AAP Member
Shaheeza Haji graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta in 2009, followed by a Master of Physiotherapy from the University of Western Ontario in 2011. Being a staunch believer in “exercise is medicine” she attained her Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist status though the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 2013. Shaheeza holds privileges to order diagnostic imaging.
At the end of that same year, Shaheeza was involved in a major life-altering electrocution incident whereby she sustained a number of injuries which required surgery and years of rehabilitation. One of these injuries was a traumatic brain injury; it is thought that the electrical current exploded within the confined space of her skull, which for lack of better terminology was coined by her medical team as an “electrical concussion.”
As concussions were largely treated with rest and the avoidance of stimuli at that time, Shaheeza spent 8 months bed-ridden. Frustrated with no relief from her concussion symptoms, she began to immerse herself in the very new and growing world of concussion research, desperately trying to self-implement anything she came across. As she began to notice improvements in her symptoms, she became immensely passionate about concussions, feeling the need to use her own pain, injury and learnings to help others rehabilitate from their unique brain injuries. This lead to her becoming certified in the treatment and management of Concussions in 2018. Also in 2018, Shaheeza began instructing at CDI college, heading up the Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant Diploma Program.
Today, Shaheeza combines her love of teaching, her passion of concussion research, and the empathy & experience from her own injury to help those with acute and chronic concussions. Shaheeza also has a drive for entrepreneurship, being the CEO of Running Shoe Inc., directing both Running Shoe Restorative Healthcare and the Calgary Concussion Centre.
When not at the clinic, Shaheeza is happiest on a mountain or a body of water. When unable to be there, she can be found on a longboard, shooting hoops, or attempting to golf. She is an avid basketball fan (Go Bulls go!) non-fiction reader, and a lover of travel.