Zachary C. Pope, ‘14 Master of Kinesiology, ‘12, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Boise State within what is now the School of Kinesiology, focusing on exercise science and fitness evaluation and programming.
He now holds a joint appointment as an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Campus Hudson College of Public Health and works with patients and colleagues to research how to use technology to better serve people living with and beyond cancer in the TSET Health Promotion Research Center at the Stephenson Cancer Center. He is also the co-director of the Active Living and Vitality Lab.
He caught the research bug in Shawn Simonson’s Human Performance Laboratory. Ransdell and Yong Gao were other constant mentors and sources of inspiration, as was Laura Petranek.
“I owe, pretty much my foundation, to Boise State in every sense of the word,” he said.
He also credits his College of Health Sciences mentors for the role they played, at a conference, talking to colleagues, in the lab placement that was crucial to his successful PhD completion.
“It made all the difference,” he notes.
Boise State’s blend of hands-on experience and focus on learning sound methodology equipped him well for what he does now for the benefit of oncology patients, their families and the medical field. He and his colleague, Dr. Michael Robertson, are intent on establishing exercise oncology as a part of Stephenson Cancer Center’s supportive care programs.
“I love my line of work. It’s a lot of work. We wake up every day wanting to serve people living with and beyond cancer. We are hyperfocused on being of best service.”
The school designation, Pope said, recognizes what he and others have benefited from for some time.
“It’s the stamp that says, ‘We’re big, we’re good at what we do and we’re a leader in preparing health professionals for today’s health challenges, no matter what they are.’”