Mon Jef Peeters was born and raised in Squamish, British Columbia and his parents immigrated to Canada from Belgium and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They instilled Mon Jef with a work ethic and enthusiasm for outdoor activities (e.g., hiking, camping). He has always enjoyed physical activity and has been fascinated by the human body. In adolescence, Mon Jef fell in love with basketball and strength and conditioning. The latter led him to pursue studies in kinesiology at UBC. Mon Jef feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to compete in university sport, but eventually shifted his focus to academics and more diverse pursuits. Presently, Mon Jef works as a physical therapist with Fit to Train Human Performance Systems. He enjoys spending time with his family, reading/podcasting, and filling his recreational time with standup paddleboarding.
What drew you to the Master of Physical Therapy at UBC?
My interest in human anatomy and physiology, participation in sport and physical activity, and thirst for greater knowledge working as a strength and conditioning coach.
What is your favorite memory from your time at UBC?
That’s hard to pin down. I attended UBC for 10 years! I would say the consistent theme throughout my experience at UBC would be balancing learning pursuits with social recreation.
What has been your journey since graduating from UBC?
I was fortunate to start my career with the company I am still with today upon graduation due to my past social and professional relationships. I have balanced my clinical work with some teaching as well as pursuing further education in the practice of manual osteopathy.
What do you find most interesting about a career in physical therapy?
The human body and all facets of the therapeutic process, including biology (i.e., anatomy, physiology), psychology (the mind is incredibly powerful and among the most complex systems we know of), and sociology (the interaction of therapy within the broader context of everything else that occupies us))
Where do you find inspiration?
My family. Time in nature. Earthly endeavours.
How has your identity affected your perspective on the field of physical therapy and your future pursuits?
As the child of immigrants, a visible minority, and growing up in a more rural community, I have always been aware of “otherness” or marginality. That forced me to be curious about my surroundings and question the ‘why’ of things. That informs all aspects of my practice and maintains my curiosity in the world around me.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish?
At present, my personal goal is to circumnavigate the larger lakes in the Lower Mainland area via standup paddleboard.
What does a healthy society mean to you?
I am a proponent of the concept of literacy being extended to all aspects of life. To me, a healthy society is one in which all peoples are proficiently literate with respect to reading/writing, information/digital media, science, health, cultural/social, financial, and legal enabling individual achievement for collective success.
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