About Us

Alex Grant
Chair

Alex is a physiotherapist practicing in Windsor, Ontario and current chair of the Oncology Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. He completed his Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Alberta, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. He is a former clinical lead with Alberta Health Services: Rehabilitation Oncology South and played a key role in development of post-operative care and exercise for the Alberta Breast Surgery Guidelines. He has been involved in many other initiatives at the local and provincial level, including falls prevention among cancer patients, Alberta Palliative Care physiotherapy competency, upper limb dysfunction in breast cancer patients, and is currently a collaborator for ongoing Oncology Rehabilitation projects in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.

A desire to serve people and the reward of personally helping individuals on their journey through cancer eventually lead him to physiotherapy in oncology. He is very proud of the work we do each day for our cancer population and is devoted to promoting the importance of physical therapy as an integral part of cancer care.

Mary-Ann Dalzell
Past Chair

Mary-Ann is a past (2006-2016) Clinical Director and Research Coordinator of the Rehabilitation and Exercise Oncology Program, Hope & Cope, Segal Cancer Centre in Montreal. As a clinician with 30 years of experience in the management of complex orthopaedic problems, an Executive Director of the Esprit Sport Rehabilitation Centres, and a Faculty Lecturer in the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, she has coordinated and taught specialized courses in Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine, Biophysical Modalities, and Cancer Rehabilitation. She is a co-founder of the McGill Cancer Nutrition-Rehabilitation Program, and served as an Association Director from 2002 to 2006.

She was a principal investigator on a study of the residual functional effects of radiotherapy in young breast cancer survivors (2011-2015) and a co-principal investigator in Grants (2013) received from the Cure Foundation and the Quebec Breast Foundation on bone health in women receiving treatment for breast cancer. Recent publications (2016-2017) include the results of these studies, as well as a review of Rehabilitation & Exercise Program Development for a global population of cancer patients and implementation of clinical practice guidelines. She has been member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and the Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada. As President of the Sports Physiotherapy Division of the CPA, she also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Sports Medicine and Science Council of Canada.

Chiara Singh
Treasurer

Chiara graduated from the University of British Columbia and has worked at the Surrey Memorial Hospital for the past 21 years, and is currently the Clinical Supervisor of the Maternity/Child/Youth and Surgical Programs and the Co-Chair of the Fraser Health Authority Physiotherapy Professional Practice Committee. Her clinical work includes adult and paediatric oncology.

Chiara has also carried out research in the field of oncology looking at arm morbidity after breast cancer surgery. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia. She is also active within the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia (PABC) as a Board Director and a liaison to their Public Practice Advisory Committee.

Colleen Dunphy
Secretary

Colleen holds a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy from Dalhousie University, a Masters of Science in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Science in Rehabilitation and Health Leadership from Queen’s University. Colleen has been a CPA member since serving as Secretary of the National Student Assembly in her undergrad.

Colleen has diverse oncology experience having worked in inpatient hematology, palliative care and ambulatory after care clinics, mostly with breast and head and neck cancers. Colleen has given talks on oncology and physiotherapy in various Forums, from the Central Toronto District Annual General Meeting to the Kuwait Cancer Control Centre, and lectures in Palliative Care at the University of Toronto. Colleen currently works as a Rehabilitation Consultant for survivors of head and neck cancer through a Canadian Cancer Society Innovation to Impact grant.

Margaret McNeely
Knowledge Translation Committee (KTC) Representative

Margaret (Margie) McNeely is a Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. Margie is currently in a jointly funded position with the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the Cross Cancer Institute. Her research is in the area of impairment-based cancer rehabilitation with a focus on upper limb dysfunction and cancer-related symptoms of pain, fatigue and lymphedema. She is also the Director of the Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta.

Marize Ibrahim
Newsletter Co-Editor

Marize graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Kinesiology and Physical Education and attained a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from McGill University. Marize is a member of both the Professional Order of Physiotherapy of Quebec (OPPQ) and the CPA. She is currently pursuing a specialization in oncology through the CPA certification in Lymphedema with the Lymphology Association of North America.

