Journey to Becoming a Chiropractor
From a young age, I was passionate about health and wellness, and I knew I wanted to work in the health care field. While at university, I had the opportunity to shadow a chiropractor who had been my family’s trusted chiropractor for many years. I had never been to a chiropractor before, but seeing firsthand how he took the time to understand the root cause of his patients’ issues and his dedication to helping them heal was truly inspiring. His deep knowledge of the human body and his patient-centred approach impressed me. I was amazed by the incredible healing power of chiropractic care. After that experience, I knew I wanted to become a chiropractor.
Region of Practice and Clinical Work
I practise in Toronto. I have over 25 years of experience managing multidisciplinary health care teams and treating patients in various settings, including hospitals, private practices, and rehabilitation centres. Currently, I am a Director and chiropractor at F.R.O.M. Toronto Pain Relief Clinics, which are multidisciplinary clinics offering chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy, occupational therapy, psychiatry, and mental health services. I also enjoy teaching. I am a Resource Clinician at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC), where I oversee the clinical education of fourth-year interns, and an Assistant Professor at The Michener Institute of Education at UHN, where I teach Human Anatomy and Physiology.
Throughout my career, I have worked with diverse populations, including recent immigrants who face language barriers, cultural differences, and economic barriers. My clinical interests include chronic pain, rehabilitation, motor vehicle accident injuries, workplace injuries (WSIB), sports injuries, Concussion management, and Orthotics.
My Motto or Mantra
“Hurt vs. Harm – Hurt does not equal harm.” I always remind my patients that rehab exercises may cause discomfort or hurt, but that does not mean they are harming the body. Pain is often a natural part of the healing process. Movement strengthens muscles and joints, promotes recovery, and helps prevent future injuries. When patients understand this, they are empowered to stay active.
Credentials and Designations
I earned a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences from Queen’s University in 1995 and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) in 1999.
As a student at CMCC, I received several awards for academic excellence, including the Gilbert H. Young Memorial Scholarship (1997), Tibor and Magda Strauss Award (1998), and Vern Welsh Memorial Award (1999).
In 2023, I completed a certificate program in Accelerating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health Care from The Michener Institute of Education at UHN. My capstone project, “Using AI to Promote Chiropractic Treatment for MSK Pain, Reduce Opioid Prescriptions, and Improve Canada’s Opioid Crisis” explored how AI can support evidence-based chiropractic care and improve patient outcomes.
Leadership Engagement
Community, Volunteer Programs and Initiatives
I am an active volunteer in both the chiropractic profession and my community. I am honoured to serve on the OCA Board of Directors. I also contribute as a member of the OCA’s Nominating Committee and Governance Committee. In the Nominating Committee, I help ensure there is a cadre of members who are interested in working on the OCA board and its committees. In the Governance Committee, I assist with the OCA bylaws and policies.
At the national level, I am a member of the Women’s Chiropractic Caucus with the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA). This dedicated committee advocates for and supports women chiropractors throughout their careers, helping them achieve their personal and professional goals. This committee also advocates on behalf of women’s unique neuro-Musculoskeletal (nMSK) health issues to improve access to chiropractic care for women in Canada.
Additionally, I volunteer as a mentor with the CCA Mentorship Program, where mentors (chiropractors with 10 or more years of experience) are matched with mentees (chiropractors with 5 or fewer years of experience) to facilitate knowledge transfer, enhance clinical skills, and build a chiropractic network.
At CMCC, I volunteer as an applicant interview assessor, helping to select the best candidates for the Doctor of Chiropractic program.
In the community, I serve on the Aga Khan Health Board, on the Health Promotion team, as the Lead for Elderly Health in Toronto. Our goal is to prevent chronic disease and improve the quality of life for the elderly population. I help implement health promotion programs focused on priority topics such as falls prevention, mobility, cardiovascular health, diabetes, nutrition , sleep hygiene , and mental health.
Research
While I have not conducted formal research studies in chiropractic, I have explored the intersection of chiropractic care and artificial intelligence through my capstone project, “Using AI to Promote Chiropractic Treatment for MSK Pain, Reduce Opioid Prescriptions, and Improve Canada’s Opioid Crisis.” This project has the potential to be developed into a research initiative in the future.