Cheryl Witter
Physiotherapist
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Cheryl is a graduate of the University of Manitoba Physical Therapy program. With an extensive background in athletic competition she made a seamless transition into the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries as a Physical Therapist. Cheryl co-founded Spine and Sports in 1995 and opened the North End office in 2005. She holds her Advanced Diploma in Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy and is certified in Active Release Technique (ART), Vestibular Rehab and Dry Needling (FDN). She has also completed her Concussion Rehab Course and TMJ Care Course. A longtime runner she has completed marathons and road races and now enjoys outrunning her dog on Okanagan trails.
Carla Buchanan
Registered Massage Therapist
Carla is one of our “locals.” She is a Registered Massage Therapist born and raised in Vernon and pursued a career in Massage Therapy. Carla graduated in 1996 from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy. She has been with North End since 2006. Her presence was a first for “Spine and Sports.” Amalgamating Physio and Massage. It was also a first in Vernon. What a perfect match we soon realized! Carla’s practice includes deep tissue, trigger points, sports and prenatal massage. She also has completed her Dr. Vodders Manual Lymph Drainage. Away from work Carla is a fitness fanatic, doing “Tough Mudder” and crazy amounts of Burpees daily. She has trained in Shotokan Karate and is a 3rd degree Black Belt. But she is also good at relaxing! Loves her books… her “ranch”…. and her Berners.
Call to book with Carla – 818-758-4076
Corinne Hanan
Physiotherapist
Cori was raised in the Victoria area, attended university in St. John’s, NL and completed her Master’s of Physical Therapy at UBC. After spending the last several years working on the North Shore in Vancouver, Cori recently made the move to Vernon to enjoy Okanagan living. In practice, Cori utilizes a combination of manual therapy and exercise prescription to tailor each treatment to individual goals and needs. She has also added Vestibular Rehabilitation and Dry Neeling to her skill set. When not at the clinic, Cori is currently coaching with the Vernon Kokanee swim Team. She also enjoys running, cycling, playing basketball and exploring the many parks and trails!
Kayla Comstock
Physiotherapist
Kayla is a local, who was born and raised in Vernon, BC. She completed her BSc at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, and also played on and captained the Women’s Varsity Basketball team during her years there. She went on to complete her Master’s in Physical Therapy at UBC in 2014. Kayla has a passion for rehabilitation and active living, having been an avid athlete through high school sports, varsity basketball, and long distance running. When not at the clinic you will often find her outside spending time being active with her family. Kayla has post-graduate training specializing in soft tissue release, manual therapy, and treating TMJ disorders. She is also certified in Dry Needling, Vestibular Rehabilitation and Concussion Rehabilitation. Kayla believes that her personal experience in sports and her focus on individualized treatment programs, integrating both manual therapy and active rehabilitation, will help you achieve your Physical Therapy goals!
Maggie Suranko
Physiotherapist
Maggie is a Physiotherapist with an extensive background in health and fitness and rehabilitation medicine. Born and raised in Kamloops, she completed her Master of Science in Physiotherapy from the University of Alberta and her Bachelor of Human Kinetics (Kinesiology) from the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Athletics and fitness have always been a part of her life, participating in competitive soccer and trail running as a young athlete and CrossFit (both as an athlete and coach), snowboarding, and many other outdoor activities as an adult. Injuries and frustration with rehabilitation as a young athlete led her down the path of becoming a physiotherapist and she has a keen interest in helping individuals build strength, mobility and return to their desired activities. Maggie has experience treating a wide variety of injuries and areas such as the neck, back, hips, knees, shoulders, elbow, wrist/hand, ankle/foot, and more using a variety of techniques such as manual therapy, soft tissue release, movement therapy and active rehabilitation. She loves being a part of the Spine and Sports team and treating a wide variety of people here in Vernon!
