Dr. Robert Petrella


Department of Family Practice, Kinesiology

Faculty of Medicine

Dr. Robert J. Petrella

  • BSc Hons. (Biology), Western University
  • MA (Exercise Physiology), Western University
  • MD, University of Calgary
  • PhD (Exercise Physiology), Western University
  • FACSM (Fellow, American College of Sports Medicine)
  • FCFP (Fellow, College of Family Physicians of Canada)

Dr. Robert Petrella is currently Professor and Head (Chair) of the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia, while maintaining his active research program in the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine at Western University and continuing his practice as a Family Physician with St. Joseph’s Health Care London. 

Since 2006, Dr. Petrella has been Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Western University, with cross-appointments in the School of Kinesiology and the Division of Cardiology. Dr. Petrella was the Medical Director of the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging at Western University from 2000-2019. From 2005-2015, Dr. Petrella was the inaugural Beryl and Richard Ivey Research Chair, as well as Program Leader for the former Aging, Rehabilitation, and Geriatric Care Program of Lawson Health Research Institute (now referred to as the Parkwood Institute Research Program) and Assistant Director of the Lawson Health Research Institute.

Dr. Petrella received his Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Calgary and PhD in Exercise Physiology from Western University. Dr. Petrella is a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (with Certificates of Added Competence in Care of the Elderly and Sport and Exercise Medicine), a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, and is a Clinical Specialist in Hypertension with the American Society of Hypertension.

Dr. Petrella's research is focused on lifestyle interventions for chronic disease prevention and management. His research is dedicated to furthering multi- and inter-disciplinary research on lifestyle management, physical activity, chronic diseases, and innovative technologies to improve the lives of all Canadians, with a specific focus on vulnerable populations (i.e., men, older adults, and those living in rural and remote regions) including leading the Canadian Diabetes Strategy of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), CIHR Team Lead for the Canada/Finland Diabetes Innovation Program, and the Principal Investigator for the Hockey Fans in Training Program funded by CIHR/PHAC.

At the University of British Columbia, Dr. Petrella leads over 3400 clinical faculty in the largest distributed medical program in Canada, in addition to over 30 Academic Faculty who lead affiliate programs at 4 campuses.  Dr. Petrella will conduct research and clinical trials in the Department of Family Practice’s Division of Sport and Exercise Medicine at the Chan Gunn Pavillion.

First Nations land acknowledegement

The UBC Point Grey campus is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm.


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