Her research experience in oncology rehabilitation demonstrates her professional leadership and commitment to advancing the science and practice of physical therapy. She has published articles in journals including The Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology, Journal of Cancer Survivorship, Clinical Breast Cancer, International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Clinical Oncology, and Rehabilitation Process and Outcome. Recently, as a co-principal invesitgator and clinical supervisor at McGill University, she participated in yielding an evidence-based educational resource tool to minimize fractures in patients with bone metastasis using a patient-education resources education booklet. She is also a co-coordinator of the Oncology Rehabilitation course offered through the School of Physical and Occupation Therapy at McGill University and has taught continuing education courses offered through the OPPQ and CPA. Marize has been an invited guest speaker in several conferences including the most recent one in Chennai, India.

Marize is a licensed Casley-Smith Lymphedema Therapist and a Bone Fit Trained Specialist through Osteoporosis Canada and the specialized training in movement system imbalance. In her spare time, Marize is a Canadian National Paralympic Medical Swimming Classifier who volunteers with an incredible and inspiring group of Canadian para-swimming athletes across the country, and currently working towards becoming an International Classifier and, ultimately, attend the Paralympic Games.

Jenna Smith
Newsletter Co-Editor

Jenna Smith-Turchyn obtained her MSc(PT) in 2009 from McMaster University. She recently completed her PhD at McMaster University in 2018 in the area of knowledge translation and breast cancer rehabilitation. Jenna has worked with diverse cancer populations at a private clinic in Hamilton, ON, and through research at the Juravinski Cancer Centre. She is a Sessional Instructor in the Physiotherapy Program at McMaster University, and is currently completing a postdoctoral fellowship in the Faculty of Kinesiology a the University of Toronto. 

Her research interests include physical activity and cancer, chronic condition management, and accessibility of physiotherapy services for hard to reach populations.

Denise Lai
Education Coordinator

Denise has a BScPT from McGill University and she was one of the founding executives of the Oncology Division. In addition to working clinically in various area, she has conducted research in the areas of identifying barriers for oncology patients to access rehabilitation, education needs of physiotherapy leaders, and barriers to return to physical activity following GI surgery. She was previously a Community Advisor of Toronto’s Princess Margaret Hospital for six years.

Denise currently holds a Lecturer appointment to the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto. In addition to teaching and serving on various committees at the university, she is the Physiotherapy Department Representative in the Development of the Faulty of Medicine’s IPE Palliative Care curriculum. She is also actively involved in the Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapy Bridging Program, serving as a clinical facilitator for their oncology and workplace integration modules, and instructing the online Physical Therapy Practice within the Canadian Health Care System course.

Amanda Grilli
Communications

Amanda obtained a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from McGill University in 2016. In 2018, she went on to complete the three-week intensive Casley-Smith course in Complex Lymphatic Therapy, also certifying her as a Lymphatic Therapist. Prior to becoming a physiotherapist, Amanda worked as a surgical coordinator at a Breast Cancer Clinic. Struck by how much physiotherapy helped people during their cancer treatments and recovery, she knew she had found her vocation and pursued a career in physiotherapy.

Amanda currently works with various cancer populations at a private clinic in Montreal, QC. In addition to her clinical work, she also serves as the Oncology Program Coordinator for the banner’s 40+ clinics across Quebec. She has played a key role in establishing their multidisciplinary oncology services and partnerships with acute-care oncology centres and provincial foundations. As coordinator, she is also responsible for developing and coordinating continuing education programs in oncology. She, herself, has also devloped and taught a specialized course in cancer rehabilitation.

Amanda is actively involved in her community and has given talks on lymphedema and cancer rehabilitation in various forums, such as the West Island Cancer Wellness Centre and the Quebec Lymphedema Association. She is passionate about cancer rehabilitation and continues to advocate for all of her patients with the goal of increasing awareness and accessibility to rehabilitation for all those touched by cancer.