Nicole Sullivan, PT, BHKin, MScPT, FCAMPT, CSCS, CAFCI/CIDN
MAYBE BEING KNOWN FOR BEING NICE ISN’T SO BAD.

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Nicole is the co-founder and owner of [mend]physio where she has been guiding patients to agency and self worth in their own journey for over ten years. She is also the lead therapist for for Volleyball Canada’s beach national team.

She is mom and partner, and a human who recognizing the value of each interaction. We discuss all things practitioner and what makes the difference in the lives of athletes, patients and practitioners. 

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MOTION IS MEDICINE

The current global health situation has afforded the opportunity for these two to reconnect and create their passion project, Healing Kinetics:
A platform to educate and inspire patients to find more in a healthy lifestyle through interactive posts, prescriptive exercise and much more.

Mahyar is the Assistant Athletic Therapist for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football of the CFL. He has also worked with the National Ballet of Canada Company, Wrestling Canada, multiple varsity and collegiate sports teams, and the Toronto FC Juniors.
Thomas is now the assistant therapist for the senior national team and the head therapist for the Next Gen program with Wheelchair Rugby Canada. He has experience in the private setting, at the National Ballet and in the varsity sport setting. 

Alexandra Poletto, Volleyball Canada     
DO EVERYTHING AT 100% AND YOU WILL NEVER REGRET ANYTHING

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Alex is a professional beach volleyball athlete. She competed for Colorado State University where she completed an undergraduate degree and then moved on to USC where she earned her Masters degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. 

With a competitive goal to represent Canada in the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games, Alex continues to train at the highest level. She has experienced a myriad of injuries and practitioners along the way and will share her path this evening. She is an advocate for younger athletes and fosters a mindset grounded in internal validation being the primary source of fuel. 

Chris Towe, Volleyball Canada NextGen Beach Program
KNOW YOU

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Chris is the youngest member of the NextGen Beach program and has been competing internationally for six years. He is a National Champion, winning with the University of Alberta in 2014-15 and then moving on to lead a resurgence in the University of Toronto program, capping off with their National tournament appearance. He is a coach and mentor in the youth athletics space, leading by example and showcasing the value of self advocacy. 

Kiersten McLeod & Melissa Pankratz, IslandACL       
FINDING THE SMALL WINS

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Kiersten and Melissa are the founders of Island ACL. They share a passion for youth injury risk reduction, ACL injury education and supporting those going through any stage of return from this injury.

Kiersten is an Athletic Therapist and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist.
Melissa is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and in her final year of the BAET at Camosun College (to certify as an Athletic Therapist).

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Dan Noble
BE THE RESOURCE TEACHER

Dan is a leader in the performance and athlete development space- his secret: treat them like a human, watch them grow. After leading the Hill Academy from a physical readiness and performance role, Dan now leads the charges at GRIT Athletics as the Director of Performance. He trains and consults with multiple pro level athletes in the CFL, NHL, NLL, PWHPA and with Hockey Canada and continues to be a leader in the field of longterm development, recently taking on a role as Head of Hockey at Upper Canada College. 

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Session 71 (May 2, 2021): Megan Stewart, RKin., CAT(C)         
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THAT TRAVEL

Megan is an Athletic Therapist currently overseeing 22 employees, managing this team of Phyisotherapists, Chiropractors, RMTs, NDs and MDs in Ottawa. Her career has seen her spend time in Edinburgh, Scotland working with a rugby team, a performance arts group and the general public, educating and assisting people become better movers. Megan is an advocate for the profession of Athletic Therapy. Listen in on this one! 

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Kendra Toothill       
QUALITY TAKES PRECEDENCE

Kendra graduated from Concordia university in Montreal and has been a certified Athletic Therapist since 2013. She is also a certified Athletic Trainer in the US (ATC), a certified strength and conditioning coach CSCS and a certified yoga teacher. 

She’s worked as an AT in both the UK and the US and has been an entrepreneur since opening up her first therapy clinic in Edmonton back in 2015.

Kendra now works as a holistic women’s health therapist and is the lead wellness program creator for corporate companies. She has studied research based fertility and ovulation methods and has created a system called Scars Reigniting Your Feminine System, for women who have scars and want to feel good again, trust their body and confidently take control of their health.  

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Jasmine Baird, Canadian Snowboard team Slopestyle and Big Air             
DROP INTO YOUR DREAMS

Jasmine began snowboarding when she was 3 years old with the Beaver Valley Ski Club and hasn’t looked back since.  She has taken her place on the National Snowboard team, training and living in Whistler, BC and Calgary, AB. 
Jasmine has taken to slopes around the world and navigated a career from crazy heights and talks training, injury, recovery and lifestyle in this session. Hit it! 

