Your Board Candidates Answer Three Townhall Questions
1. What do you think is currently the most important opportunity (or highest priority) for the chiropractic profession in Ontario and why?
The highest priority for our profession is increasing awareness of chiropractic to the public, other healthcare providers, insurers and government stakeholders. Increasing awareness of the benefits of chiropractic care increases utilization rates. It takes a strong and unified voice, Ontario Chiropractic Association (OCA) and our fraternal organizations must perpetually and collaboratively advocate, educate and promote the profession to increase understanding and utilization of chiropractic. Organizational best practices include a needs-assessment or gap analysis in order to be effective and sustainable. There are gaps apparent in our healthcare system, chiropractors are well positioned as we are specialized in evidence-based patient-centred neuromusculoskeletal care; there is an important opportunity to showcase this as a portal of entry profession in a sustainable healthcare system.
2. What do you think is the most important role OCA can play during the next three years?
The most important role OCA can play today and over the next three years is advocate for and facilitate knowledge translation of our profession to increase awareness and utilization. All stakeholders need to know who we are, what makes us unique as a profession, how safe and effective we practice and why we do it! This will not only support OCA members, but will also foster a comprehensive understanding of our profession to the public, increasing our credibility and promote chiropractic as an integral part of the healthcare system.
3. What key difference do you want to make during your tenure on the OCA Board of Directors (for 2024-2027)?
As a current and experienced OCA Board Director, I have been privileged to be involved in many important initiatives and directives over the course of my six-year tenure. If re-elected, my goal is that all our members continue to be successful in practice, particularly in these challenging economic times amidst the aftermath of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
I will continue to support our membership and the profession by:
• Advocating to preserve and increase chiropractic insurance coverage
• Providing current and applicable information and resources to use in our practices and continuing education opportunities
• Continuing to advocate for scope of practice expansion
• Facilitating inter-professional and inter-organizational collaboration
• Fostering and funding chiropractic-related research initiatives and marketing campaigns.
We must build upon the OCA’s strategic successes to-date, with the priority to continue to support and give back to Ontario chiropractors as we continue to help our patients thrive!
Biographical Profile
Why did you become 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.
Where do you practise?
I currently practice at Upper James Wellness Clinic which is a multi-disciplinary clinic on the Hamilton Mountain and at my home clinic in Waterdown. I have worked as an Advanced Practice Provider for the Rapid Access Clinics for Low Back Pain in Mississauga and St. Catharines.
What is your motto or mantra?
I have two very thematic quotes that resonate with me both personally and professionally.
“They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
I have always loved the statement:
“The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Both quotes are very fitting for how I view my life and my practice.
Credentials and Designations
- Integrated Disability Management (IDM), University of Fredericton (expected completion, January 2024)
- Chartered Director (C.Dir.), Caribbean Governance Training Institute, 2020
- Activator Methods Certification, 2018
- Chiropractic Paediatric Patient Management Treatment, 2016
- Jobst Basic Fitter Compression and Elvarex Lymphedema Garments Certifications, 2014
- M.Sc., Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, 2013
- Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Certification, McMaster University, 2009
- Doctor of Chiropractic, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC), 2009
- B.Sc. (Honours) Psychology, McMaster University, 2003
Leadership Engagement
What skills will you bring to the board?
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 have chaired the Research Committee for the past 3 years. I was also a Board representative on the Evidence-Based Framework Advisory Council. I also have my Chartered Director training certification.
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.
Do you conduct research related to chiropractic?
Research:
Master of Science thesis project, McMaster University, “Gait symmetry in patients with clinical knee osteoarthritis”. — 2013
Literature synthesis research project, CMCC, “Effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of schizophrenia”. — 2009
Independent research project, McMaster University, “Comparison of rodent parental behaviours in females and two male morph groups”. — 2003
Peer-Reviewed Publications:
Busse JW, Bruno P, Malik KM, Connell G, Torrance D, Ngo T, Kirmayr K, Avrahami D, Riva JJ, Ebrahim S, Struijs P, Burnarski D, Burnie SJ, LeBlanc F, Coomes EA, Streenstra IA, Slak T, Rodine R, Jim J, Montori VM, Guyatt GH. An efficient strategy allowed English-speaking reviewers to identify foreign-language articles that meet eligibility criteria for a systematic review of management for fibromyalgia. J Clin Epidemiol. 2014 March 5; doi:10.1016/ j.jclinepi.2013. 07.022.
Busse JW, Bruno P, Malik KM, Connell G, Torrance D, Ngo T, Kirmayr K, Avrahami D, Riva JJ, Ebrahim S, Struijs P, Burnarski D, Burnie SJ, LeBlanc F, Coomes EA, Streenstra IA, Slak T, Rodine R, Jim J, Montori VM, Guyatt GH. An efficient strategy to allow English-speaking reviewers to identify foreign-language articles eligible for systematic review. Published in Newsletter of International Society of Evidence-based Healthcare, April 11, 2013.
Busse JW, Ebrahim S, Connell G, Coomes EA, Bruno P, Malik KM, Torrance D, Ngo T, Kirmayr K, Avrahami D, Riva JJ, Struijs P, Brunarski D, Burnie S, LeBlanc F, Steenstra IA, Mahood Q, Thorlund K, Montori VM, Sivarajah V, Alexander P, Jankowski M, Lesniak W, Faulhaber M, Bala MM, Schandelmaier S, Guyatt GH. Systematic review and network meta-analysis of interventions for Fibromylagia: A protocol. Syst Rev. 2013 Mar 13; 2:18. doi: 10.11.86/2046-4053-2-18. Highly accessed.
Riva JJ, Malik KM, Burnie SJ, Endicott AR, Busse JW. What is your research question? An introduction to the PICOT format for clinicians. J Can Chiropr Assoc 2012;56: 167-71.
Peer-Reviewed Conference Abstracts: