Meet Our Physical Therapists
Blair Schachterle - Clinic Director
BScPT, Dip Manip PT, Dip Sport PT, FCAMT, CGIMS
Thorncliffe Physical Therapist
Blair has been a Physical Therapist at Nose Creek Sport Physical Therapy since 2001. Blair graduated from the University of Alberta with a BScPT in 1992. He has focused on Orthopaedic Manual Therapy and Sport Therapy. ; Blair completed his Sport Therapy Diploma in 1997, and his Advanced Manual and Manipulative Diploma in 1998. Blair is also certified for IMS (Intra-Muscular Stimulation) Dry Needling.
Blair has a keen interest in an active rehabilitation of recent and chronic spinal and peripheral joint and muscle injuries. He enjoys treating upper neck pain that is associated with Cervical Tension Headaches, Sciatica (Pinched Nerve in Lower back), shoulder injuries, and traumatic knee injuries. Blair has previously served on the executive Chair for 6 years of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Therapy (CAMPT).
Blair balances his busy professional life by staying active. He enjoys running, cycling, swimming, working out, hiking, camping and snowboarding depending on the season. Blair shares his "free-time" with his wife and son outside on the weekends. He has learned to enjoy the journey, as Life is really too short.
Robert Holmes
BSc PT, Dip Manip PT, FCAMT, CAFCI
Clinical Education & Research Coordinator
Beddington Physical Therapist
Rob has been a Physical Therapist at Nose Creek Sport Physical Therapy since 2001. He graduated from McGill University with a BSc PT in 1996. He obtained an advanced orthopaedic manual therapy diploma with the Canadian Physiotherapy Association in 2003 and completed a Master's degree in Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy from the University of Western Ontario in 2008. Rob focuses on the assessment and treatment of orthopaedic injuries, with a particular interest in acute and chronic spinal rehabilitation, shoulder injuries and headaches. Rob often provides consultation, assessment and treatment for spinal pain syndromes which have not responded to previous conventional treatment. He has experience with patients undergoing spinal facet joint injections, prolotherapy and other multidisciplinary procedures.
Rob is registered with the College of Physical Therapists of Alberta as an injury management consultant, and is also registered to provide acupuncture, intramuscular stimulation and spinal manipulation. Rob is also a co-instructor with the Orthopaedic Division Level System of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and is active in clinical research. Rob has worked internationally in New Zealand and as a volunteer at a community rehabilitation centre in southern Mexico. He is fluent in English and French and also speaks Spanish. Outside of work he likes to spend his time skiing, running, cycling and canoeing.
Amy Montgomery, BScKin MScPT - Thorncliffe Physical Therapist
Amy graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology in 2003 and completed her Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto in 2005. Amy joined the Nose Creek Sport Physical Therapy team in November, 2006. She enjoys treating the knee, ankle, and the spine. Amy has competed nationally and internationally in the sport of figure skating, and as a physiotherapist, has had the opportunity to work with many athletes and sports teams from the recreational to international level. She is currently working with Hockey Canada covering the younger female developmental teams. She enjoys working out, running, volleyball, plays in a local dodgeball league and spending time with family and friends. Amy is currently computing a post graduate diploma in sports physiotherapy.
Heather Enns, BScPT, RCAMT - Pelvic Floor PT - Beddington Physical Therapist
Currently on a temporary leave of absence working overseas.
Heather joined the Beddington Clinic in spring of 2007. She graduated from the University of Alberta in 2000 with her BSc of Physical Therapy. She has taken many post-graduate courses in orthopaedic manual therapy and completed her intermediate certificate of manual therapy in 2008. Heather has her certification in Western Acupuncture from the Acupuncture foundation of Canada. In addition she has a special interest in women's health and pelvic floor dysfunction and re-education. In her spare time Heather enjoys hockey and mountain biking. She is also fluent in French.
Wendy Colgate, BPT
Wendy has been practicing physiotherapy in Alberta for 26 years. Eight of those years have been focused on working with clients suffering from neurological injuries (e.g., strokes and head injuries) or disease. She has worked in multidisciplinary teams and continues to communicate effectively with all members of the treatment team to ensure safe and effective treatment. She also has experience in chronic pain and back and neck assessment and treatment.
The following services are provided by Wendy:
- ergonomic assessments - to determined if work stations and homes are ergonomically friendly and safe.
- fall risk assessments - to determine the risk of falling within the client's environment and implement prevention strategies.
- vestibular assessment - diagnosis and training for dizziness and balance problems are addressed.
- neurological assessment and treatment.
Lucia Zdenekova - Thorncliffe Physical Therapist
Lucia has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physiotherapy from St. Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. During her studies she worked as Physiotherapist for a Bantam aged hockey camp in Czech Republic in 2007 and also for AC Milan Soccer Academy in Slovakia in 2007. Currently, Lucia is working with the Hockey Alberta female hockey teams and most recently attended the Alberta Winter Games in Bonnyville.
Lucia enjoys treating any type of sport injuries from shoulders to ankles. She plans to continue her education and be mentored through the post professional diploma in Manual and Manipulative Therapy and Sport Physical Therapy.
Lucia was born and raised in Bratislava, Slovakia. In her free time she enjoys running, skating, snow boarding, playing tennis, dodgeball, floor hockey and spending time with her friends.
