Bridging kinesiology and patient care through co-op
Sarah Larochelle (she/her), a fourth-year Honours Kinesiology student with a Medical Physiology Minor, is the Faculty of Health Co-op Student of the Year! Her dedication to patient care and clinic efficiency at PhysioMira Physiotherapy earned her this distinction.
Sarah reflects on her passion for health care, the impact of her work and how co-op shaped her understanding of the industry.
At PhysioMira Physiotherapy, Sarah’s role extended beyond her title as an administrative assistant and encompassed a wide range of responsibilities to support both staff and patients.
She assisted with physiotherapy routines, developed personalized exercise programs and ensured a welcoming environment for clients. She also managed clinic sanitation, maintained inventory and handled communications, including scheduling and phone inquiries.
Taking every opportunity to contribute, she played a key role in optimizing daily operations and enhancing patient care.
Her efforts streamlined workflow efficiency, improved client experiences and supported the clinic’s commitment to high-quality rehabilitative services.
Q & A with Sarah
Did you always want to go into physiotherapy or was it something that developed over time?
“I always knew I wanted to be in health care but I decided I didn’t want to do what feels like a million years of medical school. I’ve had a lot of sports injuries, so physiotherapy has always been on my mind. I also had both great and not-so-great experiences with physiotherapists, which made me realize I wanted to be a positive change in the field.”
“Everyone deserves proper treatment and to feel like they’re truly being cared for, not rushed through an appointment. That’s what ultimately drove me towards kinesiology and, hopefully, physiotherapy in the future.”
What is your proudest accomplishment during this work term?
“My proudest accomplishment was streamlining the inventory system at the clinic. I spent a lot of time developing an Excel program for it, which was out of my comfort zone, but it really increased productivity. It helped not just the physiotherapists but also the front-end staff and co-op students by keeping everything organized in one place instead of using sticky notes.”
“My biggest impact was working with a client recovering from orthopedic spinal surgery. I did a lot of research about the surgery and rehabilitation using Canadian resources, and developed an exercise rehabilitation program for her. Since my co-op was eight months, I was able to see significant growth in her recovery.”
How has co-op shaped or changed your understanding of the health care industry?
“Co-op has given me an insider's point of view that I wouldn’t have known otherwise. There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes in health care and many steps are required to make things happen. It’s something you can only fully understand by being in the environment rather than just looking at it from the outside.”
How have you been able to apply what you learned in your academic courses to your work term?
“Luckily for me, in Kinesiology, a lot of what we learn is applicable to our co-ops, especially in clinical and health care settings. I’ve learned a lot about anatomy, physiology, how the body works, as well as exercise prescription and rehabilitation. So much of what I’ve studied in school has translated easily into my co-op experience.”
How would you define purpose?
“To me, purpose is what keeps you going. It’s what keeps you interested and engaged. It’s the thing that makes the highs feel really good and important, and it’s what helps you push through the lows because you know you’re doing it for a reason.”
Working at PhysioMira really helped me find my purpose and fulfill things I didn’t fully understand before. Like I mentioned earlier about health care, there are a lot of things you don’t realize will affect you when you work closely with people every day. Being able to help people feel better made me realize that helping others is one of my purposes and I was able to truly find that during my co-op term.
Why did you choose Waterloo?
“Because of the great co-op program. I was really interested in how it was structured here. Other universities don’t necessarily have the same connections or resources. I always knew I wanted hands-on experience before fully committing to a career and Waterloo’s co-op program gave me that opportunity.”
What does receiving the Co-op Student of the Year award mean to you?
“Receiving this award means a lot to me. As someone in their final year of co-op, I know how much co-op has meant to me and it’s really special to know that I meant something to the program as well. I’ve spent so much time in the co-op search, like everyone else, and put a lot of effort into my placements. It’s really nice to be recognized, both by my employer and the university.”
What is one piece of advice you would give to current co-op students?
“Whether you’re looking for your next co-op or feeling nervous about your current one, my advice is to stick it out. I was once matched with a co-op I wasn’t excited about, but it ended up being a wonderful experience.”
“I learned so much, especially from working with a population I didn’t have any previous experience with. Sometimes things happen for a reason, and looking back, you’ll probably appreciate the experience.”
What’s next for you?
“That depends on if I get into grad school this fall! I’ve applied to a master’s program in rehabilitation sciences, specifically physiotherapy and occupational therapy, with the hope of getting into physio school.”
“Fingers crossed because it’s really competitive right now but with my co-op experience, I’m sure it will work out in my favor.”
“I’m hoping to further my education, keep helping people and use my experiences to continue making a difference in health care.”