The 2020-2021 Kirkpatrick Lecture Series is paused due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Please check back for information about future lectures.
The Kirkpatrick Endowment:
The Kirkpatrick Lecture Series is made possible by an endowment funded by the family of J. Walter and Arrena I. Kirkpatrick who along with their daughter, Nila Kirkpatrick Covalt, provided the financial support to establish this endowment. The Fisher Institute of Health and Well-Being uses the earnings of this endowment to provide education and to stimulate interdisciplinary research related to health and well-being.
Previous Lecture Information:
2019-2020 Kirkpatrick Lecture Series:
The first lecture in this series was presented by Mark Haykowsky, PhD, a professor and Moritz Chair in geriatrics in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation at the University of Texas Arlington. He has worked extensively in the field as a registered nurse, exercise rehabilitation consultant, clinical exercise physiologist, and professor. Dr. Haykowsky's presentation "Upper Limits of Aerobic Power and Human Performance in Heart Transplant Triathletes" highlighted that life after a heart operation does not have to be sedentary. In his motivating presentation, he discussed some of the incredible accomplishments of patients he has worked with.
The second lecture in this series was presented by Jeff Coombes, PhD, a professor in the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland, Australia. Dr. Coombes' research interests focus on determining the optimal exercise prescription for improving health. He is also a passionate advocate on the importance of fitness for health and its' impact on public health. In his lectures "High Intensity Interval Training for Chronic Disease" and "Are There Non-Responders to Exercise Training?", Dr. Coombes discussed the benefits of high intensity exercise, how to perform high intensity exercise, and how high intensity exercise can help individuals improve their fitness when they do not respond well to traditional moderate intensity exercise.
2018-2019 Kirkpatrick Lecture Series:
Edwin K. McDonald IV, MD, is dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities through nutrition education. In his presentation “Food Swamps, Food Deserts, and Food Insecurity", he explained how he works with patients that have small bowel diseases, obesity and other conditions affecting the digestive system. Dr. McDonald's interest in the effects of nutrition on health and disease stem from his experience with Project Brotherhood—an innovative clinic dedicated to providing accessible, affordable care for black men on Chicago’s South Side. While training barbers to serve as health educators, he became keenly aware of the impact of social determinants of health, including the role of nutrition.
2016-2017 Kirkpatrick Lecture Series:
The first lecture of this series was presented by Dr. Ronald Davis, PhD, Professor, Adapted Physical Education and Adapted Physical Activity in the Department of Kinesiology, Texas Woman’s University. Dr. Davis is one of the leading experts on physical activity and sports for persons with disabilities. He currently serves on the Board for the Paralympic Research and Sports Science Consortium, is Past-President of the National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities, and chaired the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics Research Committee.
His lecture entitled, "Physical Activity Contributes to the Health and Well-Being of Persons with Disabilities" provided an overview of issues related to physical activity for persons with disabilities, particularly as related to health and well-being; discussed concepts for inclusion and universal design; and physical activity programs for persons with disabilities. He discussed his most recent Project INVEST (Injured Veterans Entering Sport Training).
The second lecture of the series was presented by Daniel Forman, MD, Professor, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Forman is dually trained in Geriatrics and Cardiology. He has an interest in developing the field of geriatric cardiology, in which precepts of geriatrics (e.g., multimorbidty, frailty, polypharmacy) are integrated with mainstream cardiology as a key step towards improved care of the older cardiovascular patient.
Dr. Forman’s presentation, entitled “The Evolution of Cardiovascular Functional Assessment in Older Adults to Contemporary Focus on Gait Speed/Frailty” and provided information on impact factors, including cardiorespiratory fitness, related to quality of life for aging adults.
The final lecture of the series was presented by Dr. Robert Ross, Professor, Exercise Physiology, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen’s University. His research work is focused on the importance of exercise training and diet in the management of obesity and related co-morbidities in adults.
Dr. Ross’s presentation, entitled "Importance of Cardiorespiratory Fitness as a Vital Sign for Health and Well-Being” provided information on his work as Chair of the writing group for a recently released Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association that is advocating for the inclusion of cardiorespiratory fitness as a clinical vital sign.