OSHAWA, Ont. – Former Ridgeback women's hockey player Katie Mikkelsen continues to leave her mark on Ontario Tech beyond her playing days, with her thesis on rapidly manufactured ventilators recently published in the Respiratory Care Journal.

During her time with the women's hockey program, Mikkelsen was a consistent contributor on defence and earned academic awards in both 2023 and 2024. She was also the first Ridgeback to declare for the PWHL Draft following her time at Ontario Tech. Although her varsity career was limited to just two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mikkelsen demonstrated resilience by seizing every opportunity—balancing the demands of being a high-performance athlete with her academic commitments.

Mikkelsen came to Ontario Tech in 2021 to pursue a Master of Health Sciences degree, at the height of the global health crisis. That experience inspired the focus of her thesis on rapidly manufactured ventilators (RMVs)—emergency-use devices designed to address ventilator shortages in ICUs worldwide.

"This was a clear gap in research and policy that I was eager to contribute to," she explained. "Pandemics are inevitable, so the idea that I could meaningfully support future preparedness for mass-casualty events and global health crises was an opportunity I couldn't pass up."

Her research, which began in late 2021 and spanned nearly two years, involved identifying and analyzing trends in available data, reviewing previous studies, and extracting key insights to support her findings. She completed her thesis in July 2023, and in May 2025, had her work officially published in the Respiratory Care Journal—a milestone she described as both challenging and deeply rewarding.

"Being published holds deep meaning for me," Mikkelsen said. "It validates the effort and dedication I put into the project and confirms that the research makes a meaningful contribution to the field."

Though academics have taken centre stage in Mikkelsen's life, she has never lost sight of her experience as a Ridgeback student-athlete. She credits hockey with equipping her with the tools to succeed in graduate school.

"Hockey taught me numerous invaluable skills that translated directly to my academic success," she said. "The discipline to stay committed, the resilience needed to overcome setbacks, the ability to perform under pressure, and the time management skills I gained all shaped how I approached my graduate studies."

Mikkelsen is now completing her Master of Education and plans to combine her health sciences and education background into a future career in healthcare or academia. She also continues to give back to the sport she loves, currently serving as an assistant coach with the OWHL Whitby Wolves U22 Elite team.

"Being a Ridgeback taught me to stay grounded during difficult moments," she reflected. "I learned not to be defined by setbacks; instead, I focused on what I could control and gained a deeper sense of perspective. Learning to 'enjoy the ride' is a mindset I carry with me in everything I do."