Mark Lafave

Mark Lafave, PhD, is a Professor and Associate Dean of Research, Scholarship, & Community Engagement at Mount Royal University. He has been at MRU since 1994, initially serving as an instructor and Head Athletic Therapist for Cougar Athletics. His academic career includes pioneering roles, such as being part of the first full-professor cohort at MRU (2012) and receiving the 2018 MRU Career Achievement Award for Research and Scholarship.

His research focuses on clinical education, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), and orthopedic studies on knee and shoulder injuries. Key contributions include validating the Athletic Therapy Competency Framework and advancing tools like the Banff Patellar Instability Instrument (BPII). He also explores international healthcare credentialing and competency development in health professions.

Dr. Lafave’s community engagement includes co-chairing the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) Program Accreditation Committee. His work bridges academic research with clinical practice, emphasizing evidence-informed practices and interdisciplinary collaboration.