104-1634 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna, BC (250) 860-4122
HOURS:
Mon - Fri, 7:00am - 7:00pm
Sat, 8:00am - 2:00pm
Sat, 8:00am - 2:00pm
Rose Kristiansen - BSc, OT
Occupational Therapist
Rose obtained a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Dalhousie University in 1993. Today, Rose has 14 years of experience working in the community with people who have brain injuries. Presently, she is the program manager for The head injury and treatment services program for LifeMark. The treatment services program specializes in assisting people with Post Concussive Syndrome (6 wks Post concussion) to recover and return to work.Rose has worked with brain injured clients throughout the continuum of care from acute care, in-patient rehabilitation to assisting people integrate back into and live independently the community.
In 2008, she was involved with program development and coordination of services for the Mobile Brain Injury Program out of the Calgary Health Region, during which time she provided supervision, education and training of rehab assistants as well as group home staff to assist people who have significant brain injury achieve their optimum level of function and return to independence or supportive living in the community.
Catherine (Kit) Darling - MScPT, BSc
Registered Physiotherapist
Catherine (Kit) is a graduate of the Masters of Physiotherapy program at the University of Toronto.Prior to moving to Kelowna in September 2012, Kit was working as a physiotherapist at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute in the Acquired Brain Injury Program. She also has experience working with a wide variety of other populations including Stroke Rehab, Complex Continuing Care, Geriatric Rehab, and Musculoskeletal Rehab.
Kit is passionate about the profession of physiotherapy and is motivated to help her clients
maximize their function and improve their quality of life. Whether recovering from a stroke,
brain injury, car accident, or sports injury, assessment and treatment techniques will be tailored to the client’s specific condition and individual functional goals.
Brandy Osborne
Registered Massage Therapist
Sport Massage Therapist (C)
Sport First Responder
Brandy’s passion for Massage Therapy stems from her compassion for people and wanting to help them live life today. What keeps her excited about her profession is the fact that she gets to work with patients everyday and help them achieve their individual goals; because of the complexity of the human body, her job is never boring and there is always more to learn.Brandy takes pride in teamwork, working with the patient, physician and other health care providers to coordinate treatment.
Quentin Trollip
Physiotherapist
Quentin was born in South Africa where he graduated with a degree in Physiotherapy in 2000. During the time he achieved awards for best student and also best research project in the final year. He also acted a chairperson of the health sciences faculty, as well as chairperson of the department of military based students. Quentin practices physiotherapy in the South African military for several years before working as a physio in England for two years.He has now been in Kelowna since 2006. Quentin has an interest in most sports, loves to get outdoors for rock climbing, and is also an internationally renowned origami artist and author of a growing amount of instructional origami books.
Brigitte Ketch
Physiotherapist
Brigitte obtained her degree, Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation PT, from University of Manitoba in 1992.She has been working in her current position in Occupational Rehabilitation, Program Manager, here in Kelowna since 1998. She enjoys her role in assisting clients who are recovering from injury, returning to their work and recreational activities. She is not hesitant to take on clients who appear more complex and have been off work for greater than 6 months. Her focus is assisting clients in optimizing their physical and functional level of ability. She also strives to leave clients with knowledge and skills to continue their progress upon completion of their program.
Every client receives an individual program based on a thorough medical review, physical assessment and functional assessment.
She truly enjoys working one on one with her clients.
Dr. Merry Miller
Psychologist
Dr. Merry Miller is a registered psychologist who provides consulting services to LifeMark. She is affiliated with the occupational rehabilitation programs, the head injury program, and works in conjunction with other clinicians on a referral basis. This work typically focuses on psychological factors which impact recovery from injury which includes management of depression, anxiety/fears, pain, and stress.Dr. Miller’s professional credentials include a Ph. D. from Florida State University and a M. A. and B. A. from Central Michigan University. She has conducted research on confidence, motivation, team cohesion, and overtraining/burnout as it relates to sport performance. Affiliated with sport throughout her life, Merry has been an athlete and professional coach in Canada and the United States. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA) and strongly committed to coach education as a long-time facilitator in Canada’s National Coaching Certification Program.
Andrew Wautier
Kinesiologist
Andrew Wautier graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2008 with his Bachelor of Kinesiology degree with a major in Athletic Therapy. He became a Certified Athletic Therapist in June 2008 and followed that with a certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist.Andrew has trained specifically in the treatment of active lifestyles and elite athletic trauma to the body. He has worked in several clinics treating both work and sport related injuries, promoting an environment conducive to optimal healing in preparing his clients for safe reintegration into an active lifestyle.
