Dr. Maryse Fortin, PhD, CAT(C)
 

Dr. Fortin is Associate Professor at Concordia University. Her primary area of research and clinical expertise is in musculoskeletal spine imaging and rehabilitation. Her research focuses on  understanding the role of the paraspinal musculature in the development and recurrence of low back pain and neck pain, using structural and advanced MRI and ultrasound imaging applications, with the aim of quantifying changes in muscle function and temporal degenerative changes as possible factors in persistent pain and disability. A further interest of hers is to clarify the effects of different types of exercise  therapy on the size, asymmetry, and function of the paraspinal muscles in chronic low back pain.

Brent Rosenstein, PhD(c)

Brent is currently completing his PhD in Health and Exercise Science under the supervision of Dr. Maryse Fortin, and is a Human Anatomy Lab Instructor. He obtained his Bachelor of Science (2014-2017) and Master of Science (2017-2019) in Exercise Science, where he studied the effects of three different exercise-training protocols on cognition in older adults suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His current projects study the effect of different therapeutic exercises on paraspinal muscle morphology and function in chronic low back pain. Overall, Brent is passionate about contributing to a healthier & happier society through research, teaching, community service, or participating in other positive initiatives. His research, combined with his unique experiences, have led him to establish a career goal of helping people live healthier lives, especially through exercise.

Daniel Wolfe, PhD(c), CAT(C)

Dan  graduated  from Concordia University with a BSc in Exercise Science in 2018 and is currently completing his PhD under the supervision of Dr. Maryse Fortin. He is the recipient of a 2020 Mitacs grant for research investigating the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on lumbar multifidus morphology and function in chronic low back pain patients. As a Certified Athletic Therapist, Dan is also particularly interested in the association between paravertebral muscle function and head injuries in athletes, and hopes his research can help identify muscle-related concussion risk factors.

Chanelle Montpetit, BSc, CAT(C)

Chanelle is currently completing her Ph.D. in Health and Exercise Science under the supervision of Dr. Maryse Fortin. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Health, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology with a specialization in Honours Athletic Therapy (2018-2022) and accelerated from her Master of Science (2022-2023) to pursue her Ph.D. As a Certified Athletic Therapist, she has a particular interest in evidence-based medicine, especially in the context of musculoskeletal health. Her projects investigate the impact of exercise on spine muscle health across various spine pathologies, including degenerative cervical myelopathy, cervical spine cancer, chronic low back pain, and chronic neck pain. As a clinician-researcher, she aspires to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice, striving to make substantial contributions toward fostering a society that is both happier and healthier.

Nicolas Vaillancourt, MSc, CAT(C)

Nicolas graduated from the Athletic Therapy program at Concordia University and became a Certified Athletic Therapist in July 2022 and a registered massage therapist in August 2022. He finished his Master’s in the Fall of 2024 and started his PhD in Health and Exercise Science right after. His current research interests focus on using different ultrasound imaging equipment and techniques in the management of tendinopathies.

Leila Jamshidi, MSc

Leila Jamshidi graduated from the Islamic Azad University Tehran Medical Sciences with a Master's degree in Nursing. She has over a decade of clinical experience in various medical wards.  She is currently is Ph.D. student under the supervision of Dr. Maryse Fortin in Health and Exercise Science at Concordia University.  Currently, she is working on inflammatory biomarkers related to intra-muscular fatty infiltration.

Alicia Wright, MSc, CSEP-CEP, FKQ-Kinesiologist

 Alicia completed her B.Sc. in Exercise Science, Specialization in Athletic Therapy, M.Sc. in Exercise Science, Specialization in Clinical Exercise Physiology at Concordia University and is currently a PhD student in Health and Exercise Science. As a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Kinesiologist, with years of experience in the health and wellness field working with healthy, clinical and athletic populations, Alicia has interests physical activity promotion and the role of physical activity in different acute and chronic health conditions. Her current research focus around walking interventions and its impact on hip strength and mobility, and low back pain. Alicia’s goal is to find accessible exercise interventions for individuals across various socioeconomic backgrounds.