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Vince Horsman, retired MLB pitcher, professional pitching coach         
NUMBERS CAN BE SKEWED, KNOWING THE HUMAN WILL ALWAYS HOLD VALUE

36 years in professional baseball, loads of expertise and willing to share lessons learned.
He has been inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame. Vince pitched in the MLB for the Twins, A’s and Blue Jays and then spent 14 years as a pitching coach within the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Insight, relationship advice and taking chances. Dive in. 

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Part 3 of 4 Tommy John Education Series with Dr. Andrew Robb, DC, CSCS, ACU THE NERVOUS SYSTEM WILL ALWAYS MATTER

Andrew Robb focuses in the area of baseball pitching biomechanics, throwing injuries and sports performance and conditioning. He has been published in multiple scientific journals and continues to collaborate with the Canadian Coaching Centre, American Sports Medicine Institute and Major League Baseball. This conversation will enhance your understanding and guide you to the areas of importance in working with throwing athletes. Join the conversation.

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Matt Lumsdaine, CAT(C), CEP

IT’S WHAT YOU BRING DAY IN AND DAY OUT THAT DEFINES YOU

Matt Lumsdaine is housed in Victoria, British Columbia. He was the first Head Athletic Therapist at Camosun College and he has had a huge student teaching emphasis over the years. Matthew serves as an AT at the college’s AET Clinic and is an integral component of the growth of the profession from within it. Currently, he is still at Camosun but in a limited role, having branched out on his own, delivering home care treatments and guiding patients to better health. He shares his passion, drive and wisdom in this one and with a background in Biology & Psychology, we can all learn from this one by listening.

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Clay Williams, Ultra Marathoner, Mental Health Advocate

GO TEN MORE MINUTES AND SEE Clay’s running career began in his 40s by running with a friend to ‘get in shape’. Since then, he has amassed 45,000 miles and conquered multiple Ultra Marathons, including the number one male ranking and the completion of a 200 mile race at 60 years of age. He is one of the founders of the The Monarch Ultra, a 4320km relay run from Peterborough, ON to Macheros, Mexico. Clay has recently found his voice as a mental health advocate and has organized The Canal Pursuit for Mental Health, an annual

785km run along two of Canada’s longest canals. It launches August 21st, 2021.

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Part 2 of 4 Tommy John education series with Jesse Litsch, retired MLB RHP

I’M GUNNA LEARN YA

On April 14, 2009 Jesse was sent to the 15-day DL because of a right forearm strain. On June 9, after attempting to rehab conservatively, it was announced he would undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. He made his return to the mound just over 12 months following this surgery. Jesse Litsch is a retired MLB pitcher. He won 27 games in his career, including a 13-win campaign in 2008. His experiences with injury all took place at the highest possible level of performance, in the big leagues, and ultimately cut his career short. 10 surgeries later, Jesse is impacting today’s youth through education and experiential knowledge from within the game of baseball as he is an active coach and scout.

DON’T FORGET TO SMELL THE ROSES 

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After 16 years in the big leagues, Gregg Zaun has a lot of insight and knowledge to share. He amassed over 3,500 ABs in that time and endured numerous bumps and bruises along the way. Gregg takes us inside one of the scariest injuries, a fractured C1 during a collision, and into the ‘do whatever it takes’ mindset of a catcher playing at the highest level of the sport he loves. You won’t want to miss this candid and authentic chAT.

Brian Cheeseman, CAT(C), Edmonton Oil Kings

LEARN TO STUMBLE

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Brian is the Head Athletic Therapist with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL and is entering his 11th season with the organization. He shares his experiences from the NHL playoff bubble and the IIHF World Junior Championship bubble as well as opening up to his life outside of the rink as an Athletic Therapist. Brian is a driven and passionate practitioner, exemplifying all of the qualities it takes to be a central piece of the performance world. Join in, we’re building community. Together.

Mike Frostad, CAT(C), ATC

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Atlanta BravesPart 1 of 4: Tommy John Series Diagnosis, Procedure, RecoveryMike Frostad is the Assistant Athletic Trainer with the Atlanta Braves, now in his 4th season there and 26th in professional baseball. We discuss Ulnar Collateral Ligament injury and go in-depth on diagnosis, repair and recovery from rupture. Tommy John surgery is reconstruction of the medial elbow ligament, typically torn through repetitive trauma of high-velocity/ high-volume throwing in baseball.

