Faculty & Staff

Puneet Arora, MBBS, MS, MS (Hons), PG Dip, MBA
Dr. Puneet Arora is a foreign trained medical doctor and a forensic expert. He has been teaching basic medical sciences including but not limited to anatomy, physiology, biochemistry & pathology for many years. He is also a business entrepreneur in the medical esthetics industry. Puneet has been teaching at MRU since 2013 in both the Personal Fitness Trainer diploma and Massage Therapy diploma programs.

Instructor of: Human Anatomy; Human Physiology

Education:
Anglia Ruskin University (UK) - Master of Business Administration
London School of Marketing (UK) - Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management
New York Chiropractic College (USA) - Master of Science in Human Anatomy & Physiology Instruction
Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (IND) - Doctor of Medicine in Forensic Medicine
Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (IND) - Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery

Chantelle Drobot, BPE(Hons), ND
Chantelle has been a practicing Naturopathic Doctor for 15 years and has been teaching at MRU since 2006. She teaches in both the Personal Fitness Trainer Diploma and the Massage Therapy diploma programs.

Instructor of: Health Promotion & Training; Applied Movement Mechanics; Business Management & Marketing

Education:
Bachelor of Physical Education (Honours)
Naturopathic Doctor (ND)

Kerry Miller, MHSc, BSc, RD
Kerry Miller is a Registered Dietitian with a unique background in exercise science and communications. She also holds an ISAK certification in body composition analysis. Kerry has a passion for showing others how nutrition can help optimize health and fuel athletic performance. She draws upon a wide range of applied nutritional experience in clinical, community and research settings when teaching at Mount Royal.

Instructor of: Introductory Nutrition

Education:
Queen's University, Kingston, ON - BSc Kinesology
Ryerson University, Toronto, ON - BASc Food and Nutrition
Ryerson University, Toronto, ON - MHSc Nutrition Communications

Sarah Orton, PhD
Dr Orton studied pharmacology (BSc) at McMaster University in Ontario, then completed her PhD in Clinical Medicine at the University of Oxford, UK. Her research interests focus on the genetic and environmental causes of Multiple Sclerosis, with a particular interest in susceptibility factors such as vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D-related genetics. She joined MRU in 2012 and teaches various Anatomy, Physiology and Biology courses in Continuing Education and Biology departments as well as MCAT courses outside of MRU. She has always been passionate about and excelled in teaching and this is her current academic focus.

Dr. Orton received the 2018 Distinguished Teaching Award in the non-credit category for her excellence in teaching and dedication to students.

Instructor of: Human Physiology

Education:
McMaster University - BSc, Biology & Pharmacology
University of Oxford - PhD, Clinical Medicine (Neurology)

Jessica Power Cyr, B.Sc.Kin, M.Sc., CSEP-CPT I/E, CSEP-CEP, ASCM-CES
Jessica has been in the fitness industry for 15 years working in a variety of capacities such as Exercise Physiologist, Program Manager, Personal Trainer and International Fitness Presenter. She loves to educate and inspire people to be their best. She has been teaching in the Personal Fitness Trainer diploma program since 2012.

Instructor of: Fitness Program Design; Exercise Physiology; Fitness Appraisal & Lifestyle Counselling

Education:
East Stroudsburg University - Master of Science
University of New Brunswick - Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
CSEP Certified Personal Trainer Instructor/Examiner
CSEP Certified Exercise Physiologist
ACSM Clinical Exercise Specialist
AFLCA Trainer of Trainers

Tony Southwell, BSL., EMT-P, DC
Tony has been educating students in healthcare for over 35 years. He has a wide variety of experiences to draw from starting with his career as an athletic therapist, to paramedic to chiropractor. Tony has been teaching at MRU since 2015 in both the Personal Fitness Trainer diploma and Massage Therapy diploma programs.

Instructor of: Human Anatomy

Education:
Sherman College of Chiropractic - Doctor of Chiropractic
Excelsior College - Baccalaureate Degree (BSL)
Southern Alberta Institute Of Technology - Diploma (EMT-P)
Canadian Forces Medical Services School - TQ 3 Medic Assistant

Gisèle Tennant, PhD, AFLCA, CSEP-CEP EIMC Level 2
Current Employment:
Dr. Tennant is an exercise physiologist who specializes in changing health behavior through evidence-based sustainable physical activity programs and appropriate nutrition counselling. She is a certified fitness instructor, personal trainer, and AFLCA certified fitness trainer examiner. As a health and wellness consultant in health behavior change, her mission is to improve her clients' quality of life through evidence-based physical activity programs and proper nutrition.

Instructor of: Psychology of Exercise; Exercise Physiology; Special Populations: Older Adults

Education:
Walden University - PhD in Health Psychology
University of Montreal - Master's in Science of Physical Activity
University of Montreal - Certificate in Dance and Expressive Movement
University of Montreal - Certificate in Arts and Science (psychology and communication)
University of Ottawa - Bachelors in Biology

Member of PsiChi The International Honor Society in Psychology and the Golden Key International Honor Society

Dennis Valdez, PhD, CAT(C), ATC
Current Employment:
Dennis is a Certified Athletic Therapist and has been practicing and teaching for 17 years. Dennis teaches courses in both the Massage Therapy and Personal Fitness Trainer programs and has been teaching at MRU since 2009. He also teaches in MRU's Athletic Therapy Program in the Department of Health and Physical Education. In practice, he provides on-field emergency care during community athletic events, and clinical assessments and treatments of sport-related injuries including concussions using a variety of contemporary modalities and manual therapy techniques.

Instructor of: Injury Prevention and Care

Education:
York University - Bachelors of Arts - Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Advanced Certificate in Athletic Therapy
University of Florida - Masters of Exercise and Sport Sciences - Athletic Training
University of Calgary - Doctorate in Medical Sciences - Medical Education

Health and Physical Education Department Bio

Renee Walker, M.Sc., BA HK
Renee came to work at Mount Royal in 2014 with an extensive coaching, research and instructional background. In addition to her work at Mount Royal Renee also works as a personal trainer at Renewed Balance Lifestyle Coaching. She has a passion for teaching and sharing her passion for health and fitness with all those around her.

Instructor of: Effective Communication; Leadership Development; Principles and Methods of Training; Growth and Motor Development

Education:
St. Francis Xavier University - Bachelor of Arts, Human Kinetics
Dalhousie University - Master of Science, Kinesiology