At Pelvic Support Physiotherapy we take take great pride in our staff.
All our staff have extensive specialized training in treating pelvic health conditions and are constantly upgrading skills. We regularly teach other professionals – doctors, midwives and other physiotherapists about pelvic health.
We are proud of the results we get and would like to share our knowledge with you.
Meet Our Staff
KRISTA COCHRANE
P.T. REGISTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Krista Cochrane was born and raised in Ottawa Ontario. She is a Registered Physiotherapist who graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 2000. She has began her focus in pelvic health in 2009. She started working at Pelvic Support Physiotherapy in 2011. In June 2018, Krista took over ownership of Pelvic Support Physiotherapy. Krista has been dedicated to improving the quality of life of those suffering from urinary and pelvic health issues. She is determined to provide a voice of confidence and dignity to all her clients. Krista enjoys educating many different groups about pelvic health (midwives, new moms, exercise groups and other health professionals). Krista is married and stays young raising her two sons. She is an active community volunteer.
Member of Canadian Physiotherapy Association
Private Practice and Women's Health Divisions
NANCY DOWKER
P.T. REGISTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Nancy Dowker graduated as a Physical Therapist from the University of Western Ontario in 1981. She worked in Toronto until moving to the Ottawa Valley in 1988. Nancy's career has encompassed the Pelvic Floor, Orthopaedics and Arthritis. She is rostered to perform internal pelvic examinations with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. She has assisted Julie Wiebe, PT, with the practical component of her course as Julie presents her "Diaphragmatic Piston" concepts to other Physiotherapists, Kinesiologists and like-minded physical educators in both Canada and the USA. Nancy has been an Educational Lab Assistant for Pelvic Health Solutions, an evidence-based Ontario teaching company providing an ever-expanding range of expertise to Health Care Professionals with an interest in Pelvic Health. She participated in a mentorship program for the same group, guiding newly-trained pelvic physiotherapists across Canada through the challenges of adapting new theoretical and evidence-based practices around pain into their clinical practice. Nancy is passionate about the need to empower women and men to regain control of their lives through education, physical treatment and ultimately self-management.
Member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association
QUELEN FARIAS
P.T. REGISTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Quelen is originally from Brazil. She later moved to Portugal where she started her physiotherapy career after graduating from the Lisbon School of Health Technology in 2011. Since moving to Canada with her family (partner, daughters, and pets) in 2013, Quelen has practiced in the orthopaedic, geriatric, and pelvic health fields. Pelvic health has been her passion since physio school, and she has been practicing exclusively in this field for the past 5 years.
Throughout the years, Quelen has completed extensive training in Pelvic Rehabilitation, covering several aspects of pelvic health including prenatal and postpartum care, bladder and bowel health, sexual health, and complex pelvic pain. She recently completed a 200hr yoga training which she believes will be a great addition to her holistic and biopsychosocial practice. With a client centered, inclusive, and trauma informed approach, Quelen is always seeking new learning experiences so she can offer her clients a safe environment, where their ideas and concerns are validated and they feel heard. She loves helping people achieve their goals through education, movement/exercise, and manual therapy techniques. She works towards guiding her clients into creating their own "toolbox" which they can use whenever they want if needed.
When she is not at the clinic, she likes spending time with her family, watching their favourite shows and relaxing, or going for hikes and other family activities.
Member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association: Pain Science and Women's Health divisions.
JACKIE POMEROY
P.T. REGISTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Jackie graduated as a Physiotherapist from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland in 1983. After a few years of working in hospital settings in Dublin and London England, Jackie completed a Masters in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. Jackie returned to clinical work when she made her new home in Ottawa, Canada in 1987.
After working in hospital and private practice for several years, Jackie moved to Toronto and worked at Women’s College Hospital and developed a passion for Women’s Health with a focus in pregnancy, post-partum and osteoporosis. Jackie became a certified childbirth educator through the International Childbirth Educator’s Association and enjoyed working with couples to prepare for their new baby.
As a result of this work Jackie began to see the impact of pregnancy and delivery on Women’s Pelvic Health and has been concentrating on this rewarding area of practice since 2006. Jackie is a member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.
In her spare time Jackie enjoys practicing and teaching Pilates, swimming, golf, music, gardening and experimenting in the kitchen with her family.
Jackie is delighted to be a part of Pelvic Health Support and to work with such a dynamic and skilled group of colleagues.
LISA SCHOCK
P.T. REGISTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Lisa was born and raised in Ottawa. She earned her Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Toronto in 2015. She has worked in hospital and private practice settings, and has additional training in orthopedics, vestibular rehab, concussion management, and pelvic floor rehabilitation. While working in orthopedics she developed a passion for pelvic health because of the profound impact it can have on an individual’s quality of life. She began her focus in pelvic health in 2017 and was delighted to join the team at Pelvic Support Physiotherapy in 2019. Lisa completed her pelvic floor physiotherapy training with Pelvic Health Solutions, including specific training in the treatment of incontinence, pelvic pain and pelvic organ prolapse. She strives to empower all her clients through knowledge and education. Lisa is married with a young son. In her spare time she enjoys running, hiking, yoga, camping, and playing in the backyard with her family and their German Shepherd, Bane.
CLARE JERVIS
MScPT - registered physiotherapist
Clare Jervis is originally from Arnprior, Ontario. She has a Bachelor of Kinesiology Honours (BKIH) from Acadia University and a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy (MScPT) from the University of Toronto. Clare is a registered Physiotherapist and has worked in a variety of settings in both Canada and New Zealand and joined the Pelvic Support Physiotherapy team in 2021.
Clare became interested in pelvic floor physiotherapy initially as a patient after having her first child in 2016 and quickly realized the profound impact pelvic floor physiotherapy can have on someone’s life. Clare has since undergone additional training as a Physiotherapist which now enables her to assess and treat concerns related specifically to the pelvic floor. She enjoys helping people achieve their goals and feel their best!
Outside of work, Clare can be found training for triathlons and spending time with her husband, three young children, and dog Molly.
FRANCISCA AVILA
P.T. - REGISTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Francisca Avila holds a Master of Health Sciences in Physiotherapy from the University of Ottawa (2009), and a Bachelor of Sciences in Human Kinetics from the University of Québec at Montreal (2007). She has developed her knowledge in the field of pelvic health through post-graduate courses and training and she is dedicated to remaining at the forefront of the field to deliver the best care to her patients. Francisca has been a part-time professor and teaching assistant at the University of Ottawa, in Physiotherapy and Human Kinetics. She has also been a research assistant at the Élisabeth Bruyère Research Institute.
Francisca discovered her interest in pelvic health when seeking alternatives to alleviate her own perinatal related conditions and knows how working in this field can positively impact the quality of life of her patients. She provides treatment in a safe and caring environment through a collaborative and evidence-based approach that is tailored to her patients’ needs. Francisca is fluent in English, French, and Spanish.
Memberships
Canadian Physiotherapy Association
CPA Women's Health Division
International Continence Society
Global Pelvic Health Alliance
DORA MESEC
P.T. - REGISTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Dora Mesec, a graduate of Physiotherapy from the University of Toronto has over 30 years experience. Dora has worked for most of her career in private practice orthopedic and sports injury clinics both here in Ottawa and Vancouver. She is a certified Manual Therapist having successfully completed extensive post graduate training and examinations. She was a Registered Instructor for the Orthopedic Division of the CPA from 1989-1997, teaching post-graduate manual therapy courses. In 2004, Dora obtained her certification as an IMS (Intra Muscular Stimulation) practitioner, and has found this technique to be extremely valuable in the treatment of persistent muscular pain syndromes. In recent years, her practice has focused on (but not limited to) working with people with chronic pain conditions including pelvic pain, back, neck and shoulder pain, complex regional syndromes, whiplash disorders, neuropathies and fibromyalgia. Dora is married with three children. She is an avid downhill and cross-country skier, cyclist and more recently canoeist. She joined Pelvic Support Physiotherapy Clinic in 2007 and is very pleased to be working with such a dynamic team.
CINDY McGUIRK
OFFICE MANAGER
Cindy is from Charlottetown Prince Edward Island and is a graduate from the University of New Brunswick where she obtained her Geological Engineering Degree. She lived and worked in Nova Scotia for 10 years before moving to Ottawa where she took time off to raise her two children.
After 11 years at home, she returned to the workforce looking for a different career path and found Pelvic Support Physiotherapy. She has been the receptionist here since 2009.
CAROLYN MARUSHKO
RECEPTIONIST
Carolyn has been a ‘stay at home’ mom for the past 20 years! She has loved every moment of it; raising three daughters and volunteering in the community.
Before that, Carolyn was a software programmer/analyst working in Toronto after obtaining her B.Math / Comp. Science degree from the University of Waterloo in 1985. Carolyn enjoys her new ‘second career’ at Pelvic Support as it allows her to work and socialize with a wonderful group of ladies and clients!
PARAMJIT GIDDA
RECEPTIONIST
Param was born in India and moved to England to study and was married and had two wonderful sons there. She moved to Ottawa in 1980's and worked at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital accounting office before going into business for 10 years (convenient store, Motel and Coffee shop). She went back to College and obtained Medical Office Administrator diploma and worked full time for an Ottawa physiotherapy clinic for 12 years. She is loving her retirement part time job at Pelvic Support.
SHANNON GRAHAM
RECEPTIONIST
Photo & Bio coming soon!
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