Karam Al-Hamdani, CAT(C), CSCS, CF Montreal

WORK IN SILENCE, LET THE TEAM’S SUCCESS BE THE NOISE

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Karam is the Head Athletic Therapist with CF Montreal of the MLS. We discuss the realities of working in pro sport from communication to time management and what it means for home and family life. Karam shares his path and lessons along the way in this rich and rewarding conversation. Join in.

Amy Stefaniuk, MSc., CAT(C), CSIO Rugby Canada Development Academy

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MAKE THE CONNECTIONS – Amy has spent over 4 years working with Rugby Canada. She has created a dynamic and welcoming environment in the 18U Academy where she oversees all aspects of rehab, prevention and contingency planning through the therapeutic lens. A dynamic and hard-working professional, Amy leads from within the profession of Athletic Therapy.

Nikos Apostolopolous, Founder & Creator, Microstretching

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TREAT THE WHOLE, NOT THE SUM OF THE PARTSNikos Apostolopoulos is the Founder and Developer of microStretching® and Stretch Therapy®. This recovery regeneration technique, based on functional-clinical anatomy, has been used to treat many professional, elite, amateur, and Paralympic athletes, internationally as well as individuals suffering from numerous musculoskeletal disorders. Nikos

is a member of both the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), and the International Society for Exercise and Immunology (ISEI). He serves as Chief Science Officer (CSO) for several biotechnology companies focused on psychedelic research and endocannabinoids focused on inflammation and the body.

Reg Grant, CAT(C), CSCS, Dir. Human Performance Holy Name Medical Center

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TENSEGRITY, SYNERGY and INTERCONNECTEDNESS After 17 years as the New York Rangers Head Strength & Conditioning Coach, Reg now serves as the Director of Human Performance at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, NJ. His core values and beliefs have guided his journey and there are plenty of lessons in this discussion about the delivery vehicles of therapy and training. Lessons learned in the team space have spilled into the greater community and Reg continues to share his energy with all that come in contact with him.

Kayden Johnson

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BC Lions & Bobsleigh Canada athlete LOVE LIFE AND EXPLORE THE EDGES The preparation, tenacity, passion and sheer joy are felt in this talk with one of Canada’s finest and most gifted athletes. A track star, a Running Back and (currently) a Brakeman, Kayden takes us through prep, life in a pandemic and finding humility and peace in it all.

A Global Student Perspective

GROW WITH THE EXPERIENCE

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 The future of any profession will be directed by those that lead from within. These 4 students share their Athletic Therapy experiences and perspectives, discussing opportunities for growth, experiential learning and shaping a profession through a pandemic.

Join Taryn and Adam from IT Carlow in Ireland, Mike from Camosun College in British Columbia and Zach from Sheridan College in Ontario as we navigate the profession through the eyes of the future.

Anthony Moore, PhD. cand., CSCS, Leeds Rhinos

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NAIL YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Anthony is currently pursuing an embedded PhD with the Leeds Rhinos rugby club in England. He is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist with a deliberate focus of realizing the potential in the day-to-day. His journey has been embossed in globe-trotting with stops in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and currently in West Yorkshire, in the north of England.

Richard DeMont, PhD., CAT(C), ATC, Concordia University

PROGRESS THROUGH THE PROFESSION

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Richard continues to pave the way through his research and educational practices. He currently serves as the Athletic Therapy Program Director at Concordia University and has authored or co-authored over 15 articles, served 3 terms as the CATA President and directs the AT Research Laboratory.

Current research includes work in neuromuscular training and control and physical literacy in the investigation of the development of physical skill and movement in children.

Jaime Huestis, MS, ATC, LAT, SFDN – True North Athletic Therapy.

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LISTENING CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN ANY TREATMENT. Jaime has 20+ years of experience in the Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Space. She has spent time at Montana State University-Bozeman and as a member of the sport med team for the ESPN X Games. her most recent endeavour is True North Athletic Therapy where she is the proud owner and operator, located in Bozeman, MT.

Joe Kenny, CATA Hall of Fame

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THE GREATEST GIFT WE CAN GIVE ANOTHER IS OUR ATTENTION.

Joe is a trailblazer in the field of Athletic Therapy. Now retired, he spent over 35 years as the Head Athletic Therapist at Brock University developing student therapists, student-athletes and all-around good human beings. A charismatic, kind and intelligent human himself, Joe is a mentor to all that have the chance to listen to him.

