ABOUT
InReach is a way of providing high quality Physiotherapy services to people in rural/remote areas, people who prefer not to leave the comfort of their home or people with busy lives that can't waste the time travelling to in-person appointments.
Physiotherapy is a key contributor to the health and mobility of Canadians and with recent improvements in internet and video-conferencing technology, telehealth, telephysio and telerehab have become very viable means of treatment.
Physiotherapists and co-owners, Aaron Dobie and Chris Kennedy, are university classmates and long time friends who share many of the same passions. Both of their practices are centered around health promotion and it only made sense for them to expand their practice into the telephysio and online physiotherapy space.
Aaron Dobie
Co-Owner
MSK Physio - Sport
Born and raised in Vancouver, BC. Aaron stayed close to home throughout his bachelor's and master's degrees because he couldn't find a better place to fulfill his passion for the outdoors, specifically in mountain bike racing.
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Aaron's commitment to fitness and health promotion began during his undergraduate degree, particularly when he started personal training. Not satisfied with his ability to rehabilitate client's injuries, he entered the Physical Therapy program at UBC in 2014. His goal was to be able to treat client's injuries and increase their fitness at the same time, thus combining his Physiotherapy and Kinesiology skills. Aaron's practice focuses mainly on exercise prescription and patient education. He is currently completing his Sports Physiotherapy diploma.
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Aaron has experience working with the UBC Men's Varsity Rugby team and various cycling teams. For the 2020 season, Aaron will be travelling on the UCI World Cup downhill mountain bike circuit as the Physiotherapist for the Giant Factory Off-Road Cycling Team.
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M.P.T. (Master of Physical Therapy) - University of British Columbia
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B.KIN (Bachelor of Kinesiology) - University of British Columbia.
Chris
Kennedy
Co-Owner
MSK Physio + Vestibular Rehabilitation
Chris completed his Masters of Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia after a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at the University of New Brunswick. He also has several years of experience working as a personal trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. This passion for helping his clients achieve greater health and reach their goals was the driving force that led Chris to pursue a career in physiotherapy. His practice is guided by current research, clinical experiences, and patient preference. He views exercise and education as essential components of all treatment plans. Chris believes that people experiencing pain and decreased function should not just be rehabilitated back to their baseline but that their journey should continue to progress to greater health and performance.
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Chris enjoys working with people who have a wide range of conditions from acute sports injuries to more chronic issues. He also enjoys helping those who have goals related to injury prevention or improving performance. Chris has undergone advanced training in the assessment and treatment of lower back and shoulder conditions as well as the most common bone and joint issues - osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. In addition to his broad musculoskeletal experience and interests, Chris has also received training in vestibular rehabilitation and concussion treatment which enables him to work with people experiencing a range of symptoms related to dizziness and vertigo.
Since moving to British Columbia from Nova Scotia in 2006, Chris has embraced a wide range of outdoor activities that the Sea-to-Sky region has to offer, including skiing, hiking, mountain biking, trail running, and more recently, climbing and paddle boarding. He believes that a strong, healthy body allows for optimal engagement in sport and life and aims to put his knowledge into practice in his own pursuits.
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M.P.T. (Master of Physical Therapy) - University of British Columbia
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BScKin (Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology) - University of New Brunswick
Karolina Spiewak
MSK Physio
Growing up Karolina participated in every sport under the sun and has scars to prove it! A passion for living an active lifestyle and a thirst for knowledge drove her to pursue a career in physiotherapy. She successfully completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Simon Fraser University followed by a Masters of Physical Therapy from the University of British Columbia.
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Since then she has taken various post-graduate courses which highlight the importance of education and exercise in the rehabilitation process. Karolina believes in an evidence-based holistic treatment approach. She recognizes each client is unique and tailors her assessment and treatment approach to each individual. Her goal is to optimize function and empower her clients to make a successful return to what matters most to them, whether it is a sport, hobby, career, or family!
Outside of the clinic, you can find Karolina exploring the outdoors as much as possible through hiking, paddle boarding or most recently attempting to stay on top of a surfboard.