Mike Potkonyak - Beddington Physical Therapist
Mike graduated with an honors degree in physiotherapy from Queen's University in 2004, he has also completed his kinesiology degree in 1997 from Simon Fraser University and has an extensive background in exercise prescription, exercise therapy and personal training. Mike has taken a number of orthopedic and manual therapy courses and is in the process of completing his intermediate diploma of advanced manual and manipulative therapy. He has specialized in the assessment and treatment of the lumbar spine, neck, shoulder and sacroiliac joint. Mike is also trained in acupuncture and is certified by the Canadian Acupuncture Foundation.
Mike has been involved in competing in a number of sports at an elite/professional level, including both tennis and soccer. He has developed a special interest in muscle balance, joint stability and functional movement retraining in treating musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. Mike provides an evidence-based approach to his treatment sessions as well as implementing biomechanical solutions along with manual therapy, modalities and exercise. Working closely with his patients Mike will provide a client centered approach to help speed your recovery and assist you in avoiding further episodes of a similar nature in the future.
Kyle Heppner, B.Sc.PT - Beddington Physical Therapist
Kyle was born and raised in Merritt, BC until graduating high school in 2001. Soon after, he traveled across the ocean to Holland where he attended The International Academy of Physiotherapy in the city of Utrecht. His studies were focused primarily on private care and sports injuries and rehabilitation. During his university years he was an assistant team physiotherapist for FC Utrecht of the Dutch Eredivision soccer league and the head therapist for SV Kampong, a division III soccer team. He has worked within the Dutch national Hand Center, where he learned extensive knowledge of the mechanics of the hand.
Since graduating in 2005, and moving back to Canada, Kyle has worked with a number of sports teams including the Merritt Centennial Hockey Club, Kamloops Broncos Football Club, and volunteered at the BC Summer Games. Since moving to Calgary, Kyle has worked with both the Calgary Canucks Men's First Division Rugby team as well as the Calgary Mavericks Super League Team. He is currently continuing his education with acupuncture and spinal manipulation courses.
Lauren Vickery, MScPT - BScKin, Beddington Physical Therapist
Lauren works at our Beddington location. She graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in 2006 and completed her Master's of Science in Physiotherapy at the U of A in 2009. Throughout her studies she worked as an exercise specialist and consulted with the U of A Bears soccer team as their strength and conditioning coach. Lauren was a competitive figure skater for 10 years with the Royal Glenora Club in Edmonton and competed nationally in soccer. Recently, she has begun working with Calgary United FC which competes in the Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League. Lauren enjoys treating the knee, ankle and spine. She is currently continuing her education with both acupuncture and manual therapy courses.
Anne Fleming, MScPT, BKin - Beddington Physical Therapist
Anne works at our Beddington location. She graduated from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Kinesiology majoring in Adapted Physical Activity. She went on to complete her Master's of Science in Physiotherapy at the University of Alberta. Throughout her studies she worked as an assistant coach and did injury consultation for the Harry Ainlay High School senior girls volleyball team. Anne was a varsity athlete competing in volleyball for 2 years with the Red Deer College Queens and 3 years with the University of Regina Cougars. She has recently started working with the U17 and U18 girl's Dinos volleyball club program and will be working with the men’s and women’s national disabled volleyball teams for their upcoming season. Anne enjoys treating sports related injuries especially the shoulder, knee and ankle. She also enjoys treating the spine and any weekend warrior with an ache or pain. She is currently continuing her education with manual therapy courses.
Nicole Vander Heyden, MScPT - BScExS - Thorncliffe Physical Therapist
Nicole works at our Thorncliffe location. She graduated from the University of Lethbridge in 2007 with a Bachelor's degree of Exercise Science with distinction. She moved on to complete her Master's of Science in Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta in the fall of 2009. Nicole grew up outside a small town in Southern Alberta and has participated in many sports, both competitive and recreational, throughout her life. She is most familiar with soccer, volleyball, basketball, general fitness and equestrian activities. Her current interests are with both acute and chronic, sports or work related injuries. Nicole's favorite areas to treat are the shoulder, knee and ankle, but she is willing and ready to take on any ache or pain the body has to offer. She looks forward to furthering her education in manual therapy, IMS and dry needling.
Massage Therapist
Drew McGrath
Drew grew up in Calgary and took his training for massage therapy at Foothills College of Massage Therapy in 1997, originally with plans to open his own spa. After a few years travelling on cruiseships with his work Drew became bored with basic relaxation massage and grew more interested in the therapeutic aspects of massage and found the rewards in helping treat people with injuries very fulfilling.
Drew's specialties are backs, shoulders and necks, great for the hard labourer workers and computer bound headache sufferers, though he has been trained in many approaches to both sports and MVA injuries as well as more relaxation geared treatment. If every you're feeling under the weather with stress or feeling those aches and pains gripping with every movement, drop by and let Drew help you work out that tension and help you create an easy self care plan to keep your pains and strains at bay.
Drew is a very artistically driven and passionate person finding most of his spare time spent working on music and film and producing/hosting his own locally based internet show called "Drew's Reviews".
Doris Harvey, RMT
Doris works out of both our Thorncliffe and Beddington locations. She graduated from Mount Royal College in 1999. Since then, Doris has trained in pre- and post-natal massage, therapeutic especially in motor vehicle related injuries, hot stone, essential oil and reflexology. Her main areas of interest are in treating injury and promoting healthy pregnancy. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Health Administration and is interested in bringing her knowledge of the benefits of having people actively involved in their own health care into the public system. Doris is hoping to continue to see more of the world in the future.
