3F Research Group

Niousha is a registered dietitian and pursued her Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences at Dalhousie University under the supervision of Dr. McArthur. Her thesis revolved around identifying the barriers and facilitators to receiving adequate nutrition among long-term care residents with moderate to severe dementia.

Niousha continues to advance her research career by striving to develop strategies that effectively address the nutritional needs of individuals with dementia. She aims to bridge the gap between research and practice, and contribute to enhancing quality of life.

Dr. Michael Kalu is an Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Therapy at York University. He previously completed his postdoctoral fellowship with the 3F Research Group, where he led project-advisory research utilizing mobility data to design and improve care plan interventions in long-term care settings.

Dr. Kalu’s research program is dedicated to the multifactorial and multidisciplinary nature of mobility-encompassing prevention, assessment, and enhancement across the entire continuum of care. His current work explores the the socio-cultural factors influencing the mobility of older adults. Specifically, he is leveraging AI-collected mobility data to co-develop adapted physical activity programs for Black older adults, focusing on both “apparently healthy” individuals and those living with neuromuscular conditions.

Dr. Michael Kalu (opens in new window) is open to collaboration at York University.

Rachel joined the 3F Research Group as a volunteer. She completed her BSc in Medical Sciences with honours in rehabilitation research at Dalhousie University. Rachel’s honours project examined the association between communication impairment in long-term care residents with dementia and the receipt of physiotherapy and occupational therapy. This was a secondary analysis of data collected by the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI 2.0) in Ontario nursing homes.

Rachel is currently studying in the MD program at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, where she continued her involvement in research through the Research in Medicine (RIM) program.

Dr. Razan Al-Sharkawi completed medical school at Dalhousie University in 2024. She also holds a BSc in Medical Sciences with a minor in bioethics and is currently completing her residency in Internal Medicine at Dalhousie University-Saint John.

Dr. Al-Sharkawi participated in the Research in Medicine (RIM) project where she had the opportunity to work on a medically related research project. She started working in the research field during her undergraduate degree, and she wanted to expand her skillset with the 3F Research Group. Dr. Razan Al-Shaekawi worked on a project to determine whether the First Falls and Fracture Risk Scales in both home care and long-term care settings can be validated in international populations.

Dr. Al-Sharkawi appreciates the great work that she accomplished with the 3F Research Group.

Dr. Lydia Kennedy is a Family Medicine Resident at Dalhousie University-North Nova in New Glasgow, NS. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dalhousie University in 2025, having previously completed a BSc in Bioveterinary Science and a Diploma in Veterinary Technology.

During her time as a Research in Medicine (RIM) student with the 3F Research Group, Dr. Kennedy conducted a study examining the incidence rates of delirium in Ontario long-term care homes before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This work has since been published, contributing valuable information in the field of geriatric health. Inspired by her personal experience caring for her grandparents, Dr. Kennedy is deeply committed to the care of aging Canadians, with a specialized interest in dementia management and rural family medicine.

Michael Ibekaku is a physiotherapist and researcher whose work focuses on physical rehabilitation for older adults living with chronic health conditions, particularly dementia. He recently completed his PhD in Health at Dalhousie University under the supervision of Dr. Caitlin McArthur and Dr. Lori Weeks. His doctoral research focused on the development and adaptation of physical activity interventions for people living with dementia in Nigeria.

Michael will be joining York University as a Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellow for Black and Indigenous Scholars, where he will work with Dr. Michael Kalu on developing health promotion strategies for Black older adults through active partnerships with community health centres.

Sloan Stark is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science (Honours) Kinesiology Co-operative student at the University of Waterloo, with an anticipated graduation date of 2027. She has research experience in neuromechanics and rehabilitation through positions at the University of Waterloo, KITE Research Institute at the University Health Network (Toronto), and Dalhousie University.

Sloan joined the 3F Research Group in Fall 2024 as a Student Design Assistant, continued working with the team on a casual basis throughout 2025, and returned as a full-time Research Assistant in May 2026. She supported the digital design of Demenia Moves and contributed to the development of CARES-D. Sloan also provided substantial support to Research in Medicine students conducting qualitative and quantitative research and led a study evaluating the CARES-D course.

Her interests include digital innovation in healthcare, rehabilitation research, and knowledge translation. Following graduation, Sloan intends to pursue further education in medicine and research, with a focus on improving patient outcomes.