Olivia Tsihilias
Vancouver, British Columbia
Olivia is a Ph.D. student at the University of British Columbia, under the supervision of Dr. Jill Zwicker. Originally from Vaughan, Ontario, she moved to Vancouver to pursue a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences. Olivia received her Bachelor of Science degree with an Honours Specialization in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario. During her undergraduate degree, Olivia developed a strong interest in motor skills and motor development in children. She is passionate about allowing all children to participate and develop through sport and play.
As a trainee in the Zwicker Lab at BC Children’s Hospital, Olivia’s research focuses on brain development in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). DCD is a common but under-recognized neurodevelopmental disorder affecting one in 20 children. DCD significantly impacts a child’s ability to learn and execute motor skills such as printing, tying shoelaces, or riding a bicycle.
Using MRI neuroimaging techniques, Olivia’s research centres on preterm children with DCD, exploring brain structure and motor outcomes before and after rehabilitation intervention. Olivia uses diffusion tensor imaging to investigate how the microstructural properties of the brain change after undergoing occupational therapy. She works in collaboration with the BC Children’s Hospital MRI Research Facility, where she has received training in MRI acquisition and analysis.
Olivia has been researching treatment effectiveness for children with DCD, and is expanding her training to include early intervention. With support from KBHN, is completing courses to obtain Level 1 Implementation Specialist certification, to enhance her knowledge translation and implementation science skills. These skills and knowlege will contribute to her work conducting DCD screening assessments in rural communities of Northern British Columbia, as well as further research projects.
Olivia joined the KBHN Policy Advocacy Research Training (PART) Committee in the summer of 2022. Since then, she has contributed to the infographic subcommittee and KBHN Annual Conference planning subcommittee.