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M.P.T. (Master of Physical Therapy) - University of British Columbia
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B.A (Bachelor of Arts) - Simon Fraser University
Trent Sanders
Occupational Therapist
Trent is an Occupational therapist living and working in Vancouver. He graduated from Queen’s University with his Master of Occupational Therapy in 2024 after completing his BA from the University of British Columbia in 2016. Away from InReach, Trent works with Vancouver Coastal Health’s home health program, focussed on keeping people safe and healthy in their own homes.
Trent has a strong interest in mental health, and seeks to incorporate it into all his work with clients. He believes that helping clients reconnect with activities that are meaningful and valued is the most important service that occupational therapy can provide. He has taken additional education courses on mental health, sleep, concussion management, and nature-based therapy.
Outside of work, Trent enjoys sea kayaking, camping, hiking, and board games with good company.​​​​​​
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M.P.T. (Master of Occupational Therapy) - Queen's University
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B.A. (Bachelor of Arts - Political Science) - University of British Columbia
Lisette Cheng
Certified Hand Therapist (Physio)
Originally from Victoria, Lisette graduated with a Masters of Physiotherapy from UBC in 2015, building on her Kinesiology degree from UVic. She has since developed a special interest in upper body conditions and obtained her Certified Hand Therapy designation in 2019.
Lisette provides care for a variety of upper and lower extremity injuries including acute orthopaedic trauma, post-operative and acquired conditions (osteo- and inflammatory arthritis). Lisette primarily works out of Vancouver General Hospital, where the outpatients team treats patients who have sustained orthopaedic or hand trauma. Her hand therapy skills include wound care, fabrication of custom thermoplastic splinting, manual therapy and exercise prescription.She believes patients should be an active participant throughout their rehabilitation and recovery.
Outside of work, Lisette enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, weight training and improving her pottery skills.
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M.PT (Master of Physical Therapy) - University of British Columbia​
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BKin (Bachelor of Kinesiology) - University of Victoria
Shannon
Lim
MSK Physio + Neuro
Shannon is a life-long learner! Starting and continuing her post-secondary education at UBC, she managed to collect multiple degrees including a Bachelor of Kinesiology, Master of Science, Master of Physical Therapy and most recently, a PhD in neurorehabilitation in 2021. For Shannon, it’s about continuing to expand knowledge, developing a better understanding of the human body, and determining how to optimally recover from an injury.
As a clinician, Shannon has always had a passion for helping individuals with neurological conditions, especially those in rural and remote areas. Shannon has spent time working and visiting family in regions of Northern BC such as Kitimat, Prince Rupert and Fort St. John. Observing the barriers to health care access in these regions has furthered her passion for providing her physiotherapy services in an accessible and effective manner. Shannon has worked at Neuromotion Physiotherapy and GF Strong Rehab Centre and currently sees clients in their own homes along the Sea to Sky corridor.
Currently living in Squamish, Shannon can typically be found on a rock or mountain. Her ideal day-off always involves backcountry skiing, trail running, hiking, mountaineering, and/or rock climbing.
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PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in Rehabilitation Science 2021 - University of British Columbia
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investigating​ functional brain activation during simple and complex walking in older adults and those who have experienced a stroke
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M.P.T. (Master of Physical Therapy) - University of British Columbia
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MSc (Master of Science) - University of British Colombia
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Investigated the influence of emotional state (fear of falling, anxiety, arousal) on the vestibular system and balance
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BKin (Bachelor of Kinesiology) - University of British Colombia
Patrick
Chiu
MSK Physio + Chronic Pain
Patrick is most passionate about getting to know each client and their personal needs and goals. He is committed to deliver quality care through education on injury prevention and individualized rehabilitation exercises. Patrick completed his studies at UBC - a Bachelor of Kinesiology in 2014 and a Master of Physical Therapy in 2016. His experience includes working in a pain management clinic and private practice physiotherapy clinics. Additionally, he has instructed Anatomy and Physiology at Langara College and worked as a personal trainer at UBC BodyWorks with clients with various chronic health conditions and injuries.
