Heading to the 2025 Finish Line
Happy holidays!
What a great year it has been for the Faculty of Health! From groundbreaking research, to expanding our impactful community programs (CCCARE) and launching our bold initiative, Healthy Waterloo, we continue to harness the strength of our campus community to imagine, test and implement new health programs and strategies.
This year also featured our prestigious Hallman Lecture on the topic of “Health and Happiness – Prescribing Beyond Medicine." It was an engaging discussion with a panel of experts in social prescribing, population health and the intersection between primary care, health equity and social determinants of health.
PLUS, we had the return of the Fun Run! On September 20, we welcomed 218 participants (plus a few dogs) back to campus to walk, run, skip or jump around Ring Road. Alum Marc Lafleur (BSc ‘14, Health Studies) brought the energy as our Grand Marshall, while former Athletic Director Bob Copeland (BA ’89, MA ’91, Recreation and Leisure Studies) acted as our emcee. The event also raised more than $1,000 for the Healthy Waterloo Initiative and CCCARE!
Your support helps make these initiatives possible – thank you!
There is much more to come in 2026! Keep your eye out for future events, mark your calendars for September’s Homecoming weekend and consider planning a reunion. Most importantly, we hope you will stay connected.
Wishing you a safe, healthy and joyful holiday season and we look forward to seeing you in the new year!
Andrea Carthew
Director of Advancement
Faculty of Health
Holiday greetings from Dean Lili Liu
Alumni making a difference
Process before podiums
Rob Holmgren (BSc '98, Kinesiology) is the newly appointed coach of Australia’s national mountain bike team. His assignment: Pave the way to the Olympics.
Honouring leadership and legacy
The Faculty of Health celebrated two remarkable alumni at fall convocation: Dr. Albert Wong (BSc ’80, Kinesiology) and Caryl Russell (BSc ’80, MSc ’92, Kinesiology).
Research in action
Hair offers clues to children's mental health
A study led by Dr. Mark Ferro (Public Health Sciences) shows how high hair cortisol can act as an early warning sign.
AI radar system tracks subtle health changes
New technology from Waterloo researchers, including Drs. Rich Hughson and Plinio Morita, allows doctors to detect early signs of health issues by analyzing a patient's walk.
What happens inside the brain of a passionate hockey fan?
A study led by Dr. Luke Potwarka (Recreation and Leisure Studies) gives us a closer look at how the brain functions when watching sports.
Class notes
Find out what your classmates have been up to and send us your updates! See the class notes here!
Upcoming events
Save the date! Mark your calendars and watch our upcoming event page for details on:
- Alumni Ski Days — January 22-23, 2026
- Fantastic Alumni Day — February 7, 2026
- Homecoming weekend — September 2026
Celebrating a reunion year? We can help! Reach out to Katelyn Gordner.
Give the gift of health this season
This giving season, join us in supporting the Faculty of Health and creating a lasting impact for our students, researchers and communities.