Karl Fernandez
Education
(IN PROGRESS) DOCTORATE, BIOMEDICAL, PHYSIOLOGY AND KINESIOLOGY, SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Diploma, Respiratory Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Thompson Rivers University
​Bachelor's, Science, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry and Business (Marketing Concentration), Simon Fraser University
Karl Fernandez has returned to Simon Fraser University (SFU) as PhD candidate studying the effects of long-term mechanical ventilation on diaphragm composition and function.
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During his time as an undergraduate student at SFU, Karl completed a BSc. in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, a BBA from the Beedie School of Business with a concentration in Marketing, as well as a Certificate in Liberal Arts. Upon graduation from SFU, Karl was accepted to the Respiratory Therapy program at Thompson Rivers University (TRU), which he completed in 2012. During his time at TRU, Karl was the recipient of both the Outstanding Clinical Student and Patient Care awards. Karl began working as a Respiratory Therapist at both Royal Columbian Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital in 2012, and subsequently as a Basic Life Support Course Instructor for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada in 2015. Karl became involved with clinical research upon the establishment of the ventilation research lab in 2016, where he is currently studying the correlation of long-term mechanical ventilation with oxidative stress and myofiber composition in the diaphragm. Upon completion of his degree, Karl will become one of the first Respiratory Therapists to hold a PhD in British Columbia, and the second in all of Canada.
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Karl is passionate about teaching and has held a teaching assistant position at Simon Fraser University for BPK 140 (Contemporary Health Issues) and BPK 110 (Human Nutrition- Current Issues). Karl has also been a guest lecturer and co-instructed BPK 305 (Human Physiology I). Karl is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor for the Respiratory Therapy program at Thompson Rivers University.