an international OPTKNEE consensus, which produced seven meta-analyses and world-first consensus recommendations for preventing osteoarthritis after traumatic knee injury.
