Creating a Path Forward for Clinical Exercise Physiologists

Astrid De Souza is an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Clinical Exercise Physiologist who is seeking Adjunct Professor status in the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University.  She has worked in both the Healthy Heart Program at St. Paul’s Hospital from 2006 to 2016 and presently works in the Children’s Heart Centre at BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) (2006-present). Throughout her career, Astrid has had numerous opportunities to teach, engage in research and to mentor undergraduate and graduate students in the clinic. Astrid’s commitment and effectiveness in these activities led to her appointment as a Clinical Instructor in Pediatrics at the University of BC.

Astrid’s experience in the health care setting enables her to provide informed guidance to the BPK program as it strives to meet the Kinesiology Integrated Project Team recommendations, outlined in the November 2022 Provincial Memorandum.  As the first full-time Exercise Physiologist to work at BCCH, Astrid has had to navigate the health care system and understand how the Employer (HEABC) and the Health Sciences Association (HSA) work together in the health care system. This experience provides a unique lens in creating a path forward for clinical exercise physiologists.

Beyond her clinical knowledge, Astrid has a wealth of experience in coaching children and adults of all ages and levels in sport. Astrid is Level 3 NCCP certified and has coached field hockey at a Regional and Provincial level; she continues to coach a Division 1 Women’s League team. She has also been involved in strength and conditioning coaching for junior figure skaters. Her experience in coaching offers a broader perspective to her clinical practice and allows her to bring concepts like the Long-term Athlete Development Model and Physical Literacy into her work with children with chronic disease.