Jeff began his education endeavours by completing his Bachelors degree with an Honours and First Class standing in Kinesiology at Brock University in 2003. During that time, Jeff completed his Personal Trainers certification through the Certified Personal Trainers Network (CPTN) which offered him the pleasure to train numerous collegiate athletes. Jeff was awarded the provincial distinction from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) for excellence in exercise physiology across the province in 2003. He was also awarded an Ontario Graduate student scholarship for his research regarding "the Effects of Salivary Cortisol on Immune Function" which he subsequently published as the first author.
Jeff continued his studies at the University of Western Ontario where he completed his comprehensive Masters Degree in Physical Therapy in 2005. During his graduate studies, Jeff published his research involving "Current Perception Thresholds in Peripheral Neuropathy" in the Journal of Hand Therapy.
Since graduating with his Masters degree, Jeff began working at the Canadian Back Institute as the Manager of Clinical Services. In 2008, Jeff opened the Niagara Orthopaedic Institute and maintains the titles of Registered Physiotherapist, Clinic Owner and Director of Clinical Services. In 2014, Jeff was appointed the position of Educational Representative for the Niagara District of the Ontario Physiotherapy Association (OPA). This dynamic position allows Jeff to utilize his educational background and research interests to disseminate Physiotherapy knowledge and evidence-based practice to Physiotherapists within the Niagara Region. Jeff is the former President of the Ontario Physiotherapy Association ( Niagara District), from 2016-2022.
Jeff is an Associate Clinical Professor (Adjunct) in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at McMaster University. Jeff began this role in 2015 and is pleased to be part of a world class education and research institution like McMaster University. His roles include clinical teaching and mentoring of Physiotherapy students, admission interviews into the Masters of Physiotherapy Program, proctoring clinical examinations for students, and participation in various School of Rehabilitation Science initiatives. Jeff also sat on the Deans Advisory Council in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Brock University. A position he has held with honour from 2015 to 2019. In 2016 Jeff was selected to be a member of the Program Advisory Committee at Niagara College in the OTA/PTA program. His roles include reviewing curriculum, reviewing program initiatives, public relations, assisting and providing human resource, and recommending new types of equipment and facilities
In 2015 Jeff won the Canadian Physiotherapy Association National Mentorship Award that recognizes a physiotherapist who provides inspiration to their colleagues by acting as a role model for professionalism and volunteerism. Jeff was the recipient of the 40 Under 40 award that honours business leaders under the age of 40 within the Niagara community for their entrepreneurial contributions.
Jeff has also taken numerous post-graduate courses in spinal rehabilitation, acupuncture, manual therapy, chronic pain management, sport rehabilitation, and post-surgical management which has allowed him to provide the most effective and evidence driven treatments to his clients. Jeff continues to treat a wide array of clientele ranging from the general population to professional athletes.
We are profoundly saddened by the passing of Rob Dionne, physiotherapist at the Niagara Orthopaedic Institute. On May 23, 2016, Rob passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loved ones.
Rob was one of the most genuine, charismatic, and charming individuals. He devoted his life to helping others, made it his mission to make sure everyone had a smile on their face - he was the epitome of special. He impacted a lot of people, and whether you knew Rob for 10 minutes ...or for 10 years, you could easily see how wonderful a person he truly was.
There are many ways in which we can remember Rob - whether it be for his love of golf, music, or the cottage; the Montreal Canadians, the Buffalo Bills, or the Toronto Blue Jays; or his work as a physiotherapist - we can all appreciate and will never forget how much enthusiasm he had for life.
We are forever thankful for everything Rob has taught us and everything he has inspired us to do. He is one of the strongest individuals we have ever come to know, and words cannot express how much Rob is loved and will be missed - as a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend, and physiotherapist.
We have not lost Rob. Because if you lose someone you don't know where they are - but we know exactly where he is, and he is with each and every one of us.
We love you Rob.
Kirsten completed her Masters of Science in Physiotherapy from McMaster University in 2017. Previous to this she graduated with Honours in the Bachelor of Kinesiology program at Brock University. While at McMaster University, Kirsten was a lead member in a research team studying the effects of lifestyle changes on patients with chronic low back pain.
During her schooling, Kirsten was a lead student athletic therapist for the AAA U21 Toronto Aeros Hockey Team as well as the University of Toronto Football team and Track and Field team. During this time she also had the opportunity to work with Canadian Olympic Athletes in the David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic.
Kirsten has always had an interest in athletics and plans to continue her education with a focus on manual therapy and sports injury rehabilitation.
In 2018, Kirsten pursued one of her passions by completing the Shift Concussion Management course and is now certified in the assessment and management of concussion. She has been excited to share her knowledge of concussion to schools and sports teams in the community and hopes to continue bringing awareness to this very important topic.
Kirsten is currently serving as Treasurer and Social Representative of the Niagara Division of the OPA.
Chris completed his Master of Science Degree in Physiotherapy from Queen's University in 2018. Prior to this, he graduated from the Bachelor of Human Kinetics program at the University of Windsor. While at the University of Windsor, Chris competed as an athlete on the Men's Varsity Soccer team, on both an academic and athletic scholarship. In 2017, Chris was inducted to the Niagara Falls "Sports Wall of Fame" as part of the team claiming back-to-back Ontario Cup Championships, as well as a silver medal at the BMO Canadian National Championships.
Chris' passion for sport helped guide him into the world of physiotherapy, where he plans to give back to people of all ages and abilities. He has a strong professional interest in general orthopaedics, musculoskeletal health, and sport-related injuries. Chris plans to develop his ability working with elite athletes in the community, while focusing on soccer-specific training and rehabilitation.
With his athletic background, Chris plans to continue his education with a focus on manual therapy and innovative sports-related rehabilitation. Furthermore, Chris has been involved in running youth soccer development camps through Niagara United, and hopes to incorporate the soccer community into his practice at NOI. Chris believes each and every patient should be actively engaged in their treatment plan in order to see true benefit and results.
Henry completed his Master of Science Degree in Physiotherapy from Queen’s University in 2018. Prior to completing his Masters Degree, Henry graduated from Brock University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology.
While at Brock University, Henry was a lead student athletic therapist at Brock’s Athletic Therapy Clinic where he assessed, treated and rehabilitated injuries sustained by Brock athletes. Henry also had the opportunity to be a head trainer for the Powercord Exercise Program and Senior Fit Program at Brock Niagara Centre for Health and Wellness. These experiences sparked Henry’s interest in Physiotherapy.
Henry grew up in the Niagara Region and has always wanted to come back to Niagara to help give back to the community. Henry has always had an interest in athletics and is a competitive runner himself.
Henry plans to continue his education with a focus on manual therapy and exercise rehabilitation. Furthermore, Henry has been involved in coaching new runners and utilizes his training in his therapy practice. His other passion includes triathlon, cycling, hiking, healthy living, and travelling.
Brendan completed his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at D’youville University in 2020. Prior to this, Brendan completed his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at Brock University in 2017. While attending Brock University, Brendan served as captain of the varsity cross country team, and his interest in physiotherapy came from these athletic experiences.
Upon completing his education, Brendan broadened his experience by travelling to Idaho, USA, to work as a physical therapist in a nursing home for veterans. Brendan has taken continuing education classes on spinal manipulation, hip osteoarthritis, chronic pain management, and acupuncture and dry needling. Being born and raised in Niagara Falls, Brendan is very excited to be involved with a clinic in his hometown. In his free time, Brendan is an avid runner, and also enjoys rock climbing, cycling, swimming, and triathlons.
Taskeen has 30 years of experience as a physiotherapist. She has worked in multiple settings in different countries around the world. She took a role as orthopaedic clinical specialist and lectured overseas. This has made her very accomplished in treating a variety of orthopaedic conditions.
Taskeen has taken many manual therapy courses. She has a hands on approach and incorporates joint mobilization, movement and active release of soft tissues in her practice. She empowers her patients with education about their condition and teaches them about proper posture and ergonomics. She tailors each patients exercise program to best suit their needs.
Taskeen is certified in pulmonary rehabilitation. She is certified to titrate oxygen as per the respirologist’s prescription. She is also certified to manage concussions.
