Spring 2018 Faculty Profile

Each edition of Physiotherapy Matters e-Newsletter highlights a member of the School of Physiotherapy’s faculty. This issue we are pleased to feature Professor Cheryle Kelm. 

When asked what led her to enroll in the University of Saskatchewan’s Physical Therapy program following high school graduation, Cheryle explained that the program was very new, and she was interested in a career that would challenge her.  She also shared that spending some time during her school years living with her great aunt, who lived with polio, and observing her ongoing efforts to overcome the health and functional challenges associated with the aftermath of the disease, may also have been a contributing factor.

During her undergraduate and graduate studies, Cheryle’s clinical and research interests included cardiopulmonary health and disease (primarily cystic fibrosis, asthma and COPD), acute cardiac surgical care, women’s health issues, and technology-enhanced learning within the  cardiorespiratory curriculum. These areas of interest continued during almost two decades of teaching and research collaborations at the University of Saskatchewan.

In July of 2005, after two years of adjunct involvement with Dalhousie’s School of Physiotherapy, Cheryle became a full professor at the School. Since joining the Dalhousie faculty, her teaching has focused on the cardiopulmonary and integrated practice modules of the Entry-Level Masters Curriculum. She has also co-delivered almost a dozen regional interdisciplinary COPDTrec and AsthmaTrec facilitator training courses on patient self-management for respiratory disease, and has been involved with provincial and university committees for the delivery of simulation training in health professional education.

Cheryle has had extensive involvement with a variety of committees as well as professional and not-for-profit organizations, including the Heart and Stroke Foundation (Saskatchewan), Canadian Lung Association (provincial and National levels), the Cardio Respiratory Division of CPA, and the Canadian Network for Respiratory Care (formerly CNAC). She was a co-founder and first female non-physician president of the Saskatchewan Thoracic Society (Health Professionals section of the Lung Association of SK). Just before her move to Nova Scotia, she received the Queen’s Saskatchewan Centennial Medal for outstanding leadership and contribution to the province related to her volunteer work with the Lung Association and its multi-disciplinary Discovery Asthma Camp.  Prior to that, in 2003, she was also honored at a national level by the Canadian Lung Association as a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of her work with its Board of Directors and COPD and Asthma Guidelines committees during her terms as president of the Canadian Physiotherapy Cardiorespiratory Society.

Now, as she creeps up to a total of 15 years at Dalhousie, Cheryle chuckles when she tells me that, “I planned to be here maybe 5 years at the end of an already rewarding career, and that was it – the chance to give up my tenure and research in exchange for a limited term position focusing completely on the teaching that I loved was just too hard to resist.”  The Nova Scotia lifestyle and the beauty of the Maritimes were also big drawing cards at a time “when I could, so I did!”   When asked, “So what made you stay for longer?” the answer without hesitation was, “it’s a great program, but mostly the students!”.

When chatting with our students, it is easy to see that Cheryle’s continual support for her students rings true:

“Cheryle is so caring towards her students! She always takes the time to check in to make sure you’re finding time for yourself through all the stress of physio school! A well-rounded professor who provides not only academic support but emotional support too” ~K.M.   “Cheryle made PT School feel more like a home, full of family members and friends instead of staff and students. She was able to accomplish this atmosphere while maintaining a place of competitive higher learning. She’s top notch!” ~A.A.

Cheryle’s engagement with the students in her capacity as their professor and Graduate Program Coordinator overflows into extra-curricular and philanthropic activities such as the For the Health of It fundraising efforts. Particularly notable is the annual “Pie the Prof” fundraiser where she could be found giving generously for the opportunity to “pie-a-student” or to being “pie-d by students” for local not-for-profit organizations.

Having made the decision to leave Dalhousie’s SoPT to embrace a new challenging opportunity we call “retirement”, Cheryle clears out her office - leaving SoPT faculty, staff and students reflecting on her many contributions during her time here.