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About Us

Our Team

Derek Lai
Co-Chair

Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Derek Lai is the Co-Chair based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. His interests within the physiotherapy scope lie at the intersection of public health, social determinants of health, the built environment, and active transportation. In his spare time, Derek enjoys trail running, reading, skiing, backcountry camping, and editing the Global Physio Podcast. As a physiotherapist, he values the profession’s potential to influence not only physical health but also mental, social, and environmental well-being. For Derek, GHD represents an opportunity to continue building a community of healthcare professionals who recognize the interconnectedness of global and local issues, the relationship between humans and the environment, and the systems that contribute to health equity.

Stephanie Molloy
Education Officer

Location: Montreal

Stephanie Molloy is the Education Officer based in Montreal. Her professional interests within physiotherapy include equity and equal access to care, acute care, trauma-informed practice, and her work leading the organization Justice Centered Rehab. Outside of her professional roles, Stephanie enjoys rock climbing, biking, reading, watching movies, engaging in creative pursuits, and experimenting with new recipes. As a physiotherapist, she values building strong therapeutic relationships, fostering patient autonomy, and supporting individuals closely through their rehabilitation journeys while bringing moments of joy into their daily lives. For Stephanie, GHD represents a meaningful opportunity and safe space to engage with like-minded colleagues in discussions that advance physiotherapy practice both globally and locally, while integrating principles of justice and equity into everyday care and reinforcing the importance of these conversations within the profession.

Jordan Stapleford
Knowledge Translation

Jordan Stapleford contributes to Knowledge Translation with a professional focus on geriatrics and healthy aging, whole person–centred care, environmental sustainability in healthcare, women’s health, education, empowerment, and exercise. Outside of professional practice, Jordan enjoys running, snowboarding, basketball, beach volleyball, hiking, climbing, camping, and spending quality time with family and friends. As a physiotherapist, Jordan values listening deeply to clients’ lived experiences of their bodies, movement, and challenges, and working collaboratively to define and achieve meaningful improvements in quality of life. This includes empowering individuals, building strong relationships with clients and families, and advocating for the health, care, and lifestyles all people deserve. For Jordan, GHD represents a unifying call to action—recognizing the interconnectedness of people, place, health, and sustainability, and challenging the systemic barriers that undermine equity while working toward healthier governments, systems, environments, and communities.

Wanda Chen
Treasurer

Location: Oakville, ON, Canada

Wanda Chen is the Treasurer based in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Her professional interests within physiotherapy include musculoskeletal injuries, the myofascial system and pain, ergonomics, post-operative rehabilitation, preventative care, environmental physiotherapy, and sustainability practices. Outside of her professional work, Wanda enjoys Zumba, working out, stretching, skating, camping, spending time in nature, and playing with her children. As a physiotherapist, she values building strong therapeutic relationships, recognizing that trust and rapport enhance patient engagement, motivation, and treatment outcomes. For Wanda, GHD represents the integration of diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental sustainability into physiotherapy practice, emphasizing the importance of ESG principles in advancing the profession and supporting a holistic, prevention-focused approach to patient care.

Theresa Muddada
Co-Chair

Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

Theresa Muddada is a Co-Chair based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Her professional interests within physiotherapy include acute care professional practice, enjoys student supervision, and professional service through volunteering with the Ontario Physiotherapy Association (OPA), the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR), and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA). Outside of clinical practice, Theresa enjoys horse riding, travelling, reading, exploring ancient history, spending time with loved ones, and volunteering. As a physiotherapist, she values meaningful patient interactions and finds fulfilment in supporting patients as they achieve their goals—from early mobility milestones to safe discharges home—while advocating for patients and their families and promoting recognition of the profession. For Theresa, GHD represents an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded healthcare professionals and organizations, and a commitment to ethical practice and social responsibility in addressing health inequities while advancing equity, access, justice, and sustainable practices in healthcare.