Cléo Bertrand, BSc

Cléo is a first-year PhD student in Health & Exercise Science under the supervision of Dr. Maryse Fortin. After completing a BA in Psychology (2019), she obtained her BSc in Honours Health, Kinesiology & Applied Physiology (2024) and directly entered the PhD program. Cléo was always fascinated by the connection between physical and psychological wellbeing and how they impact one another. Her research will explore how neuromuscular and cerebral mechanisms relate to the onset, persistence, and treatment of chronic low back pain. Her overarching goal is to help individuals feel empowered about their health through research, education, community-building. 

Olivia Iorio, BSc

Olivia graduated with a BSc in Honours Kinesiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology at Concordia University with a thesis titled “Relationship Between Paraspinal Muscle Cross-Sectional Area, Fatty Infiltration, and Muscle Strength in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain.” Olivia has always been interested in spinal research, back pain, and human anatomy, which led her to continue to study with Dr. Maryse Fortin. Olivia is completing her second year of her MSc in Health and Exercise Science and is in her first year of medical school. She will continue to look at the relationship between paraspinal muscle morphology and lumbar extensor muscle strength at each spinal level in subjects with and without chronic low back pain while using AI-generated and manual segmentation techniques.

Owen Soontjens, BSc

Owen earned his Bachelor of Science in Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology (2020-2023) at Concordia University and started his Master's program in the Fall of 2023. As a varsity Concordia athlete himself, he is passionate about providing evidence-based insights to enhance athletic performance. His research focuses on the dynamics of the Achilles tendon. He will use shear wave elastography to investigate the relationships between stiffness and various performance measures in athletes. Owen aspires to provide detailed information that can empower athletes and clinicians in optimizing athletic capabilities.

Adam Kobaisi

Adam is in his final year of the Honours program in Kinesiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology at Concordia University, where he has cultivated a strong foundation in exercise science, rehabilitation, and clinical research. He is currently conducting a systematic review that investigates post-operative outcomes for patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy, a project supervised by Dr. Maryse Fortin, an expert in spine research, and in collaboration with PhD student Chanelle Montpetit, who contributes her specialized expertise. His research and career interests are centered on meaningful collaboration with healthcare professionals, with a particular focus on enhancing clinical methodologies to improve patient outcomes and care strategies. He is committed to contributing to the field by promoting evidence-based practices and driving forward advancements in treatment protocols and rehabilitation approaches.

Jordan Busner

In his final year of his Bachelor’s of Science in Honours Exercise Science, Jordan's enthusiasm for sports and injury assessment drove his passion for research in Dr. Fortin's lab. Due to his athletic background in hockey and lacrosse, Jordan gained interest in assessing how soft tissues are affected by mechanical stresses from training and performance as well as how we can manipulate soft tissues to improve athletic performance. For his Honours Thesis, Jordan has been researching the correlation of Achilles Tendon stiffness with variables including physical lower limb performance, ankle range of motion, and injury history in basketball players. The goal of the study is to assess the Achilles Tendon stiffness that would optimize performance while understanding how to manage Achilles Tendon Stiffness to prevent injury.

Daniel Kaffash Mohammadi

 He is in the final year of the Honours program in Kinesiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology at Concordia University. He enjoys participating in sports such as soccer and boxing whenever possible and has a strong interest in the medical field, particularly musculoskeletal health. This passion led him to collaborate with Dr. Maryse Fortin, an expert in spine health. For his Honours research, he is conducting a systematic review on tendon thickness, neovascularization, and stiffness in individuals with Achilles and patellar tendinopathy. He is also examining how different studies use ultrasound to diagnose these conditions. By highlighting these differences, he aims to help create clearer and more consistent diagnostic methods and treatments, ultimately improving care for patients with musculoskeletal issues.