Recipient of the 2022-2023 Dr. Margaret Becklake Fellowship: Kriti Agarwal
It is with great pleasure that we announce Kriti Agarwal as the recipient of the 2022-2023 Dr. Margaret Becklake Fellowship in Respiratory Research. Kriti Agarwal is a licensed physiotherapist from India. After completing her master’s from Jamia Hamdard University, she attained her specialty in cardiopulmonary physiotherapy. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiotherapy at Galgotias University in India. During her bachelor’s and master’s, Kriti conducted research in the field of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy with elderly individuals as well as with patients who have undergone coronary bypass surgery.
In the past year, Kriti has worked as a physiotherapist at the Max Super Specialty Hospital and provided physiotherapeutic treatment for individuals in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and coronary care unit. She also treated several patients with COVID-19 infection in the acute care setting and patients post-COVID in a rehabilitation setting. Kriti’s excellent work with these patients during that time was recognized by her colleagues which awarded her the title of “Corona Warrior”.
With the support from the Dr. Margaret Becklake Fellowship, Kriti Agarwal plans to start her doctoral studies at McGill University in Fall the 2022 under the supervision of Dr. Tania Janaudis-Ferreira. She will arrive with clinical, research and teaching experience from India. Kriti aspires to continue working in the field of physical therapy and rehabilitation and pursue research that can improve the lives of individuals with long-term symptoms of COVID-19. Her doctoral studies will evaluate a virtual home-based rehabilitation program following COVID-19 hospitalization. If proven effective, results from her research will support an accessible and evidence-based rehabilitation intervention for patients with post-COVID-19 conditions across Canada and other countries. With appropriate cultural adaptation and measures to address inequities in access to internet and electronic devices, this model of care may be implemented nationally and can target remote locations, low/middle income countries and Indigenous communities. This research model further hopes to support patients affected by future infectious outbreaks.
We are proud to honour Dr. Becklake’s legacy and immense contributions through this Fellowship, and we wish Kriti Agarwal every success in her research career.
About the Dr. Margaret Becklake Fellowship:
The Montreal Chest Institute Foundation and the MUHC Respiratory Division are proud to support the Dr. Margaret Becklake Fellowship. Over the course of her career, Dr. Becklake had a major interest in respiratory health in lower-income countries, including in childhood asthma and occupational lung disease. She conducted research in this area for many years. She also trained and hosted students in respiratory research from lower-income countries, who then became leaders in research and care in those countries. Beginning with the inaugural award for 2020-21, the Dr. Margaret Becklake Fellowship will be awarded to at least one trainee in respiratory research every year as they conduct research under the supervision of scientists at the Montreal Chest Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. Recipients are chosen from low- and middle-income countries as well as from Canadian Indigenous communities. This fellowship will help us train the next generation of respiratory researchers and specialists in areas of the world where the need is greatest.