Andrew has an extensive field background working within junior hockey in BC and Manitoba including work with the Vernon Vipers, Cowichan Valley Capitals, Dawson Creek Rage, and the Kelowna Rockets. His field experience also includes being Head Athletic Therapist for the Winnipeg Goldeyes Professional Baseball Club during their 2009 season and internships with the New York Rangers and University of Manitoba Bison Football program.
In his spare time he enjoys jiu jitsu, snowboarding, and hiking with his dog Brody.
Laura Smid
Hand Therapist
Laura is a graduate of the Masters of Occupational Therapy
Program at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul Minnesota. At present, she has 9 years of experience
treating upper extremity conditions. Laura
obtained her Certified Hand Therapist credentials in 2009. Later that year, she received the contract
to begin the Hand Therapy Program at LifeMark Health in Kelowna. Laura also works closely with the OR2 program
at LifeMark, completing assessments, conducting job site visits, and assisting
with the return to work process for clients.
Prior to moving to Kelowna in 2009, Laura was working as a
hand therapist for the University of Chicago Hospital System focusing on
post-surgical rehabilitation. She also has experience in treating repetitive
strain injuries, nerve impairments, and fractures of the upper extremity.
At LifeMark, Laura is able to join her two professional
interests of occupational therapy and hand therapy to create a client-centered
treatment program for her patients.
Joan Russell - BSc. PT, FCAMPT, CDMP
Physiotherapist
Joan Russell is a staff physiotherapist and program manager
for the Occupational Rehab Level 1 Program at the LifeMark Health Centre in
Kelowna, B.C. Joan has worked for
LifeMark Health for 11 years as a physiotherapist providing treatment to mill
workers at onsite clinics at lumber mills, doing disability management for
lumber industry contracts, performing FCE’s and as a physiotherapist for
occupational rehab programs. She has 28 years of experience in orthopedic
assessment in the private practice setting, obtaining her FCAMPT qualification
in 1988. Joan completed the qualification for Certified Disability Management
Professional (CDMP) in 2006.
Andrew Perrin
Physiotherapist
Born and educated in Sydney Australia, Andrew moved to Kelowna in 2005 to pursue his love of the mountains and the British Columbia outdoors.
Andrew has been working at the Lifemark Kelowna clinic since 2007, treating clients both in an outpatient capacity and working as the Physiotherapist for the Occupational Rehabilitation 2 program, specializing in care focussing on expedited return to activity and return to work.
Andrew is presently pursuing his Clinical Acupuncture certification through the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute (AFCI).
In his free time, Andrew is passionate about the outdoor lifestyle, participating in skiing and ski touring, mountain and road biking, scrambling, hiking, rock climbing and multisport races.
Samara Tocher
Kinesiologist, Certified Athletic Therapist
Samara is from Calgary, Alberta where she graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelors of Kinesiology with an Athletic therapy Major. She then completed the Advanced Certificate of Athletic Therapy at Mount Royal University and completed the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) National Certification Exam in June 2012.
Samara has a variety of passions, from teaching dance to working with sports teams, primarily rugby.
She owned her own dance studio in Golden, BC for seven years and is now teaching in Kelowna.
Aside from dance, she is very passionate about rugby and has worked with Rugby Alberta for the past three seasons, traveling around Canada with the Senior Women's Team and with the Howler's Invitational Rugby Team to International tournaments in Las Vegas.
Samara has also worked with multiple sports with the University of Calgary dinos, including football, volleyball, wrestling and rugby.
Sam looks forward to helping you get into shape - for sport, work or just life!
Frances Russell, RMT, ART
Registered Massage Therapist
Frances moved to Kelowna, BC from Ottawa, ON in the fall of 2013. Over the past 18 years as an RMT, she accumulated a great deal of experience working with a wide variety of health conditions and injuries as well as treated athletes from the Olympic level to the weekend warrior. In addition, she has completed the credentialing for ART (Active Release TechniquesÒ) Upper Extremities, Spine and Lower Extremities. Frances’ work focuses on therapeutic treatment based massage and ART for patients dealing with acute or chronic muscular pains and strains, nerve entrapments, repetitive strains, postural inefficiencies and structural/functional imbalances. She is passionate about helping people overcome injury encouraging a quick return to whatever their activity may be.
Frances has competed in numerous Ironman and marathon events. Additionally Frances enjoys winter sports such as skiing, skating and snow-shoeing and has completed the Gatineau 50k Loppet skate ski event. Recently, Frances and her husband have been enjoying local and international long distance cycling events and tours combining her passion of sports with her passion for travel.
