We are seeking a highly motivated and dynamic individual to join the Acadia Centre of Lifestyle Studies (CoLS), as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) and research assistant.
The Centre of Lifestyle Studies (COLS) coordinates and supports interdisciplinary research and community engagement activities which increase our understanding of lifestyle choices contributing to health and wellness. As part of our team, you will work with the COLS director, COLS program coordinator, COLS CEPs and relevant professionals to develop and deliver in-person, virtual and/or blended exercise and education programs such as ‘Active for Life’ community exercise programs and support physical activity counselling in Collaborative Family Practice teams.
Primary Responsibilities:
You will assist with the admission of program participants into programs (i.e. risk screening, chronic conditions review, coordinate & administer fitness assessment), perform exercise counseling and develop and deliver group or individualized exercise programs for individuals with medical conditions, and assist with administration of such programs. The successful candidate will contribute to planning and execute effective delivery of exercise programs, manage data collection, appointments and charting, and contribute to team meetings in COLS and at collaborative practices.
Program Description- Acadia ‘Active for Life’
These programs are intended for community members who are healthy, have stable medical conditions, or multiple co-morbidities, wanting to develop on-going fitness and well-being. The goal of these programs is to help adults and older adults remain active and fit in their own communities. This is a group-based supervised exercise program led by a CEP who can modify and adapt exercise routines to individual needs with some education combined with exercise instruction to help participants develop the confidence and capacity for including exercise for active life and well-being. The program guides participants through progressive exercise strategies with the goal to build capacity for participants to complete fitness activities on their own. Programming also supports participants virtually (using platforms like Zoom).
Community Exercise Programs Delivery
Work with the COLS director, COLS program coordinator and COLs administrative coordinator and relevant professionals to develop in-person, virtual and/or blended exercise and education program to support community participants in COLS Active for Life Programs (in Canning, Port Williams, New Minas, at Acadia University and/or virtually). May also work with other programs such as Acadia Cardiac Maintenance, Acadia Active Aging, EXCEL (Cancer Exercise).
Duties will include:
- Coordinate admission of program participants into the program (i.e. risk screening, chronic conditions review, coordinate & administer fitness assessment).
- Develop exercise programs and individualize exercise prescriptions based on participant needs
- Deliver and manage exercise sessions (following public safety guidelines for remote training and in-person opportunities when and if available and when necessary).
- Monitor participants’ exercise technique and supervise program assistants (i.e. students) that may be helping to deliver the program.
- Manage equipment and facility needs to deliver the program.
- Document program information, participant outcomes (fitness testing results) participant attendance, volunteer hours.
- Develop reports of program evaluation, contribute to the writing of grants/applications for program funding.
- Do professional education to develop skills in areas as needed (e.g. EXCEL Cancer Exercise, Pain etc.).
- Liaise with the School of Kinesiology, Community recreation departments, other partners/stakeholders.
Collaborative Family Practice Team Support
Provide one-on-one physical activity counseling and fitness and exercise management to patients as part of collaborative primary care practice that includes several physicians, psychiatry, nurse practitioner, physiotherapist(s), dietitian and other allied health professionals, at one or more of our locations including Wolfville Professional Centre, Harvest Tides, and/or Berwick Family Practice.
Duties will include:
- Receive and manage referrals from other health care providers: review patient history and provide communication back to providers through electronic medical records (EMR) and written form.
- Coordinate individualized action plans for patients to be active at home or in their communities.
- Provide follow-up assessments and/or referrals to community exercise programs and/or fitness centres or to other health care providers as needed for patient on-going care and follow up.
- As necessary, complete occasional home visits or virtual appointments for patients who may not be able to attend appointments or an available exercise program directly.
- Keep track of referrals from health care providers, document scheduled appointments (intakes, follow ups, no shows, cancellations, rescheduled appointments), and keep track of patient exercise testing results (intakes and follow ups).
- Coordinate and support exercise programming in community settings, working with the COLs program director and recreation programs.
- Perform quality assurance evaluations of referrals and patient outcomes.
- Attend collaborative team meetings and participate in administrative duties as needed for the collaborative practices.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor of Kinesiology degree (or equivalent)
- CSEP-Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist certification and current registration
- Documented experience completing fitness assessment, providing physical activity counseling and exercise prescription to individuals with stable chronic conditions (eg. cardiovascular, metabolic, musculo-skeletal, neuromuscular and aging conditions)
- Reliable transportation and ability to travel to various communities
Desired Skills
- Excellent oral presentation and counseling skills and written communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills and comfortable working in a team with health care professionals and community administrators
- Empathy, and the ability to develop rapport with patients, particularly older adults
- Ability to conduct individual fitness evaluations, obtain and document accurate health histories, complete program evaluation, and summarize results in reports (using data management programs like MS excel and using MS word).
To Apply: To apply for this position please e-mail your cover letter, resume and references to [email protected] with subject line ‘FT CEP application’.
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Please be advised that only those invited for an interview will be contacted. The University reserves the right not to fill this position. COLS invites applications from all qualified individuals; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Acadia University is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from Aboriginal people, African Nova Scotians, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women, and persons of any minority sexual orientation or gender identity. Consistent with the principles of employment equity, the primary criterion for appointment to a position is qualifications and professional excellence. The university will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that considers an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation because of a disability or for any other reason during the interview process, please identify that in your application documents so that suitable arrangements can be made if needed.
Pay: $30.00-$37.50 per hour
Licence/Certification:
- CSEP-Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist certification (required)
Work Location: In person
