Journey to Becoming a Chiropractor
My inspiration to become a chiropractor was the result of a culmination of experiences that began at an early age from injuries playing sports, such as soccer on rep and select teams and practising martial arts. I had an awesome chiropractor back then that helped me get back to my activities of daily living and sport.
Then, in my early 20s, I was in a car accident, and I was told I needed surgery. I considered alternatives to surgery and sought chiropractic care. I knew then that chiropractic was my chosen career path. I was fortunate to have mentors in the profession to help guide me early in my chiropractic career.
I have been in practice for 14 years and I feel blessed to have a career I am passionate about that helps patients on their path to recovery, health and wellness.
Region of Practice
I am the co-owner of Upper James Wellness Clinic on the Hamilton Mountain, dedicated to providing effective patient-centered care in a collaborative multidisciplinary clinic. I have practiced as an Advanced Practice Provider with the publicly funded Low Back Pain Rapid Access Clinics in both St. Catharines and Mississauga. I also have a home-based chiropractic clinic in Waterdown.
Credentials and Designations
- B.Sc. (Honours) Psychology from McMaster University in 2003
- Doctor of Chiropractic from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (Clinic Honours) in 2009
- Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Certification in 2009
- Completed thesis-based Master of Science Rehabilitation Sciences degree at McMaster University in 2013
- Jobst Basic Fitter Compression and Elvarex Lymphedema Garments Certifications in 2014
- Chiropractic Paediatric Patient Management Treatment in 2016
- Activator Methods Certification in 2018
- Chartered Director (C. Dir.) from the Caribbean Governance Training Institute in 2020
- Integrated Disability Management certification in 2024
My Motto or Mantra
A quote that resonates with me both personally and professionally is:
“The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Leadership Engagment
OCA Initiatives and Achievements
There’s no substitute for the experience I have gained on the Ontario Chiropractic Association (OCA) Board over the past six years. I contributed to committees as a member-at-large and as a Board Director. Before being elected to the OCA board I was a member-at-large on the Strategic Planning Task Force and Research Committee. During my time on the board, I have been a member of the Finance and Audit, Governance and Research Committees. I chaired the Research Committee for the 4 years. I was also a Board representative on the Evidence-Based Framework Advisory Council. I also have my Chartered Director training certification as well as certification in Integrated Disability Management.
I have both teaching and research experience. An additional skill that I have strengthened through my Board work is being able to identify challenges and obstacles faced by OCA and the profession, and work in a productive, collaborative way, with my fellow Board members, to address them.
Community and Volunteer Work
For the past ten years, I have been involved in mentoring as well as promoting interprofessional education through McMaster University’s (MAC) Program for Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research (PIPER) as a guest speaker educating students (including, but not limited to, medical, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, midwifery, speech language pathologists, social workers) about the chiropractic profession. I also volunteer as a group facilitator for PIPER’s Interprofessional Education events, which include sessions facilitating students from the McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) programs to learn from and about their colleagues training and scope of practice in each program.
I have worked with the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University. I assisted in coaching and mentoring students for their Objective Structured Clinical Examination preparation.
I have also co-instructed MAC FHS course HTH SCI 3X03 Pain: Perceptions, Mechanisms and Management.