hello.

Kim Cullen, Storyteller.

Here’s my story.

Education

Clinician

Scientist

Truth Seeker

Storyteller

Let’s start at the beginning.

Education

Clinician

Scientist

Truth Seeker

Storyteller

MY EDUCATION STORY

Education

After high school, I went to the University of Waterloo and completed my B.Sc. in Kinesiology.

Education

After high school, I went to the University of Waterloo and completed my B.Sc. in Kinesiology.

I had a keen interest in injury prevention and worked with the varsity athletes as a student athletic therapist.

Education

After undergrad, I worked as a clinician (more on that story in a minute). But that led to many questions…

Education

After undergrad, I worked as a clinician (more on that story in a minute). But that led to many questions…

So 5 years later, I set off to McMaster University to answer some of these, while working on an

M.Sc. in Rehabilitation Science.

Education

For the next several years I worked as a research associate at the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.

Education

For the next several years I worked as a research associate at the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.

Always a curious girl, I decided that research is more fun when you are in charge of asking the questions…

Education

For the next several years I worked as a research associate at the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.

Always a curious girl, I decided that research is more fun when you are in charge of asking the questions…

So I returned to campus once more, this time at the University of Guelph, and finished a PhD in Biophysics.

MY CLINICAL STORY

Clinician

QUICK RECAP: After undergrad, I worked as a clinician…

Clinician

QUICK RECAP: After undergrad, I worked as a clinician…

For 5 years, I worked in outpatient rehab centers, treating people who had been injured in car accidents.

Clinician

In this role, I helped people recover from their injuries and prepared them to be able to return back to work.

Clinician

In this role, I helped people recover from their injuries and prepared them to be able to return back to work.

I learned a lot about how car insurance works, and how limited the injury protection is on most policies.

Clinician

I was concerned about the (lack of) evidence used to justify the claims adjudication process.

Clinician

I was concerned about the (lack of) evidence used to justify the claims adjudication process.

I wanted to learn more about the reliability and validity of the tools used to make these clinical decisions.

Clinician

I was concerned about the (lack of) evidence used to justify the claims adjudication process.

I wanted to learn more about the reliability and validity of the tools used to make these clinical decisions.

That is why I first went back to school…

Clinician

I was concerned about the (lack of) evidence used to justify the claims adjudication process.

I wanted to learn more about the reliability and validity of the tools used to make these clinical decisions.

That is why I first went back to school… Today, I am a still a Registered Kinesiologist, licensed to

practice in the Province of Ontario.

MY SCIENTIST STORY

Scientist

My research interests have always been related to preventing and managing musculoskeletal injuries.

Scientist

But in my “other life”, I am also a dog trainer.

Scientist

But in my “other life”, I am also a dog trainer.

I compete with my border collies in a sport called agility.

Scientist

We are good. We have won many international championship medals.

Scientist

We are good. We have won many international championship medals.

For my dissertation, I decided to study the risk of injuries in dogs playing agility.

Scientist

Turns out, I was the first person to ever investigate this line of research.

Scientist

Turns out, I was the first person to ever investigate this line of research.

Doing something that has never been done before is fun, but can also be challenging.

Scientist

Turns out, I was the first person to ever investigate this line of research.

Doing something that has never been done before is fun, but can also be challenging.

One of these challenges, is that sometimes it’s hard to find work in your field when

you’re a ground breaker.

Scientist

So now, I have taken these essential skills and I apply them in my “first” world of research.

Scientist

So now, I have taken these essential skills and I apply them in my “first” world of research.

I am back at the Institute for Work & Health, which I’ll cover next in this story…

MY STORY AS A

TRUTH SEEKER

Truth Seeker

Since returning to the Institute, I continue to study and answer tough questions.

Truth Seeker

Since returning to the Institute, I continue to study and answer tough questions.

I focus on seeking ‘best evidence’ on topics related to musculoskeletal injury prevention and management.

Truth Seeker

Since returning to the Institute, I continue to study and answer tough questions.

I focus on seeking ‘best evidence’ on topics related to musculoskeletal injury prevention and management.

The type of research I do is called ‘systematic reviews’.

Truth Seeker

A systematic review of the literature aims to first find all of the evidence that exists on a topic.

Truth Seeker

A systematic review of the literature aims to first find all of the evidence that exists on a topic.

Then you appraise its quality (i.e., believability) and synthesize the findings into one set of key messages.

Truth Seeker

A systematic review of the literature aims to first find all of the evidence that exists on a topic.

Then you appraise its quality (i.e., believability) and synthesize the findings into one set of key messages.

This provides the highest level of evidence to help answer tough research questions.

MY LIFE AS A

STORY TELLER

Storyteller

I became interested in story telling because of my research.

Storyteller

I became interested in story telling because of my research.

My work can only have impact if it is heard.

Storyteller

I became interested in story telling because of my research.

My work can only have impact if it is heard.

To make this happen, I have worked hard on communicating - sharing my findings in both

written and oral manners.

Storyteller

I am passionate about creating visually appealing slides that helps me share my stories.

Storyteller

I am passionate about creating visually appealing slides that helps me share my stories.

My work can only have impact if it is understood.

Storyteller

I am passionate about creating visually appealing slides that helps me share my stories.

My work can only have impact if it is understood.

I am looking for opportunities to do more of this work on a freelance basis.

Storyteller

I have used many different visual methods to create stories. Some of these include:

Storyteller

You can see some examples of my designs below.

For my students For my students For my son’s Grade 1 project.

Great stories happen to those who can tell them ~Ira Glass

Let me help you tell your story.

Kim Cullen, Ph.D, R.Kin

cullenkl@gmail.com

@cullenkl

ca.linkedin.com/in/cullenkl

905.379.4809

Let’s Talk!