Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Sagar J. Desai, BSC, MD, MSC, FRCSC

Dr. Sagar J. Desai is a certified orthopaedic surgeon with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).  He began his education at Western University in London, Ontario, where he completed his Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) degree in Kinesiology.  He then completed his Medical Degree (MD) at the University of Toronto, in Toronto, Ontario.

Dr. Desai subsequently attended Western University for his Orthopaedic Surgery residency.  He completed his residency in 2013 and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC).  During his residency, Dr. Desai concurrently completed a Masters in Science (MSc) in Medical Biophysics.  This Masters focused on orthopaedic biomechanics, joint kinematics and surgical implant design.

Following his residency Dr. Desai completed two accredited sub-specialty fellowships.  The first fellowship was completed in Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at the University of Toronto.  The second was an AO Trauma accredited fellowship in Orthopaedic Trauma at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.

Dr. Desai is currently a Trauma/Foot and Ankle surgeon at Humber River Hospital in Toronto.

Symposium Speakers

Greg Berti

Greg Berti is Vice-President, Global Markets, Industry Relations and Business Development for Andrew Peller Limited, a TSX listed wine company that owns and operates Estate and Commercial wineries across Canada including Trius, Thirty Bench, Peller Estates, Wayne Gretzky Winery and Distillery, Sandhill, Red Rooster, Tinhorn Creek, Black Hills and Gray Monk to name a few.  He sits on the company’s Executive Committee as well as several industry boards including, Wine Growers British Columbia, Wine Growers Ontario, Wine Growers Nova Scotia and Wine Growers Canada as well as the Wine Appellation Authority.  He has been in the wine industry for more than 30 years and has had Executive leadership roles in Sales (international and domestic), Tourism, e-commerce, Marketing, M&A and Government Relations.  He holds post-secondary degrees: B.Sc.(Guelph); MBA (Kedge-Bordeaux), Chartered Director (McMaster).  He is currently on the Board of Trustees of Brock University and previously served on the boards of the Shaw Festival and CAA (Niagara).

 

Kelly Robb, C. Ped (C)

Kelly Robb has been a registered Canadian Certified pedorthist since 2009. She completed her PhD studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, where her research focused on the connection between neuromechanics, mechanoreceptor facilitation, lower limb muscular activity, and foot orthotics. She has published multiple academic research articles which highlights her unique skill set in fine-wire electromyography of muscles from the lower leg and intrinsics of the foot. Her interest lies in understanding the mechanism supporting foot orthoses use, with a long-term goal of improving clinical practice and evidence-based treatment options for practicing pedorthists. Kelly’s research has now landed her a post-doctoral appointment at Laurier where she continues to grow the body of literature on textured foot orthoses design and locomotion.

 

Kelly is the current president of the Pedorthic Association of Canada board of directors. She is the successful recipient of Canadian tri-council funding. She has taught biomechanics and anatomy to undergraduate students and facilitated multiple thesis students through the research experience. She has previously served on Wilfrid Laurier’s research ethics board and is a course instructor in Western University’s pedorthic diploma program at Western University. Since 2019, Kelly has been a part of The Kintec Group’s research and development team assisting the advancement of both internal and external research initiatives.

 

Michael Ryan, C. Ped (C), PhD

Michael Ryan is the Head of Brand and Innovation at the Kintec Group and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University.  Ryan is a global leader in the role of footwear and injury risk in runners and has been published over 40 peer-reviewed articles in top journals in the fields of sports medicine, orthopedics and biomechanics. He currently oversees Kintec’s manufacturing, marketing and innovation departments that includes partnerships with leading Canadian universities such as Simon Fraser, UBC, and Emily Carr School of Art and Design.

 

 

Murray Wood, C. Ped (C)

Murray Wood is a Certified Pedorthist (C) with over 45 years’ experience practicing in the field. Formerly the owner of Thomas Wood Pedorthic Clinic in Orillia, Ontario, in recent years he decided to move out West and join Marie Catherine Bruno at the Sole Mate. After years of successes and growth, Murray is now working with the team at Creekside Dynamic Health, bringing his knowledge and expertise in the foot and footwear industry.
He began his career in the family specialty footwear business, where developed a strong foundation of knowledge of feet and footwear. This, coupled with his seemingly endless supply of energy and passion for his Pedorthic work, has propelled him into some impressive roles in the Pedorthic world. Murray has helped to create the Canadian Prescription Footwear Association, and was instrumental in developing the educational and ethical standards of today as the first president of the Pedorthic Association of Canada.
He implements an important yet often overlooked aspect of mobilization; stretching and strengthening programs foot and lower leg to sequence to hip and core in the treatment of foot pathologies. Which has led to a rebranding and renaming of his practice to “Barefoot Essentials.” The name means as it implies, to be a good Pedorthist in the clinical setting you MUST take the time to have the patient in bare feet. Taking foot impressions to a non-weight bearing assessment to weight bearing, as well as watching your gait, all of these critical parts of the assessment are steps that will establish the best treatment plan for the patient.
Personally, he has an extensive athletic background competing in Ironman triathlons, ultra-distance running, mountain, road, and gravel riding, paddle boarding, outrigger, and surf ski paddling. He also has a deep passion for Nordic skiing and holds a level 4 CANSI instructor designation, level 1 CANSI telemark ski instructor, and level 1 PMBI mountain bike instructor.
It is an absolute pleasure to be able to come a share my Pedorthic adventures with you at our 2023 symposium.