Denise Taylor
Indigenous Health Sub-committee Chair

Location: Thunder Bay

Denise Taylor is the Indigenous Health Sub-Committee Chair based in Thunder Bay. Her professional interests within physiotherapy include Indigenous health, access to care, Truth and Reconciliation, health promotion, public health, and the social determinants of health. Outside of her professional work, Denise enjoys kayaking, canoeing, cycling, hiking, reading, gardening, playing hockey, and spending time with family. As a physiotherapist, she is deeply committed to client-centred care. For Denise, GHD represents a pathway toward culturally safe care, health equity, and an intersectional approach to advancing physiotherapy practice.

Noémie Tito

Location: Victoria, BC

Noémie Tito is based in Victoria, British Columbia. Her professional interests within physiotherapy include home care geriatrics, occupational health, equity and the development of accessible physiotherapy services, as well as her involvement in helping to run the organization Justice Centered Rehab. Outside of her professional work, Noémie enjoys ultramarathon running, rock climbing, outdoor adventuring, crocheting, and learning to play the tin whistle. As a physiotherapist, she values building genuine, trusting relationships with clients and empowering individuals through collaborative care that ensures they feel heard, informed, and actively involved in their health journey. For Noémie, GHD represents a vital space for connection, reflection, and action—bringing together like-minded individuals to advocate for equity, justice, and inclusion within physiotherapy and to drive meaningful, sometimes disruptive, systemic change that improves the health of people, communities, and the planet at both local and global levels.

Aastha Sethi
Communications Officer

Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada

Aastha Sethi is the Communications Officer based in Ottawa, Ontario. Her professional interests within physiotherapy include musculoskeletal practice, ergonomics, concussion management, geriatrics, mentoring students and new graduates, and advocating for the physiotherapy profession. As a physiotherapist, Aastha is deeply committed to helping clients achieve their goals and improve their quality of life, and she values the trust patients place in her. She finds great fulfilment in supporting individuals through meaningful milestones, whether returning to sport after injury, resuming work following a concussion, or achieving pain-free function in daily activities, and is continually inspired to advocate for both her patients and the profession. Outside of work, Aastha enjoys reading, cooking, practicing yoga, travelling, spending time with family, and learning about different cultures. For Aastha, GHD represents a collaborative platform that brings together like-minded individuals to promote equality, justice, and equitable access to resources, reflecting the values she upholds in both her personal and professional life.

GHD Executive Role Descriptions

ALL Global Health Division (GHD) executive members are expected to:

  • Attend regular virtual meetings and not miss more than three (3) meetings per year. In the event of needing to miss a meeting, the executive member will inform the secretary in advance and provide a written update regarding their position and an update on all relevant outstanding action items prior to the meeting.
  • Regularly send information related to their position for posting on social media to the Canadian Physiotherapy Association’s (CPA) Communications Specialist or the GHD Executive or Sub-Committee member responsible for posting on the GHD social media channels.
  • Assist in recruiting new GHD Executive, Sub-Committee, and general members.
  • Engage in public speaking about the GHD as opportunities arise.

Read more about the GHD Executive Roles

We are currently accepting Letters of Intent and CVs for the Executive!
Email: globalhealth@physiotherapy.ca

Sub-Committees:
Physiotherapy Students
Indigenous Health
Knowledge Translation
Communications

Read more about the GHD Executive Sub-Committee Roles.

We are currently accepting new members to all sub-committees. If you are interested in joining a sub-committee, please contact us at globalhealth@physiotherapy.ca.

Strategic Pillars and Action

Integrating a Social Determinants of Health Lens

  • Host webinars that illustrates the impact of social determinants on physiotherapy and rehabilitation outcomes
  • Support and promote Global Physio Podcast to elevate conversations centered on power, social justice and physiotherapy.
  • Update and promote the GHD Embodia course

Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety

  • Build advocacy and collaborative relationship between CPA, GHD,IHS and Indigenous communities to advise on actions that advance Indigenous Peoples health in Canada
  • Increase the capacity of Canadian physiotherapists to deliver culturally safe services through unlearning and learning of the impact of colonization, historical traumas, the consequences of treaties and the TRC Calls to Action on health outcomes

Build a Community of Practice

  • Continue to build connections between existing, new physiotherapist and students via various channel
  • Leverage connections with universities and student body to increase student participation and voice within GHD
  • Connect physiotherapists with physiotherapists and organizations involved in sustainable global work.

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