Taskeen follows a lifestyle dedicated to meditation, mindfulness and the use of breathing techniques. She incorporates this into her practice as a physiotherapist. Being a supportive and empathetic listener is one of Taskeen’s strengths. She is certified to perform acupuncture and practices cupping. These modalities work on meridians and energy flow in the body. These tools can be very valuable in a multimodal approach to healing.
Aarti Sundaran has eight years of experience in the field of Physiotherapy in India and 1.5 years in Canada. She did her Masters of Physiotherapy in 2017 from Kerala University of Health Sciences. During her Masters, her study ‘’Effectiveness of LSVT Big Exercise to improve balance in mild to moderate stage Parkinson’s patients’’ was published in the International Journal of Medical and Exercise Science. She did her Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2012 from Calicut University, India. She deals with a variety of musculoskeletal-related conditions. She also did a certification program on Physiotherapy Practice within the Canadian Health care context Online course from the University of Toronto in 2019. She has done various workshops in musculoskeletal evaluation & treatment and clinical training in Orthopedics and Sports & Fitness.
Aarti has always focused on the needs of the patients, designing customized regimens that conformed to a patient’s comfort level and desired results. She believes that the source of the pain or imbalance in the muscles doesn’t come from one source it’s connected with the other parts of your body and treat accordingly with manual therapy and exercises. She believes in patient education and biopsychosocial approach is the key to preventing further complications or modifying the existing problem.
Bryanna graduated from the OTA & PTA program at Niagara College in 2021. Previous to this, graduated from the Bachelor of Kinesiology program with honours at Brock University in 2019.
During her schooling, Bryanna took on various volunteer placements within the field of rehabilitation, including time with the Niagara River Lions Basketball Sports Medicine Team as a Student Athletic Therapist, Senior Fit Program at the Niagara Centre for Health and Wellbeing as a Kinesiology student trainer & the Niagara Regional Girls Soccer Program as a strength and conditioning coach.
Bryanna has always been an athlete and has a strong passion to help others. She enjoys the outdoors, spending time at the barn where she rides competitively and walking her dog. She is eager to continue her education in sports injury rehabilitation techniques, oncology rehabilitation techniques and concussion management.
Kayleigh graduated from the University of Guelph-Humber in 2022 with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Kinesiology and a diploma in Fitness and Health Promotion. While pursuing her degree, Kayleigh ran with the Humber College Varsity Cross-Country team where she led as Women's captain from 2019-2022. She completed placements within personal training and physiotherapy throughout her education. In addition, Kayleigh has volunteered with the Variety Village Organization in Toronto where she worked with disabled children to promote health and fitness. She is eager to continue her education within mental health first aid, K-taping therapy, and running mechanics.
Larissa graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with honors in 2023.
During her schooling, Larissa volunteered as a student athletic therapist for the McMaster Men's Football team and the McMaster Women's Lacrosse Team. She was an exercise assistant at PACE (Physical Activity Centre of Excellence), a gym and research centre for those living with chronic disability and disease. There she worked with populations including those battling cancer, individuals with Multiple Sclerosis, Traumatic Brain Injury, Heart Disease, Osteoarthritis, and the visually and hearing impaired. She also has acted as a research assistant at the McMaster Human Performance Lab investigating the impact of high-intensity interval training on blood glucose response.
She has experience working as an athletic trainer for the Hamilton Junior B Bengals Lacrosse team and has worked as medical staff at the 2022 Canada Summer Games, CFL Free Agent Camps, and the U Sports East–West Bowl Football Championship.
Larissa loves being active and is an avid runner and ringette player. She is eager to continue her studies in rehabilitation techniques, high-performance sports medicine, and strength and conditioning.
Phil graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2009 with a Bachelors of Science in Biology and Chemistry. He then went on to pursue graduate school at Queen's Univerisity before returning to the Niagara region.
Phil is currently finishing his Massage Therapy diploma and looks forward to working as a therapist in the NOI family.
Phil is Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Fitness Level 2 certified and is proficient in assessing golfers of all skill levels and working with them to help both improve their golf game and their health. Phil aims to create a plan unique to each golfer that will optimize their bodies specific movement patterns when swinging a golf club, without changing the swing itself.
