MD, PhD, FCFP, FACSM
Professor and Head (Chair) Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia
Professor Emeritus, Family Medicine, Western University
Professor, Kinesiology, Western University
Professor, School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia
Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute
Scientist, Bone and Joint Institute, Western University
Scientist, Vancouver Coastal Research Institute
Dr. Petrella is currently professor and head of the Department of Family Practice at the UBC where he is also professor of kinesiology and sports medicine physician.
Dr. Petrella’s research is focused on lifestyle interventions for chronic disease prevention and management. He the HealtheSteps TM research platform as the signature program of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Canadian Diabetes Strategy (2013-2017). In 2014, with seed funding from the Movember Foundation’s Chronic Disease Innovation Challenge, Dr. Petrella investigated the growing inequity of men’s health related to preventable lifestyle factors.
Dr. Petrella is the founder and principal investigator with the Hockey Fans in Training® program funded through a public/private partnership including CIHR and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s “multi-sectoral partnerships to promote healthy living and prevent chronic disease program” (2018-2023) among over 40 sites across Canada and the US to study the impact of group based lifestyle coaching on health outcomes among overweight or obese men who are fans of their local hockey team.
To learn more about Dr. Petrella’s research and projects, please visit: Lifestyle Research Team
Education
Western University, BSc Hons., Biology
Western University, MA, Exercise Physiology
University of Calgary, MD, Primary Care
Western University, PhD, Exercise Physiology
American College of Sports Medicine, FACSM, Fellow
College of Family Physicians of Canada, FCFP, Fellow
Professional Highlights
Inaugural Beryl and Richard Ivey Research Chair
Nominated Principal Investigator (PI) for a Canada-Finland international team investigating the Cardiovascular Complications (CVCs) of diabetes