Bita Imam, Student Extraordinaire

As any striving post-graduate student knows, to receive one doctoral research prize is commendable. To receive two, that’s impressive. Three, formidable but four and in less than a month, some might say impossible.

Not for Bita Imam, PhD candidate in Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Occupational Sciences and Occupational Therapy.

Within the span of two weeks, Imam received four such prestigious awards: the UBC Killam Doctoral Scholarship, the Vanier scholarship, the CIHR Doctoral Research Award (ranked second), and the inaugural Anne Martin Mathews CIHR-IA Doctoral Recognition Prize in Research on Aging.

Under the supervision of Dr. Bill Miller of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Imam’s research evaluates different Wii gaming programs to improve walking function in older amputee adults. The Wii technology offers to be an engaging, practical, cost-effective rehabilitation tool that’s well received by clients, reducing the risk and fear of falling and ‘prosthesis abandonment’ while increasing participation in physical and social activities.