Sara King-Dowling, PhD
Areas of expertise: Pediatric exercise medicine, Accelerometry, Cancer survivorship, Pediatric exercise oncology, Physical activity
About Sara King-Dowling, PhD
Dr. Sara King-Dowling is a Senior Research Scientist in the Division of Oncology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and an American College of Sports Medicine-certified clinical exercise physiologist.
After earning her doctorate in kinesiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in the Child Health and Exercise Medicine Program at McMaster Children’s Hospital and the Section for Behavioral Oncology at CHOP.
Dr. King-Dowling’s research focuses on exploring the multifaceted predictors and health benefits of physical activity engagement among children with neurodevelopmental disorders and chronic health conditions. Currently, she utilizes digital health technologies, including accelerometry and ecological momentary assessment, to examine the dynamic, real-time barriers and benefits of physical activity engagement among youth impacted by cancer.
Titles
Research Scientist
Awards and Honors
2018-2021, Postdoctoral Fellowship, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
2018, Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal Nominee
2016-2018, Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Doctoral Award
2017, Joan Heimbecker Memorial Scholarship
2017, UCBeyond Scholarship
2016, Kappa Kappa Gamma Graduate Scholarship
2013-2014, Clifton W. Sherman Ontario Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology
2012-2013, CIHR Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship (Master’s)
Leadership and Memberships
2023-present, Cancer Control Research Program, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Associate Member
2023-present, Children’s Oncology Group
2021-present, Digital Medicine Society (DiMe)
2021-present, Society of Behavioral Medicine
Editorial and Academic Positions
Editorial Positions
2023-present, Journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, Associate Editor
Education & training
Undergraduate Degree
BSc in Kinesiology (Honours), Minor in Psychology Neuroscience and Behaviour - McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Graduate Degree
PhD in Kinesiology - McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Fellowship
Pediatric Exercise Medicine - McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Behavioral Oncology - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA