Alumni Profiles

Jennifer Shears BSc (PT) (Dal), 1995 Physiotherapy Clinical Practice Leader Rehabilitation Continuing Care Program Eastern Health L. A. Miller Center Site St. John's, NL

Jennifer graduated from Dalhousie's School of Physiotherapy in 1995. She then spent a year working in sunny Florida in a rehabilitation facility where her passion for clinical neuroscience was ignited while working with the neurological patient there. She returned home to St. John’s, Newfoundland a year later and started working at the L.A. Miller Center. She has never looked back.

Ms. Shears presently works as the Physiotherapy Neuroscience Clinical Practice Leader for the Rehabilitation Continuing Care Program with Eastern Health. Her area of clinical work and expertise is in outpatient rehab and she is also actively involved in two clinical research projects with her mentor, Dr. Michelle Ploughman (Clinical Researcher for Eastern Health).

This past year they initiated a unique community based program for neurologically impaired adults called NeuroFit. This program was started in response to the lack of community opportunities available to this patient population upon discharge from formal rehabilitation. Partnering with the Ches Penny Family YM-YWCA in St. John’s, Ms. Shears and Dr. Ploughman run a 10 week, 2 evenings a week circuit style program. They have just finished the third 10 week session and hope to promote its sustainability next year. This past year both Physiotherapy and Kinesiology students have contributed greatly to the success of the NeuroFit program by volunteering their time.

Student education is one of Jennifer's passions and a role she values at the Miller Center. As the site clinical coordinator, she enjoys the opportunity to facilitate the clinical education of upcoming physiotherapists. She feels it is a clinician's responsibility to invest in the education of the next generation of physiotherapists. She strives for excellence in clinical education to produce successful, competent physiotherapists. Over the years, Jennifer has generously offered many placements to enthusiastic students from Dalhousie and other Universities across Canada.

Jennifer earnestly says, "With the New Year fast approaching we are excited about the arrival of this year’s new students scheduled for clinical placements here at the L.A. Miller Center."