Neil McCartney

Neil McCartney — a renowned researcher with an international reputation for his work on human aging, cardiac rehabilitation and spinal cord injury — is Brock’s new Dean of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.

McCartney, a professor and former chair of McMaster University’s Department of Kinesiology, will assume his new position on Aug. 1. Joanne MacLean, former chair of Sport Management at Brock, has acted as Interim Dean while the University conducted its search for a permanent candidate.

The announcement was made by Murray Knuttila, Brock’s Provost and Vice-President Academic.

“We are extremely pleased to be bringing in a scholar of Dr. McCartney’s credentials and achievements,” Knuttila said. “His academic and leadership capabilities will strengthen Brock’s senior team.”

McCartney said he is excited about his new role.

“It’s a great honour to be selected as Dean,” he said this week. “I will work hard to fulfill the aspirations of students, staff and faculty members. I very much look forward to becoming a member of the Brock community.”

Currently the director of McMaster’s Centre for Health Promotion and Rehabilitation, McCartney (BEd ’74, Exeter University, UK; PhD ’83, McMaster University) was a founding member of the Canadian Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation. He is also a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention.

In 2009, the provincial government appointed McCartney to the Transitional Council of the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario, where he was subsequently elected as its vice-president.  The council creates the infrastructure, rules and regulations of this soon-to-be-established health care college.

In 1993, McCartney was a visiting scholar at Stanford University in Palo Alta, Calif. He has co-authored or contributed chapters to 10 books, and has been the lead or contributing researcher for more than 80 journal articles.