When you think of physiotherapy images of foam rollers, weights, balance boards and resistance bands likely come to mind. While these are tools that we use regularly, central to our practice at Advanced Physiotherapy is the art of kindness. In fact, caring, helping and benevolence have been cited as the central pillars of physiotherapy. Our highly skilled team strives to listen and nurture as we aim to provide professional, evidence-based physical therapy treatments designed to meet your unique personal health care needs.
In celebration of Random Acts of Kindness Day, we are thrilled to introduce you to our team of caring, compassionate, skilled, empathetic and above all KIND physiotherapists.
Patrick Embley
Patrick has extensive experience in the field of arthritis/rheumatology and orthopedics. Patrick worked for over 13+ years at the Mary Pack Arthritis Program - VGH. At the Mary Pack Arthritis Program Patrick was heavily involved in the clinical treatment of many of the different arthritis conditions deemed appropriate for physiotherapy interventions. He worked primarily with the adult population with arthritis conditions but also did some work at BC Children's Hospital for the pediatric rheumatology program. He was also involved in a few different studies with rheumatologists and pharmacists involving clients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Patrick continues to work with many of the rheumatologists and family physicians in the Lower Mainland in the care of their patients who have rheumatological conditions.
Patrick moved his primarily orthopedic-rheumatology practice in 2012, opening Advanced Physiotherapy a private practice clinic now located in White Rock-South Surrey. Patrick completed his Diploma of Orthopedic Manipulative Physiotherapy (FCAMPT) in 2008 and also is a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist with the American College of Sports Medicine (2006). He is IMS (intramuscular stimulation) certified (2008) with ISTOP. He has been involved as a guest lecturer for clinical teaching as part of the rheumatology education portion of the Masters of Physical Therapy program at the University of British Columbia for now over 18 years. He is also involved in the clinical placement mentorship/instruction for UBC MPT students and helps with some of the clinical teaching of physiotherapists interested in arthritis/rheumatology patients as part of the Mary Pack Arthritis Continuing Education (ACE) program offered annually.
Kevin Perras
Kevin graduated from UBC in 2005 with his physical therapy degree. Since then he has taken a variety of courses in manual therapy and myofascial release from the Orthopedic Division, the Canadian College of Osteopathy and the North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy. Kevin has also taken various higher-level physiotherapy courses with Andrews University in Michigan including medical imaging and medical screening for physical therapists, advanced statistics and research courses, as well as advanced exercise physiology which included a Scandinavian approach to exercise called Medical Exercise Therapy.
In 2003, while in physiotherapy school, Kevin acquired a summer job preparing prosections, human anatomical dissections used in teaching about the musculoskeletal system. This experience gave Kevin a more comprehensive feel for human anatomy that he carried forward to post-graduate training and clinical work in manual therapy and dry needling.
In 2014 - 2016 Kevin was fortunate to have completed his Introductory and Advanced courses in Dry Needling/IMS with Myopain Seminars, a group based out of Bethesda Maryland just outside of Washington DC. They have a fantastic and comprehensive program with connection to both Dr. Chan Gunn, the Vancouver-based founder of IMS, and Dr. Janet Travell, the mother of modern Trigger Point Theory and the personal physician to JFK.
Michaela Toffoli
Michaela is passionate about empowering clients of all ages to take their health and well being into their own hands. She uses a biopsychosocial approach, thorough assessments, and evidence-based treatment to help clients reach their goals. Client education about their injuries and collaborative goal and treatment planning are staples in a session with Michaela.
Exercise-based therapy is a cornerstone of Michaela’s treatment approach to address client’s concerns. The use of modalities such as IMS (dry needling), shockwave therapy, laser, manual therapy, and therapeutic modalities are often included in treatment to assist and speed a client in healing.
She has completed training in Anatomical Intra-Muscular Stimulation, a form of dry needling, and finds it to be very effective for those who are comfortable with it. A passion for women’s health has resulted in Michaela taking postgraduate courses for Pelvic Floor Levels 1, 2, 3A, 3B, and for the physiotherapy treatment of women pre, during and post-pregnancy and with pelvic girdle pain. Treatment for urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, and pre/ postpartum pelvic floor health are all part of the services Michaela offers to her clients. Michaela received her Masters in physiotherapy from the University of British Columbia in 2017, after studying biochemistry and psychology in her undergraduate.
David Ko
David earned his Master's of Physical Therapy and Bachelor of Kinesiology degrees at the University of British Columbia. David is passionate about empowering and healing his patients through exercise and movement. He also has extensive experience working with older adults as a fitness instructor and personal trainer for the changing ageing program at UBC as well as several community centres around Vancouver.
When David isn't working, he spends his time playing basketball, hiking and learning new songs on the guitar. David is currently working towards being certified in dry needling and going through the advanced orthopedic levels.
Joanne Ho
Joanne attained both her Bachelor of Science and her Master of Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia. She has had clinical experience treating clients of all ages and levels of function - from children injured playing sports, to older adults suffering from general aches and pains. After encountering countless clients dealing with concussion symptoms following motor vehicle accidents, Joanne became a certified Shift Concussion provider after completing the Shift Concussion Management Program. Through her clinical experience, she found that clients benefit most from individualized treatment plans with a combination of different approaches, including hands-on manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and most importantly, education about their own condition.
From her many years of volunteering at a senior home prior to becoming a physiotherapist, Joanne finds that her passion lies in treating the geriatric population. She believes that age is just a number, and encourages her clients to adopt the same mindset.
Khushbu Mehta
Khushbu has several years of experience as an internationally trained Physical Therapist. In 2012 Khushbu completed her Certificate of Advanced Study in Neurology from Massachusetts General Hospital- Institute of Health Professions, Boston, USA and in 2016 obtained her Doctor of Physiotherapy from Alabama State University, USA.
Khushbu always had a keen interest in the human body, how it works and incorporating different skills in improving her patient’s quality of life. Outside her passion for the physiotherapy profession, Khushbu enjoys spending time with her family, listening to music and painting.
Our team is passionate about our work and your health.