What inspired you to choose physiotherapy as your mission?

As a teenager I was competing at a national level in synchronized swimming. I sprained and fractured my ankle at 16 years old. The physiotherapist who helped me back into the pool was very positive and energetic. Their excitement for the profession and in teaching me about my injury was so inspiring. Physical activity has always been an important part of my life and I wanted to help others reach their full potential.

Where did you get your training?

I completed my undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at University of Alabama at Birmingham on an athletic scholarship for synchronized swimming. I then completed my Masters Degree in Physiotherapy at the University of British Columbia in 2006. I have also completed extensive post-graduate training and received my Diploma of Advanced Manual and Manipulative Physiotherapy and my Certificate in Gunn IMS for intramuscular stimulation. I have pursued post-graduate education in myofascial release.

What do you do to stay active?

I enjoy keeping up with my two young energetic kids, hiking, backpacking, spin classes, swimming and cycling.

Which of your life’s accomplishments are you most proud of?

My two young kids and choosing a career that I love! Having a career in which you can make a difference in other people’s lives and in how they feel is pretty amazing.

What top three goals do you have yet to accomplish?

1. Finish my GunnIMS certification in Feb 2017.  I haven’t been a fan of needles myself but chose to challenge myself for personal growth and to help add to my treatment repertoire for my patients. It has gone really well and I look forward to offering it to my patients.
2. Find a balance of work, family and me time this year. With two young kids this can be hard and the ‘me’ time is often first to be taken away. This will include having regular physiotherapy treatment on myself to get past some nagging problems.
3. Travel abroad with our kids as often as we can to show them diversity and culture.

What is your best advice to stay healthy for life?

I encourage my patients to find something they enjoy doing and do it more often.  Setting one or two small goals to improve one’s lifestyle is easier to achieve than trying to make too many changes at once.

What are your words to live by?

It’s better to look back on life and say: “I can’t believe I did that.” than to look back and say: “I wish I did that.”