Marcia Kirby
BSc(PT) BSc(PT) BA(PT) FCAMPT AFCI GunnIMS MClSc (CMP) Running Gait Analysis
Physiotherapist & Founder of UpLevel Physiotherapy
What inspired you to choose physiotherapy as your mission?
At age 14, I was training for a triathlon and developed a stress fracture in my leg from running. I went to the Sports Medicine Clinic at UBC and saw a physiotherapist who helped me heal and run again. I knew from that moment I was going to be a physiotherapist.
Where did you get your training?
I graduated from Western University in 2025 with an Advanced Practice Master’s Degree in Clinical Science in the curriculum stream of Comprehensive Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. I completed a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy at UBC in 2001. Prior to that, I graduated from The University of Western Ontario with a degree in Physical Education in 1995.
I am currently working as a Clinical Instructor with the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) Program at UBC, helping students develop their clinical skills in orthopaedics.
I love to keep my skills fresh, and have completed the following additional training and certifications:
- Certified Running Expert through the Running Clinic Level 2.0 Expert, specializing in running assessments and running-related injuries (2025)
- FCAMPT Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manual Physical Therapists (2005)
- GunnIMS Practitioner, Intramuscular Stimulation (2008)
Read more of our physiotherapy resources, links and certifications here »
What do you do to stay active?
Athletics have always been a huge part of my identity. In university, I was a member of the Women’s Varsity Swim Teams at UWO and UBC, as well as the Women’s Varsity Rowing Team at UBC. I love spending time outdoors trail running, hiking, mountain biking and skiing with my son and my friends. I compete in off-road triathlons and will be competing in the XTERRA World Championships in New Mexico in September 2026. I also currently swim with a masters team at Saanich Commonwealth Place.
What injuries or conditions have you overcome? How did you resolve the challenge?
Over the years, I have had to overcome many of the injuries that go hand in hand with being active: stress fractures from running, a chronic shoulder injury from swimming that required surgery, a lumbar disc injury, chronic Achilles tendinopathy, and most recently a traumatic knee injury from mountain biking. Each time I faced a debilitating injury, it was physiotherapy that helped me heal.
By far my most challenging injuries have been the lumbar disc injury and the knee injury. Fortunately, they happened at separate times! Being unable to do any form of exercise for months while dealing with nerve pain was mentally and physically exhausting. Recovering from multiple knee surgeries in a short period of time challenged my patience, resilience and adaptability. The best thing I did for myself during those times was to seek treatment and learn to take care of my own well-being. That meant focusing on my sleep, nutrition and social connections, and learning to meditate. Meditation helped me cope with the injury without catastrophizing the pain and frustration. It was a very long recovery for both injuries, but through it I learned empathy for my patients and patience with my body and its ability to heal.
Which of your life’s accomplishments are you most proud of?
My proudest accomplishments are my two babies: my son Owen, born in 2006, and my physiotherapy clinic at Saanich Commonwealth Place, which I founded in 2009. I love being a mom and watching how Owen has grown up pursuing his passions. And I feel so lucky to be paid to do something I am so passionate about. My passion is encouraging people, whether my child or my patients, to achieve the potential I know they are capable of.
What top three goals do you have yet to accomplish?
- Build a multidisciplinary health services clinic in Victoria.
- Pursue a Clinical Instructor position in the Master of Physical Therapy Program at UBC.
- Reach the podium at an XTERRA World Championship event. It may be far-fetched, but it’s a goal nonetheless!
What is your best advice to stay healthy for life?
Find a sustainable balance that includes work, play, physical activity, rest, social connections and healthy nutrition. Carve out time every day to look after yourself physically and mentally. Move more and sit less!
What are your words to live by?
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.” (Thomas H. Palmer)