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HUMBLY LEAN ON OTHERS. Tim has spent over 23 years at VCU and is now charged with duties as the Associate Athletic Director or Sport Performance and Student Athlete Wellness. He has been named with the highest honour given in the profession, Master Strength & Conditioning Coach and provides leadership in overseeing: sports performance, sports medicine, sports nutrition and sports psychology within VCU Rams’ Athletics.

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TREAT THE PERSON, NOT THE PLAYER. Dan is an Athletic Therapist with professional stops in the QMJHL, CFL and is currently working with the Montreal Impact in the MLS. He believes in being active in the aspects of communication, injury prevention and intent in action and is simultaneously pursuing his Masters degree at McMaster University. An in-season discussion with a good dude and humble practitioner.

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Paul Papoutsakis, CAT(C), CSCS, National Ballet of Canada / Cleveland Clinic Canada. IN TUNE WITH THE MUSIC. Paul is a living legend. A master of his domain, he has spent 18+ years with the National Ballet and is the Company Therapist. He serves on the DanceUSA Task Force for Dancer Health and has been an executive member for both the OATA and CATA. Paul is driven, passionate and speaks through humility and experience working with some of the greatest athletes on the planet. This one is for the books. 

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Jaime has over twenty years in the performance space and utilizes her unique abilities in manual therapy and effective exercise prescription strategies to empower clients. A tenacious, vibrant and terrific human, she absolutely crushes this chAT, exploring the edges and uncovering what truly matters.

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Becky Swan, CAT(C), CSCS Vancouver Police DepartmentONE DOOR CLOSES. ONE DOOR OPENS. Becky runs the Physical Health & Performance team in the Employee Wellness Unit of the Vancouver Police Department. She has navigated this space since 2010, evolving to become a part of Human Resources and encompassing all facets of police wellness. Driven by passion, Becky understands what it takes to own her part of this integrative space for those that serve and protect. We discuss her professional evolution and all elements of therapy and training in the tactical space.

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ADAPTABILITY IN COMMUNICATION 

In his 10th professional year in the organization, Drew has just completed his first in the big leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays. Join in on this dynamic and deeply educational chat with one of the most genuine and caring guys in the game. Drew spent 2019 as the Assistant Medical and Athletic Training Coordinator after stops in Vancouver, Lansing and New Hampshire on the minor-league circuit.

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Shannon Webster, AT Student Sheridan College, PASSION & PROFESSIONALISM. 

Shannon talks all of the adjustments during the pandemic from a student’s standpoint. Led to the profession through her undergraduate experiences, Shannon is carving a path for her peers to follow.

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Myles Coldwell is an Athletic Therapist in Nova Scotia that has created a community following based on his authenticity and genuine approach to care with his clients. He has continued to hone his craft throughout his educational endeavours and professional career. Education, guidance and manual techniques have made Myles a go-to staple of care and he continues to develop robust programming, including his recently rolled out Running for Runners. If you’re a practitioner in the performance space, you’ll want to listen in on this and will be fuelled by Myles’ passion.

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Victoria Cleary, CAT(C) runs a highly successful and integrative clinic in Petawawa, ON where her team treats, trains and educates Canadian military, athletes and more. She has worked in 18 countries around the world in her time as a medic, military-civilian and Athletic Therapist and has used all of her experiences to create a vision of care that matters.

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6 of the 8 teams in the Canadian Premier League are represented in this discussion. A return to sport from the performance personnel lived experiences from within the CPL’s Island Games bubble in Charlottetown, PEI. Grab insight and angles from these professionals on COVID-19 and sport. 
Esteban Clavijo, CAT(C), York 9FC 
Emily Coleman, CAT(C), Forge FC
Cristina Leornardelli, DC, Atletico Ottawa 
Derek McLennan, CAT(C), Valour FC
Danielle McNally, PT, Halifax Wanderers 
Jamie Neill, CAT(C), Pacific FC

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Brady Leavold, Puck Support Foundation and host of the Hockey2Heroin podcast. 

Brady is a former pro-hockey player now battling a life of addiction. Since leaving hockey, Brady has battled addiction with cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, spending time living on the streets of Vancouver and multiple times in and out of jail. Brady’s hockey career took him through the WHL, BCHL, ECHL, AHL and CHL; he amassed 69 points and 138 PIM in the 2007-08 season with the Kelowna Rockets and wound up eventually signing in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization.  He is now using his own experiences to increase awareness and create avenues of care for mental health and addiction for those in and around the game of hockey through the Puck Support Foundation and his podcast, Hockey2Heroin.