Patrick has a particular interest in working with patients dealing with persistent pain. He often reads research about pain science and the multiple factors which influence the pain experience instead of looking at individual body parts. He enjoys collaborating with patients to create realistic and achievable treatment plans.
Patrick lives in Vancouver, BC, and can be found coaching high school basketball, playing basketball and tennis, running, weight lifting, and hiking to explore BC’s beautiful mountains.
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M.PT (Master of Physical Therapy) - University of British Columbia​
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BKin (Bachelor of Kinesiology) - University of British Columbia
Natasha
Prokop
MSK Physio + CardioResp
Natasha graduated with a Master’s of Physiotherapy Studies from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia in 2016, after receiving a Bachelor of Human Kinetics degree from the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Tash has been active in sports throughout her life and values a strong, healthy body and lifestyle to maintain her outdoor activities.
She enjoys helping clients maintain or return to the activities that they enjoy. She has experience working in orthopaedic private practice treating musculoskeletal injuries, work and accident related injuries, pre and postoperative rehabilitation and sports conditioning.
She has also worked extensively in acute care in a hospital settings. She specifically has experience and passion in cardiorespiratory conditions. She is able to offer treatments online for a number of respiratory conditions across all ages, such as COPD, asthma, post pneumonia or flu; to improve breathing capacity, patterns and teach clearance techniques. These treatments help you maintain your lung function and health, while improving strength and recovery from the safety of your home.
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MScPT (Master of Physical Therapy) - University of Queensland
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BHKin (Bachelor of Human Kinetics) - University of British Columbia
Carley
Townsend
Pediatric Physio
Carley lives, works, and plays on Vancouver Island. Carley went to the University of Victoria and completed two undergraduate degrees before realizing that physiotherapy was the perfect career to marry her goals of connecting with pediatric clients and providing high quality healthcare to families in a fun and impactful way. Since graduating from the University of British Columbia with her Master’s of Physical Therapy degree, Carley has worked at British Columbia Children’s Hospital in Vancouver and at Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health in Victoria.
Carley is passionate about providing therapeutic intervention for children with a variety of different injuries and diagnoses. She has worked with a diverse population of infants, children, and youth under age 18; from babies with delayed gross motor milestones to older children with complex chronic medical conditions. Carley has taken a variety of post-graduate courses all geared towards treating primarily pediatric conditions and optimizing care when working with children, including courses specific to pediatric oncological rehabilitation, play therapy, Brachial Plexus injuries, and many more. Carley works with children with diagnosis or awaiting diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as is listed on the Registered Autism Service Provider (RASP-list) which assist families with ministry funding.
Carley uses her extensive experience working with children to provide engaging physiotherapy sessions for all age groups. Carley believes that the most important part of pediatric physiotherapy is ensuring that it’s fun and functional, and works closely to coach parents and family members to participate in physiotherapy sessions.
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MPT (Master of Physical Therapy) - University of British Columbia
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BScKin (Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology) - University of Victoria
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BSc (Bachelor of Science - Micro Biology) - University of Victoria
Melina Mirzaei
Physio - Pelvic Health
Melina is a physiotherapist from Vancouver and living in Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. She attended the University of British Columbia for both her Bachelor of Kinesiology and Master’s of Physical therapy degrees.
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Melina has worked in a variety of settings over the past 10 years, including the hospital with elderly and post-operative patients, on the rugby pitch with a men’s premier rugby team, and in private practice. She also has extensive experience teaching clinical pilates in a rehab setting.
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With the high number of pregnant and post-partum women coming in for clinical pilates, Melina was prompted to seek a greater understanding of topics specific to women’s health, such as pregnancy, pelvic floor dysfunction (including incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and painful intercourse), and returning to exercise post-partum. She has found working in the world of pelvic health to be extremely rewarding, as it has such an important impact on quality of life, and is eager to use a virtual health platform to improve access to care for as many women as possible.
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M.P.T. (Master of Physical Therapy) - University of British Columbia
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B.KIN (Bachelor of Kinesiology) - University of British Columbia.