Meet our Students

Pursuing a career in rehabilitation has been a passion of mine from an early age. I have experienced first-hand how imperative physical therapy can be to make me feel my best both on and off the field. I have witnessed the tremendous impact physiotherapy can have on individuals across their lifespan; and after many volunteer and working opportunities, I knew I wanted to take a hands-on approach to rehabilitation. I was intrigued by the wide scope of practice and settings in which physiotherapy can exist and knew that the MPT program would provide the exposure and knowledge to explore this further. I am dedicated to helping others live life to their fullest and reach their potential in and out of the clinic.  

I chose Western University because it offered the most comprehensive and practical approach to Physical Therapy. The case-based and experiential learning environment prepares learners to practically apply their knowledge from the very beginning. Their mission to create innovative and adaptive learners for today and into the future aligned with my vision to help others and to meet the growing demands of our dynamic society.

The emphasis on orthopaedics, manual therapy and case-based clinical reasoning was a large contributor to my decision to study at Western. I have a passion for working with athletes and the connection to the internationally renowned Fowler Kennedy clinic, set Western University above the rest. Having the opportunity to learn from the best educators and practitioners across the various settings of physiotherapy is invaluable to me as a future physiotherapist.

I have had many memorable experiences thus far, but the most important has been the connections with others. I have enjoyed getting to work with such ambitious, knowledgeable, and hardworking individuals. From peers and teammates to professors and clinical instructors, I have developed great professional and personal relationships and have learned such valuable lessons from all. I have balanced being an athlete on Western’s Women’s Lacrosse Team, attending networking and volunteering events, guest lectures and staying on top of my coursework. This is all possible, because of the supportive community in the MPT program and the frequent spikeball games at lunch. This program has presented amazing ways to network, learn, and grow beyond the classroom. Clinical placements have provided some of the best practical experiences and opportunities. I have had the unique opportunity to observe orthopaedic surgeries prior to working with patients in the clinical setting; this provided greater insight and increased my understanding of post operative rehabilitation. These experiences have strengthened my passion for working with athletes across the lifespan and working in a profession that can have such a positive impact on an individual’s quality of life. I look forward to enhancing my rehabilitation knowledge and continuing with placements, specifically with an international placement in Australia in the New Year.

With the skills I have learned throughout my extensive educational career, I see myself able to educate, treat and guide individuals to achieve their goals, improve their confidence and return to the activities they love.

After graduation, I see myself working in a clinical setting with athletes in life and in sport and volunteering with local sports teams and organizations. Western has prepared me with extensive orthopaedic and MSK knowledge, clinical reasoning, and manual therapy skills to provide the required care to rehabilitate athletic populations. I plan to continue to expand my skills, knowledge, and services within the field of physiotherapy through the CPA-ortho-division, and SPC certification courses, to name a few. 

In addition to clinical practice, I would love the opportunity to give back to the community that helped develop my passion for sport and rehabilitation. I have had the most amazing mentors and teachers throughout my educational career and would like to create education, support, and mentorship opportunities for individuals interested in sports and rehabilitation. I would like to inspire individuals to pursue sports rehabilitation and to create spaces that welcome curiosity and create opportunities to grow.

Promoting movement as medicine is a main value in my life and practice. I believe that through my work as a future physiotherapist, I will be able to change the world, one person at a time, by helping them to be the best version of themselves.

I have always been fascinated with the body’s ability to move and adapt to our lifestyle and chosen activities. I think that physical activity is so important for mental and physical health, social relationships, and letting people find fun in their lives. I hope that through a career in physiotherapy, I can encourage people to be active in a way they enjoy. I spent a lot of time in physiotherapy growing up competing in figure skating, track and field, and cross country and I really appreciated the relationships with my physiotherapists and their ability to keep me doing what I loved. I also saw the significant negative effects that injuries had on friends and teammates around me, and I always wanted the skills and knowledge to be able to help them through those tough times. I am so looking forward to being able to provide this to patients now that I have completed the MPT program!

I chose Western because of the combined MPT PhD program that I am currently completing. While I knew I wanted to be involved in physiotherapy, I also loved the research experiences I had during my undergraduate degree and couldn’t decide whether I wanted to pursue a clinical or research path in the field. Fortunately, I was accepted into the combined program at Western which has allowed me to keep both doors open. Additionally, Western University and the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic are well known for both their clinical practice and research in orthopaedics, musculoskeletal health, and sport medicine, so I knew it would be a perfect setting to explore my interests.

Three things stand out in my mind over my time in the program so far. Firstly, my clinical placements in the MPT program have been the most impactful on my learning. While not the type of physiotherapy practice I intend to pursue, my placement in an ICU was eye-opening and meaningful and really made me appreciate the breadth of the physiotherapy scope. My last placement at the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine clinic confirmed my desire to work in a sport medicine clinic and help keep people active. Secondly, through my graduate studies I have had the opportunity to attend monthly clinical and research rounds at the Fowler Kennedy Clinic. These sessions have been integral in my learning and comfort level with a multi-disciplinary group of health care professionals (primary care physicians, orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapists). Lastly, I have had the opportunity to present my PhD work at multiple international conferences which has brought me critical exposure to new research, connections with collaborators, and always ignites my passion for research.

My overall goal is to be a clinician scientist, incorporating both clinical practice and a research program into my career. I hope to work in a physiotherapy/sport medicine setting specifically aiming to improve treatment and rehabilitation following musculoskeletal injuries and orthopaedic surgeries, using a biopsychosocial approach, and incorporating my patients’ voices into research. Following completion of the combined MPT/PhD degree, I plan to pursue a postdoctoral research fellowship investigating psychological factors related to recovery following anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction. I hope to identify psychological interventions that can be incorporated into physiotherapy rehabilitation to improve individual’s confidence and readiness to return to sport and/or activity and reduce fear after these significant injuries. My other research interests include injury prevention and how to best measure what is important to patients during recovery. Clinically, I hope to hone my skills in sport medicine with two specific areas of interest currently being treating and preventing ACL injuries and running related injuries. I hope to make a difference in the world through collaboration, evidence production, and evidence based practice so people can stay active in ways they enjoy.