Christina is excited to be joining the team at Niagara Orthopedic Institute. Christina initially pursued her education in nursing and from this developed a passion for rehabilitation and specifically sports injuries. Christina furthered her education and obtained a diploma from Trillium college in 2008 and is a registered member of the College of Massage Therapists in Ontario. She has worked in a number of diverse threptic settings focused on preventative health, rehabilitation and maintenance. Christina was also selected to volunteer at the Canada Games where she worked closely with a multidisciplinary medical team with elite level athletes. Her passion for health and wellness began very early on as a competitive soccer and hockey player. Christina later pursued training in martial arts only to discover her love for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Christina not only actively competes in Brazilian Jujitsu but also found a passion in coaching children.
Bowen Neufeld was born and raised in the town of Niagara-On-The-Lake. He attended Eden High school and then after, graduated from Ontario College of Health and Technology’s Massage Therapy Program. Bowen has worked in a wide variety of clinical settings around Niagara and the GTA.
He has always had an interest in sports, health, and wellness. At a young age, Bowen found his love for soccer and eventually played at a high level for many years in the United States, Canada and Europe. Throughout his soccer career Bowen experienced the many benefits of Massage Therapy for recovery and injury prevention. This impactful realization led Bowen to pursue a career as an RMT where he hopes to help his patients receive the same benefits he did.
Bowen finds great success with focusing on isolating affected musculature by utilizing techniques such as Myofascial Release Therapy and Trigger Point Therapy. This treatment promotes a healthy myofascial and musculoskeletal network while improving flexibility and range of motion. These, in combination with active stretching, strengthening and remedial (take-home) exercises, Bowen empowers his patients to improve optimal health and well-being even when not at the clinic.
When not at work, Bowen enjoys playing hockey and soccer, mastering his guitar skills and spending time with friends and family.
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Darius Szpilewski, CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 1 and Personal Trainer is a succeeding expert in the fields of well-being and high performance. Since 2008, Darius' unique and holistic approach to treating the body has changed the lives of many men and women where traditional approaches often failed.
Darius' interest in human body and mind has been driving him passionately forward allowing him to do that which he loves. Through marriage of art and science and real-world experience Darius develops practical and effective methods for addressing his client's challenges, which he then applies over and over again, with just the right tweaks, with just the right shove and push, with just the right people, for just the right reasons. He has devoted his career to making wellness and high performance individualized, client-centered, and attainable for every type of a person who is willing to assume responsibility for their own Self.
Darius believes that well-being is a journey of self-management. His mission is to guide those who choose to work with him towards optimal wellness so they can experience their lives without the burdens of disease and limitations.
Matt grew up in Niagara Falls and has been physically active his entire life either through playing sports, weight training, or getting his steps in!
Matt is certified through Can-Fit-Pro, one of Canada's earliest and longest-running certifying bodies for Personal Trainers. Between 2015-2022 Matt worked with his clients at LA Fitness specializing in functional and athletic training, sharing his passion for living a healthy lifestyle, and practicing what he preaches. He had played competitive soccer growing up, which led to playing in the Canadian Soccer League - Canada's only pro league at the time - between 2007-2013 along with playing experience in Germany. His other athletic interests include hockey, tennis, running, biking, and hiking.
Sarah graduated from the Health Office Administration program at Conestoga College in 2012. Throughout her career she has greatly enjoyed working in a clinic setting and interacting with patients. Sarah is very focused on maintaining a great team environment at work which is why she is very excited to be a part of the Niagara Orthopaedic Team!
Sarah enjoys being active and trying new things!
Bio coming soon!
At NOI Hamilton, we are a team of Health Care professionals whose ambition is to provide industry leading care to injured athletes. We offer this care to the Hamilton, ON and surrounding areas. We have Orthopaedic surgeons and Sports Medicine Doctors who are leaders in their field, who all provide innovative, individualised care specific to your injury.
Sports Medicine Consultations
Orthopaedic Consultations
Custom Bracing
Injections (can be ultrasound guided when appropriate):
Where would you like to book your appointment?
Which team would you like to learn more about?