When Brazilian undergraduate student\u00a0Gabrielle do Nascimento\u00a0Queir\u00f3z\u00a0arrived at Brock through the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP), she stepped into her first-ever research role \u2014 in a new country, language and academic culture.<\/p>\n
It was a leap she was ready to take.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything here is new for me. I am learning and applying at the same time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Queir\u00f3z\u00a0came to Brock to explore digital health tools used for cardiac prehabilitation, an area that is still gaining ground in Brazil and aligns with her interest in improving patient readiness before heart surgery.<\/p>\n
Cardiac prehabilitation involves conditioning a patient\u2019s body before surgery to minimize the risk of complications and improve recovery outcomes.<\/p>\n
To\u00a0apply for ELAP,\u00a0she secured an invitation from\u00a0Sheila O\u2019Keefe-McCarthy, Associate Professor of Nursing and leader of Brock\u2019s Heart Innovation Research Program.<\/p>\n
While at Brock, Queir\u00f3z co-authored an editorial commentary on digital innovations in cardiac prehabilitation with O\u2019Keefe-McCarthy, now under review at the\u00a0British Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. <\/em>Working with O\u2019Keefe-McCarthy and an expert librarian, she has also been conducting a rapid review of global rehabilitation practices.<\/p>\n The research is grounded in global, community-informed perspectives, with clinicians from St. Bartholomew\u2019s Hospital in London, U.K., experts in Brazil, two cardiac patients \u2014 from Canada and Brazil \u2014 and the spouse of a Canadian patient who underwent cardiac surgery serving as stakeholder-consultants and co-authors.<\/p>\n While some studies explore digital health in rehabilitation, few examine tools designed specifically\u00a0in partnership\u00a0with\u00a0cardiac patients\u00a0scheduled\u00a0for surgery, says O’Keefe-McCarthy. Her work spans cardiovascular science, digital health\u00a0innovation\u00a0and data mobilization through the Heart Innovation Research Program.<\/p>\n O’Keefe-McCarthy says many digital tools are built primarily from a clinician-first perspective, leaving out patients\u2019 insights, a challenge this project aims to address.<\/p>\n Once the rapid review is completed, the researchers aim to finalize a manuscript for submission in early 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n Queir\u00f3z will help share findings with clinicians and participants as part of the project\u2019s structure consultation phase and plans to begin developing a prototype for a digital rehabilitation tool as part of her nursing bachelor’s degree capstone project when she returns to Brazil.<\/p>\n Beyond research,\u00a0Queir\u00f3z\u00a0has immersed herself in Brock\u2019s Nursing community. She has\u00a0gained\u00a0experience\u00a0in conducting\u00a0arts-base qualitative\u00a0research,\u00a0observed\u00a0clinical and simulation\u00a0activities\u00a0and audited second-year courses in ethics and medical-surgical foundations.<\/p>\n O’Keefe-McCarthy believes these experiences reflect the broader value of\u00a0international exchange, creating opportunities for\u00a0connection and\u00a0transferable learning across\u00a0programs.<\/p>\n \u201cInternational scholarship programs create a global community of learners,\u201d she said. \u201cStudents bring their perspectives and cultures, helping to enrich our understanding of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Queir\u00f3z hopes other students will recognize how accessible international scholarships can be with the right support.<\/p>\n