Faculty Directory

Originally from Ottawa, Cynthia completed concurrent Bachelor of Science and Physical and Health Education at Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario) in 2003.  She took a study hiatus exploring the Canadian Rockies that informed her graduate studies research (MSc. and PhD in Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia). Her graduate research explored participation in high-risk recreation from an interdisciplinary perspective, investigating potential innate drivers (genetics) and individual differences (personality). 

After discovering a passion for teaching during her PhD, Cynthia completed a teaching fellowship at Quest University Canada, where she taught biology and sport psychology.  She joined the University of the Fraser Valley in 2014, teaching human anatomy, physiology, and exercise physiology in the Nursing and Kinesiology departments and has been enjoying her time at UFV ever since.

When she is not teaching/researching, you can find Cynthia with her family playing in the mountains.

• BSc, Queen’s University
  
  
• BPHE, Queen’s University
  
  
• MSc, University of British Columbia
  
  
• PhD, University of British Columbia
  
  
• Teaching Fellowship, Quest University Canada

• Canadian Society for Pain
• PURPOSE: Pain Researcher Network (NIH)
  
  
• Pain Care BC Network of Pain Researchers
  
  
• Chronic Pain Network (Canada)
  
  
• Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology

After becoming an instructor, Cynthia recognized that the concepts that had become ingrained in her mind were the ones that she had either put into practice or had taught to others. In her classes, she aims to relate what she teachers to life experiences, emphasizing the existence of patterns, and helping students understand the bigger picture. She encourages students to take accountability for their learning by becoming actively engaged, and to motivate engagement she believes they need to be challenged. While she fulfills the role of teacher and facilitator, Cynthia is full of curiosity.  She is a lifelong student; always learning, growing, and working to better engage students with new activities.

• Human Anatomy & Physiology, Exercise Physiology

Cynthia’s early research centred on gaining a better understanding of high-risk sport participation and individual differences in sensation seeking, impulsivity, and risk taking. She has long been interested in potential positive health benefits of athletic risk-taking, and also in physiological and environmental factors affecting risk taking in sport.  To provide hands on experience for students, she shifted her risk taking and sport research to lab-based interventions where she has explored the effects of acute exercise on risky decision-making, with follow up studies exploring the effects of exercise at altitude on risky decision making. 

Through her work in 2017-2018 as a Research Facilitator for Vancouver Coastal Health, she became involved in clinical research trials where she facilitated a randomized clinical trial that investigated the effects of a 12-month exercise and nutrition intervention in patients with atrial fibrillation.  More recently, Cynthia led a randomized controlled trial that evaluated the effectiveness of a mind-body mobile application for chronic pain.  This latest trial sparked a new programme of inquiry, which is her focus today.

Thomson’s current programme explores pain management and communication informed by the biopsychosocial model.  Through a series of studies called, “Let’s talk about pain”, she has been working with community partners to explore patient-centred ways to promote knowledge sharing about the biopsychosocial model of pain in practice.

Invited presentations (last 5 years)

• Let’s talk about pain: A mixed methods exploration of patients’ pain knowledge and preferred ways to introduce the biopsychosocial model of pain.  International Association for the Study of Pain.  Pain Research Forum, Journal Club. September 2026.
  
  
• Let’s talk about pain! Implementation co-planning through iterative interest holder engagement.  BC Support Unit and Fraser Health Research Café on Implementation. June 2026.
  
  
• Symposium Chair and Speaker: Conversations about the biopsychosocial of pain: Barriers, facilitators, and experiences from clinical practice. Canadian Society of Pain, Quebec City. May 2026.
  
  
• Let’s talk about pain! Co-development of resources to support conversations about the biopsychosocial model pain.  Pain BC. February, June 2026.
  
  
• Visiting lecturer: “Pain is Complex! Introduction to the Science of Pain.” UFV Elder College, 2-part course.  March 2026.
  
  
• Let’s talk about pain! Co-development of resources to support conversations about the biopsychosocial model pain.  Canadian Pain Care Forum. February 2026.
  
  
• Podcast Guest, “How well does Curable Work? The Science Behind the App”, Podcast title: Like Mind, Like Body. January 2025. 

(Last 5 years)

• Thomson, C.J., Holden, K.N., Giles, L.V., & Cianfrini, L. (2026). Let’s talk about pain: A mixed methods exploration of patients’ pain knowledge and preferred ways to introduce the biopsychosocial model of pain. Canadian Journal of Pain, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/24740527.2026.2650304
  *Editor’s pick for the IASP Pain Research Forum
  
  
• Lesser, I.A, & Thomson, C.J. (2025). An exploration of the association of heart rate variability with daily stress and sleep in postpartum women. Women and Children Nursing.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wcn.2025.01.001
  
  
• Thomson C.J., Pahl H., Giles L.V. (2024). Randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application for the treatment of chronic pain. Canadian Journal of Pain, 8(1):2352399. https://doi.org/10.1080/24740527.2024.2352399
  *Ron Melzack Award for Paper of the Year: Canadian Journal of Pain
  
  
• Lesser, I.A., & Thomson, C.J. (2024). A Pre–Post Study Design Exploring the Potential Benefits of a Hiking Intervention for Active and Inactive Older Adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 33(1): 17-26. https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2023-0347.
  
  
• Giles, L.V., Thomson, C.J., Lesser, I.A., Brandenburg, J.P. (2024).  Running through the haze: How wildfire smoke affecgs physical activity and mental well-being.  Journal of Physical Activity and Health. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0305
  
  
• Thomson, C.J. & Lesser, I.A. (2024). It’s all relative: The role of cardiorespiratory fitness in hiking trail difficulty. Science and Sports.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2024.03.006
  
  
• Thomson, C.J., Lesser, I.A., Hatfield, G.L. (2024). Psychological and physiological effects of an acute bout of yoga before a simulated academic exam in university students. Journal of American College Health, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2024.2308267
  
  
• Lesser I.A., Thomson C.J., Lem, M. (2024). Green exercise as an opportunity to promote equity is physical activity engagement across diverse populations. Journal of Physical Activity & Health. Mar 26: 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0091
  
  
• Bitman, J., Thomson, C.J., Lyall, L.A., Alexis, S.L., Lyall, E.T., Cannatella, S.L., Ebtia, M., Freedman, B.K., Alizadeh-Pasdar, N., LeDrew, J.M., and Orenstein, T. (2022). Cardiac rehabilitation and nutrition improve quality of life compared to self-directed program in patients with atrial fibrillation.  Canadian Journal of Cardiology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjco.2022.04.004 (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03724383)
  
  
• J.P. Brandenburg, I.A. Lesser, C.J. Thomson, and L.V. Giles. (2021).  Does higher self-reported cardiorespiratory fitness reduce the odds of hospitalization from COVID-19?  Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 18(7): 782-788. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2020-0817