Fall 2022 Special Feature

An Interview with David Bowman

by Lil Crump

Photo of David Bowman defending his Master's Thesis entitled: "Learning model action observation: An investigation into long-term motor learning outcomes" (Supervisor Dr. Boe).

Physiotherapy was a significant departure from David Bowman’s undergrad in earth sciences, so what made him chose the School of Physiotherapy’s Master of Science in Rehabilitation Research Program for his Master's degree?

According to David, he had terrific experiences in research and problem-based learning during his four years of integrated science, undergrad at McMaster University. And although Physiotherapy was a significant departure from his earth sciences major, he knew that he wanted to remain involved in research at a fundamental level, all the way from reviewing evidence and expert opinions to designing a paradigm to answer a novel question.

At the time, other Physiotherapy Schools in Canada were offering joint MScPT/PhD programs, but given that this was a new field to David, he was apprehensive to commit to a PhD without fully understanding the landscape of issues and topics a researcher could investigate. Dalhousie’s MScRRPT option was an approach that would allow David to take a higher-level, general view of a research topic as he became more familiar with physiotherapy in general. “I was fortunate enough to find a supervisor (Dr. Shaun Boe) who had interests in accelerated learning and motor skill acquisition" says David, “and this sealed the deal for the program of choice for me”.

I had the opportunity to ask David a few questions about his time in the MScRRPT program, his placement experiences and learning experiences, and about what he’d miss most about being in the program. Here’s what he had to say.
 
How did the School of Physiotherapy's MScRRPT program prepare you for your clinical placements?

My research looked at ways to better understand how we acquire, develop, and refine motor skills using a technique called action observation, and how observation of errors can accelerate skill acquisition. These principles are actually very relevant in physiotherapy, when we consider that so much of our practice involves working with patients on new motor skills such as exercises, gait patterns, and mobility strategies. For example, patients found it beneficial to first see a demonstration of the incorrect way to complete an exercise or movement, followed by feedback and the correct way. This improved patients’ education and insights, given that they were aware of the sticking points for certain movements, and likely contributed to improved therapeutic outcomes in the long run. In a more general sense, I believe that my research training allowed me to be more critical of emerging evidence, appraise literature, and incorporate novel techniques into my practice.
 
One of your placements was on a Department of National Defence (DND) base – what was that like?

My experience at DND Shearwater was extremely positive. My neurotherapeutics placement preceptor had previously served in the Forces and remarked to me that I should look into shadowing a civilian physiotherapist working with DND. As it happens, the opportunity came up to complete a DND placement, so I was excited to give it a shot. The base operated as an outpatient orthopaedics clinic equipped with a state-of-the-art gym, access to interdisciplinary professionals, plenty of time for assessments and treatments, and an efficient triage system.  It was well-suited as a senior placement as my preceptor gave me plenty of independence to work with patients and hone my exercise prescription and education skills. I would highly recommend this placement option to a student interested in outpatient orthopaedics, and a focus on education, exercise, and return-to-activity/sport planning in their practice.

As a recent graduate, do you feel you have the skill sets to work in the diverse and evolving profession of physiotherapy?

Despite the unavoidable interruptions we experienced in our curriculum due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, I believe Dalhousie has prepared the graduating class well to enter the physiotherapy profession. I think there is an understanding that it's simply impossible to know everything, and with the rapidly evolving evidence in our profession, relying on the development of skills such as inquiry, appraisal, and research allows us to stay current and up-to-date on emerging trends. Over the course of my training in both degrees over the past three years, I am confident in my skillsets and eager to begin my physiotherapy career.
 
What did you see as the highlights of the program?

I believe that Dalhousie’s MScRRPT Program is unique in that it allows individuals interested in clinical practice and research to complete training in both and add only one more year to their studies, as opposed to three or more in the case of a Joint PhD-physiotherapy degree. The prospect of doing both degrees in three years was daunting at first, but the program strategically laid out key timelines that meshed the curriculums together and ensured a student could be successful in both pursuits. There is a wide variety of research topics available in the School of Physiotherapy and I think there is something for every student interested in pursuing this type of degree combination. I believe that allowing a student to complete this type of research training in tandem with their physiotherapy education enriches both streams of study with deeper insights into the issues facing healthcare, rehabilitation, and physiotherapy in general.

Were you able to pursue any passions outside of School and studies?

Shortly before coming to Nova Scotia for school, I took up ultramarathon racing. It turns out there is a spectacular trail running community in Halifax, through which I met a number of unforgettable friends and training partners. I spend a lot of my time running new trails and preparing for races, which I was fortunately able to keep up and improve upon over the course of the program. I am exploring my ability to compete in longer-distance events, and plan to attempt my first 100-mile race in Cape Breton next summer.
 
What will you miss the most after graduation?

I will miss seeing my classmates, fellow lab members, and instructors on campus and in the Forrest building. We developed such a unique bond together, especially amidst the challenges posed by COVID-19, and shared so many great memories along the way during our years in the program. There were certainly highs and lows, but we held strong as a class through all of it and I am so inspired by the resiliency and dedication shown by my peers. I will also miss the many places around and beyond Halifax that I was so fortunate to explore during my three years living in Nova Scotia.
 
What are your plans after graduation?

I recently moved to the Ottawa-Gatineau region and will be starting with a private orthopaedics clinic shortly after Convocation – interestingly, I was recommended to this clinic by a preceptor on a previous placement, so Dalhousie’s placement program has positively influenced my career in that way! I am confident that the skills learned on my five placements over the course of the program, such as time management, self-reflection, and relationship building - will be key to my career success. Simply having access to unique mentors through these placements with different perspectives, experiences, and styles of practice has enabled me to become a more well-rounded, open-minded clinician. On the research front, I am also working with Dr. Adria Quigley’s lab on an upcoming lifestyle intervention project and am hoping to publish my master thesis in the coming months.  
 
We wish you all the best as you prepare for your thesis publication, and on your preparations for your 100-mile Cape Breton race next summer.