Our Team
Melissa Cursons
Chair
Melissa Cursons graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2000 with her B.A. in Psychology and in 2003 with her B.Sc. in Physical Therapy. During her undergraduate clinical experiences, Melissa travelled with a multidisciplinary team to Mozambique to learn and provide services focusing on health promotion. This experience guided Melissa to promote access to paediatric rehabilitation in rural and remote regions of Saskatchewan. Melissa currently works with a comprehensive paediatric team (PT, OT, SLP, ECP, SW & ASD services). This team of publicly funded professionals works in rural Saskatchewan specializing in services for children before entering Kindergarten. Melissa is passionate about providing a team approach to services and providing care that specifically focuses on the family’s priorities.
Outside of her work as a Physical Therapist, Melissa is a wife, a mother to two pre-teen boys, photographer, gardener and graduate student.
Jennifer Evans
Treasurer
Jenn Evans graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2020 before returning to Canada and beginning her career, specializing in paediatric physiotherapy. Jenn began working with Paediatic Physiotherapy Associates and SMILE Therapy for Kids in the GTA, as well as starting up her own business, TheraBounce. Jenn has always had a passion for paediatrics and she is excited to contribute to the CPA Paediatric Division.
Danielle Savoie
Communications Team – Social Media
Danielle Savoie completed her Masters in Physiotherapy at Dalhousie University in 2018, after completing her Bachelor of Science from the University of Prince Edward Island. Danielle is currently working in outpatient paediatrics, with a focus on school aged children. She has previous experience in private practice physiotherapy with a focus in pelvic health. Danelle is excited to be contributing to the Paediatric Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.
Andrea Harrison-Hercun
Secretary
Andrea graduated in 2003 with a B.Sc. in Physical Therapy from The University of Western Ontario. She began her career in private practice in adult orthopaedics and then made a switch to paediatric physiotherapy in 2006 where she worked at the school board under the Children’s Treatment Network of Simcoe York. She continued to work part-time at the school board and then started working as an infant and pre-school physiotherapist at Southlake Regional Health Centre in 2012, where she specializes in treating infants with torticollis, hypotonia, and delayed gross motor skills. She now divides her time between working in private practice and at the hospital, where her passion is working with infants and families, seen at the neonatal follow-up clinic.
Andrea lives in Georgina, ON, with her husband, Sean (also a physiotherapist!), and their two boys who keep her very busy with their rep hockey and baseball schedules. She loves spending time outdoors in the garden and is a huge hockey fan. Andrea is excited for the opportunity to connect with the Paediatric Division members across Canada.
Courtney Dow
Communications Team – Graphic Design
Courtney studied Physiotherapy at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS and completed her degree in 2019.
After a short stint in private practice, Courtney began working as a school based therapist in southern New Brunswick. Courtney strives to provide evidenced based, patient centred care that is fun and functional
Courtney enjoys spending time painting, swimming and windsurfing. When not with her friends and family she can usually be found hanging out with her dog Everest
Sally Woodard
Communications Team – Newsletter
Sally graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1987 with her BSc in Physical Therapy.
Sally’s pediatric experience has been with Children’s Allied Health Services in Alberta and now with the TREKK program of the East Kootenay’s. Both programs provide opportunity to help children from birth to nineteen at home, school and in the community. Working in a rural setting Sally has appreciated the increased opportunities for virtual learning that have occurred during the pandemic. As she has just renewed for her 35th year of membership with CPA, Sally expects her role as Paediatric Division newsletter editor will provide yet another learning opportunity.
Sally loves the flexibility of a career in physiotherapy. She has worked in three provinces, urban and rural, private and public, inpatient, outpatient, oncology and for the last 20 years in pediatrics. She has now settled with her partner in Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia, where they have the privilege of a relaxing and energizing work/life balance.
Shirley Lee
Communications Team – Website
Shirley grew up in Toronto, Ontario where she completed her BSc in Kinesiology at the University of Western Ontario. She then pursued her MSc in Physical Therapy and graduated in 2009. Shirley worked in the adults population in the public and private sectors before making the switch to Pediatrics after starting a family of her own. She now works at a location of Kids Physio Group in Vancouver, BC. She loves supporting families and their children in their journeys.
Outside of work, you can find Shirley running around with her husband and 3 young children. Their hands (and hearts) are literally full.
Aindrea McHugh
Education Team – Education Coordinator
Aindrea is a Muskoka native who completed her Master of Science in Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto in 2017. She received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science in 2010 and her Master of Education in 2012 from Auburn University Montgomery in Alabama where she was a member of the varsity soccer team. She currently works part time at One Kids Place and in private practice at Surge Physiotherapy in Huntsville. When she is not working in the clinic, Andi enjoys giving back to her community through volunteering and also enjoys running, playing soccer, snowboarding, and baking.
Carly Aspden
Education Team – Education Coordinator
Carly Aspden graduated from the Master of Physical Therapy program at the University of British Columbia in 2017. After having her very first student placement experience at BC Children’s Hospital, Carly became very keen to enter the pediatric field and has been supporting children in reaching their physical goals ever since.
Carly works in private practice where she treats a wide variety of paediatric concerns including infant conditions, concussions, brain injuries, pelvic health and more! Outside her clinical time, Carly is also very passionate about mentorship for pediatric physiotherapists. In her role as Director of Clinical Excellence at Kids Physio Group, Carly supports new physiotherapists entering the field and creates resource to support these clinicians. Carly looks forward to bringing her passion of paediatric clinical development to more therapists across the country in this role.
Valerie Caron
Education Team – Knowledge Translation
Valerie Caron is a physiotherapist and doctoral candidate at the University of Saskatchewan. She has a passion for neurology and has pursued several continuing education courses to diversify her skill set. She is also a dedicated volunteer, working for her provincial professional association and also working in a local therapeutic riding program. Her volunteer experiences working with children with various neurological conditions led her to her research. Valerie is dedicated to improving practice in paediatric physiotherapy practice and in demonstrating the effectiveness of innovative approaches to care in these diverse populations.
Marina Petrevska
Education Team – Knowledge Translation
Marina graduated from the University of Toronto in 2015 with a B.Sc. in Human Biology and went on to complete her MSc.PT from Queen’s University in 2019. Since then, she has been working at the Scarborough Health Network as a physiotherapist in the acute medicine and stroke rehabilitation units.
After working with children with disabilities for over ten years as a program coordinator, lead coach and volunteer for the Pickering Soccer Club All Abilities Program, Marina began her PhD at the University of Toronto in 2020 under the supervision of Dr. Virginia Wright and Dr. Elaine Biddiss. Through her doctoral work at the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute and in conjunction with Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Marina aims to develop a novel home-based therapy gaming system to improve balance, mobility, and functional outcomes in children with neuromotor disorders. Marina is looking forward to synthesizing, disseminating, and exchanging knowledge with Paediatric Division members in her incoming role as Knowledge Translation Representative.
Lara Gamgoum
Student Representative
Lara has been the student representative for the Paediatrics division since November 2020. She serves to be the bridge for students interested in diving into the world of Paediatrics physio! Lara is currently in her second year of my Master’s of Physiotherapy at McMaster University. She feels very lucky to have this opportunity to learn about Paediatrics Physiotherapy from such a wonderful team all across Canada, as well as creating connections with passionate physiotherapists. Lara is also very excited to start her Paediatrics placement at the McMaster Children’s hospital this Winter!
