LecturerBSc (Netherlands), MSc (Clinical), PhD (Otago)
Tel +64 3 479 8387
Email lara.vlietstra@otago.ac.nz
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7397-1308
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lara-VlietstraDeputy Director of CARE (Collaboration of Ageing Research Excellence, a University of Otago Research theme)
Background
Lara Vlietstra joined the School in 2022 as a lecturer. After successfully graduating as a physiotherapist (2014, Avans, the Netherlands), she obtained two master's degrees (2017, Clinical Health Sciences, Utrecht University/University Medical Centre Utrecht, and Geriatric Physiotherapy, Avans+) before coming to Otago to complete her PhD in pre-sarcopenia (2021, Department of Medicine & School of Physiotherapy).
Besides her ongoing research projects and her teaching, she is currently the Deputy Director for CARE, a National Executive member of the New Zealand Association of Gerontology (NZAG), Council member for the Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research (ANZSSFR) and an Associate Editor for the Australasian Journal on Ageing.
Teaching
Research
Since being awarded a PhD for her thesis on pre-sarcopenia in middle-aged adults, Lara's research has focused on healthy ageing and the prevention of age-related diseases, with a particular focus on physical activity and sarcopenia.
She is currently the co-primary investigator of the GAMES Study. The Games Athletes Medical Evaluation and Status (GAMES) Study is a study that is researching New Zealand Olympians, Paralympians, and Commonwealth Games athletes as they age. Additional research interests include falls and frailty in older adults.
Lara has active research collaborations in Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Postgraduate Students
Lara is currently welcoming Honour's and Master's students beginning 2023.