Role: Clinical Associate Professor
Department: Physical Therapy
Location: Vancouver and Fraser Valley
When Chiara Singh graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Rehabilitation Science in 1998, she quickly moved into a role with Surrey Memorial Hospital in the Fraser Health region — but she never truly left the university. Soon after joining the hospital, she began taking UBC physical therapy students on placements, which grew into a project to expand student placements throughout Fraser Health. Her connection to UBC has only deepened over the years.
Today, not only does she continue to provide teaching and mentorship to UBC learners throughout the Fraser region — for which she received a Clinical Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentorship in 2022 — she is also involved in research partnerships with UBC faculty. These include an award-winning research partnership with UBC physical therapy professor Dr. Kristin Campbell on providing physiotherapy interventions for cancer patients, and a project with assistant professor Dr. Clare Arden to co-design online health information about joint-replacement surgery with patients in Fraser Health, including those who do not speak English as their first language.
In addition to her work with UBC, Chiara is the clinical supervisor of the Maternity/Child/Youth and Surgical Programs at Surrey Memorial Hospital and the co-chair of the Fraser Health Authority Physiotherapy Professional Practice Committee. She also serves as a board member with the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia and is an executive member of the Oncology Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.
What do you enjoy most about teaching and mentoring?
Having worked as a physiotherapist for 26 years, I am passionate about my profession and love passing this on to students. I truly enjoy teaching and learning alongside students, especially as they enter the physiotherapy program. I get to bring my everyday clinical experiences in the hospital to the classroom, and therefore provide students with real-world context for their learning. I love being able to do clinical work in the morning and then teach students those same clinical skills in the afternoon! It’s particularly rewarding to teach in the classroom and then see students applying those skills during their placements.
How does the Faculty’s vision Transforming Health for Everyone guide your approach to teaching?
The Faculty’s vision aligns with my core values. A key focus of my career has been recognizing my own biases and understanding their impact on practice. I teach a session for the UBC physical therapy students that talks about weight bias, stigma and discrimination. Individuals living with obesity are often overlooked in discussions about inclusion and healthcare, and I strive to raise awareness for the students around this topic.
What is the best piece of teaching advice you received from a fellow clinical faculty member?
A fellow faculty member once told me that I don’t have to have all the answers. This simple advice resonates deeply with me because learning is a shared process. The value lies in the journey of problem-solving, developing ideas and reflecting on learning, rather than just arriving at the final answer.
Describe one of your favourite hidden gems in your local community?
I love to end a bike ride with a coffee stop, and Mercato di Luigi is a perfect little Italian café.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a time for me to look back and reflect on the women in my life who have inspired me, but it is also a time to look forward and challenge myself to continue to take action around gender parity — especially in relation to gaps in social expectations and systemic inequalities.