Mara Boaru
Physiotherapist
Mara completed her Physical Therapy degree in Romania before moving to Canada. She grew up knowing she will be a doctor but, inspired by her passion for the outdoors and staying active, she decided to find a career path that would also motivate others to participate in maintaining their physical and mental health through movement. While living in Calgary, she completed a Massage Therapy program where she developed a more refined sense of therapeutic touch and palpation. When she returned to practicing Physical Therapy, Mara was able to blend her in-depth knowledge of the human body with hands-on skills. She has taken many additional courses since, from Manual Therapy to pain science, and developed a special interest for treating the TMJ (jaw) area through in-dept study, training with world leaders in the field and collaborating with specialists from the dental field. She loves treating people that want to get more in tune with their bodies and want to be still moving well regardless of age. Whether you are a weekend warrior, gardener, soccer mom or athlete, she will help you achieve your movement goals. Her passion is to spend time under the great big ski, either mountain biking, camping, hiking or snowboarding and she believes no medicine can beat a walk in the woods.
Brodie Couch
Physiotherapist
I was born and raised in beautiful Vernon, B.C. After finishing my undergrad degree in the Sports and Recreation Department at Mount Royal University in Calgary I went on to complete my Masters of Physiotherapy studies at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia in 2016. I have been working in private practice since then. I have worked with adolescents to the elderly to the professional athlete and everyone in between. As a first-line physiotherapist my job is to screen for severity of injury at our first meeting. Then guide the patient in the right plan moving forward to get back to what is meaningful to the patient. Whether it is to return to sport, avoid falls, reduce pain or begin building good exercise habits such as resistance training. I believe I have the tools and the know-how to meet your goals. My past times include playing soccer, golf, ski, snowboard and enjoying the outdoors. I spend my free time with my wife who runs a market flower and veggie garden. As well as spending time chasing my four kids. I am certified and confident in dry needling, concussion treatment and vestibular/vertigo rehab. I look forward to meeting you!
Jessica Jontz
Physiotherapist
Jessica Jontz, MScPT, is a 2019 graduate of the University of Alberta, from the Master of Science in Physical Therapy program. Prior to this, Jessica graduated from the University of Calgary in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. She has since worked in both private and public healthcare settings and has gained experience in treating a wide range of orthopedic, neurologic and cardiorespiratory conditions. Focusing more now on orthopedics, Jessica is a manual therapist and has taken a number of courses on soft tissue mobilization, including Dry Needling. She is currently licensed through the College of Physiotherapists of BC to perform dry needling on patients.
With a passion for activity, strength and health, Jessica has spent much of her time in the line of fitness as a personal trainer, group fitness coach, and has also trained as a competitive power-lifter herself. She hopes to share this passion, along with that of pre and rehabilitation, with her clients.
Born and raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Jessica moved to the beautiful city of Vernon in 2021 and looks forward to working alongside a great team, as well as continually getting to know the members of the community!
Adam Pitney
Registered Massage Therapist
Eva Arci
Registered Massage Therapist
Lexie Gourdine
Registered Kinesiologist
Dawn Doyle
Office Manager
Dawn calls Vernon her home 21 years after moving from Alberta. Dawn joined our team since retiring from her career as a Veterinary Technologist and obtaining an Accounting Bookkeeping Certificate from Okanagan College. She now brings those talents to us. We think she smiles so much because now our patients don’t bite her! Dawn is a huge foodie and has a great passion for adventuring around the Okanagan. In her spare time she hikes with her dog or is creating something in the kitchen. We feel extremely fortunate to have such a well rounded Office Manager. There is nothing Dawn can’t do!
Shawna Bader
Office Manager
Shawna arrived to Vernon with her husband 25 years ago from Grand Forks. Shawna joined our team after raising her 2 children while continuing to run her her own sewing business from her home. Her compassion, attention to detail and great sense of humor will leave you smiling. When Shawna is not working, she enjoys camping, hiking and spending time with family including the dog of course! We are enjoying the addition of Shawna to the team. Sometimes Shawna and Dawn get a twinkle in their eye. We get slightly worried as to what they are up to!
