As a testament to her leadership in military and veteran health research and her unique ability to enact change, Dr. Alice Aiken has been appointed First Unit Honorary Commander of the 33 Canadian Forces Health Services Centre of Kingston.

Dr. Aiken is the director of the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) – an organization that aims to maximize the health and well-being of Canadian military personnel, veterans, and their families. Since its inception in 2009, CIMVHR has partnered with 36 universities and, since November 2014, has received more than $21 million in grants and donations.

A veteran herself, Dr. Aiken enrolled in the Naval Reserve in 1984 and was in the first training class of maritime surface officers that included women in a combat role. During the Gulf War, she worked for the Navy at the Maritime Command Headquarters in Halifax. After graduating from Dalhousie University’s physiotherapy program, Dr. Aiken was posted to the base hospital at CFB Kingston. She left the Canadian Armed Forces in 1998 and joined Queen’s to manage the physiotherapy clinic while pursuing her master’s and PhD in rehabilitation science. Dr. Aiken became a faculty member in 2006.