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LIBIN LIFE
Researcher Dr. Aaron Phillips, PhD, conducts spinal cord research in his lab at UCalgary’s Foothills Campus. His goal is to improve the quality of life for spinal cord patients, with a focus on the cardiovascular system of these patients. Photos by Britton Ledingham. GI doctor and bariatric surgeon. In the summer of 2018, Gill was paralyzed following a freak boogie board accident while on vacation in Hawaii. Like many patients Phillips has observed, Gill suffered from hypotension, often resulting in fainting, dizziness and poor sleep hygiene. Immediately he was put onto medication, which had varying levels of success. However, after being implanted with a neurostimulator in November 2018, he was quickly able to quit his medication and regain a quality of life through regulated blood pressure. Gill’s other symptoms faded away, as well. Today, he is excited about the future of spinal cord care thanks to people like Phillips.
“That’s not an easy thing to deal with—basic and clinical research— they do a good job to integrate that,” says Gill. “It’s pretty impressive.”
the world. That person is Aaron. The high-quality work that he is doing will soon get the attention of the world.”
Another impressed physician is cardiac surgeon Dr. Paul Fedak, MD, PhD, the director of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute.
Phillips conservatively estimates that within 10 years neurostimulator implants will become standard care for people with spinal cord injury, a time line he is keen to shrink.
Despite working with Phillips for less than one year, he already knows his lab is going to be making medical advances that will be discussed for years to come.
“The reason why I dedicated my career to medical research was to make discoveries that would rapidly improve health on a population scale,” he says.
“Not only can he see the big picture, he can manage the fine details,” says Fedak. “That’s someone very special who will do groundbreaking science and change
“To be able to do that is what makes me want to do this every day. I don’t even consider what I do a job. It’s really a passion as opposed to a job.”