 

Brian Stoodley, C. Ped Tech (C), C. Ped (C)

Brian Stoodley holds a diploma in Orthopaedic Technology with supplemental education through the University of Western Ontario Pedorthics Program, certified in the Pedorthic field since 1997.  Past work experience includes the Orthopaedic clinic of the QEII Health Sciences Centre, the Pedorthic clinic of the NS Rehab Centre and as an instructor of the University of Western Ontario’s Pedorthic Program. Presently, Brian is the president of Biotech Group of companies which focuses on clinical practice and central fabrication services for custom foot orthoses and associated pedorthic devices, he also presently serves as a consultant for NIHB.

He is the past Chair for the College of Pedorthics of Canada (CPC), a past president of the Pedorthic Association of Canada (PAC), past board member of the Prescription Laboratory Association (PFOLA) and a past Vice Chair of PAC’s Insurance and Government Relations Committee.

 

Mireille Jobidon, MSc.

Mireille Jobidon is an Occupational Therapist and has been a member of l’Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec since 1993, completing her degree from Université Laval and earning her Master’s in Biomedical Sciences in 2008 from Université de Montréal. She has been with Ottobock Canada since 2012, starting her sales career in Mobility Solutions and moving into Prosthetic and Orthotic sales in 2017. As a valued member of the Ottobock team, Mireille takes pride in her role and her involvement to promote positive patient outcomes. She is passionate about rehabilitation and the role it plays in patients’ lives. She is enthusiastic about her work and continually lives the Ottobock mission of helping people regain or maintain their freedom of movement.

 

 

James Howard, MD, MSc.

Dr. James L Howard was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta.  His undergraduate training was completed at the University of Calgary in Biological Sciences.  He then received his MD degree at the University of Calgary in 2000.  After graduating from medical school, he proceeded to the University of Western Ontario for residency training in Orthopaedic Surgery.  He completed a  concurrent Master’s degree in Medical Biophysics during residency focusing on the use of computed tomography to evaluate bone support around cementless total hip replacements.  He qualified as an orthopaedic surgeon in 2005, and travelled to the United States for fellowship training.  First, he completed the Advanced Clinical Experience in Orthopaedic Traumatology at Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle, Washington.  He then travelled to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for subspecialty training in adult hip and knee reconstruction.  Dr. Howard returned to London in 2007 as a member of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery at Western University.  He completed the British Hip Society Travelling Fellowship in 2010 and the Knee Society Insall Travelling Fellowship in 2015.  He an Associate Professor and a Program Director for the orthopaedic residency program at Western University.  He is the Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at University Hospital in London, Ontario.  He is the current Education Chair of the Canadian Arthroplasty Society and an active member of the Hip Society and Knee Society. His clinical practice focuses on primary and revision total hip arthroplasty.

 

Darius Dinshaw, C. Ped (C), CAT(C), CSCS

Darius co-founded Align inspired by his unique perspectives on body alignment. Applying his proactive, Athletic Therapist & Strength and Conditioning Specialist mindset to Pedorthics and to the way people think about movement, he aims to empower everyone’s ability to walk and move in their best body alignment. Darius challenges the status quo to discover new and innovative ways to enhance patient compliance of common healthcare solutions. As a result, he careful and creatively co-designed patent pending Pitch Perfects for high heels. With a drive to do healthcare ever better, Darius developed the Align Clinician program to broaden reach of helping more health care providers overcome traditional barriers and evolve their assessment tools and treatment techniques in foot health.

 

 

Joan Weir

Joan is the vice president of group benefits for CLHIA (Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association), a voluntary trade association with member companies that account for 99 percent of Canada’s life and health insurance business.  In her role, Joan is responsible for analysis on industry issues, policy strategy development and to build consensus on concerns important to member companies.  An important part of the health portfolio is working within industry, including with national healthcare associations as well as with provincial/federal payers on benefit programs, specifically on best practices, strategy, advocacy and sustainability.  Joan has been with the CLHIA for more than 7 years, starting as Director of Health and Disability Policy.

Joan brings 20+ years of benefits management expertise to her position at CLHIA, having worked for insurers and administrators on both private and public sector programs, notably with First Canadian Health and Health Canada on the NIHB program and most recently with Medavie Blue Cross.

 

Fareen Samji, C. Ped (C)

Fareen “Far” Samji is the 5 time Canadian Women’s Long drive champion and former golf touring professional. Her personal best in competition is 334 yards. Just to put this in perspective that is equivalent to three and a third football fields.!

Far was born and raised in Mombasa, Kenya and she came to Canada at the age of 14 to further her education. She graduated from McMaster University with degrees in Psychology and Kinesiology. Far is an entrepreneur across a variety of industries from healthcare to golf event management and safari travel. She is also the founder and creator of Pythons’ Pit, a not for profit entrepreneurial pitch contest for high school students.

She is a certified Pedorthist and Far’s orthotic business won the business of the year award in 2016 from the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. Far is an incredible networker and has built her businesses and reputation by making strong connections in her community.

Fareen is passionate about mentoring business women and girls and her book Smashing the Grass Ceiling was published in 2017. It aims to empower, motivate and inspire professional women to make meaningful connections. Through the Smashing program she runs workshops and clinics to help professionals increase confidence and learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

 

Grace Boutillier, MSc MOT

Grace is a Community occupational therapist based at the Nanaimo Community Health Services where she is a founding member of an interdisciplinary program preventing lower extremity amputation secondary to neuropathic foot wounds. Using a combination Total Contact Casting (TCC), custom foot orthoses and orthopedic footwear, the team have contributed to a 30% reduction in the number of amputations in their region and are healing wounds at an average of 10 weeks. The TCC clinic won Island Health’s 2021 Knowledge to Action Award as well as the 2021 BC Quality Council Award in the Living with Illness and Disability category. The clinic is currently serving as a model to scale up across Vancouver Island and beyond.

Grace holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology (Hons) from Acadia University, and a Masters of Science in Experimental Medicine and a Masters of Occupational Therapy from UBC. She sits on a variety of interprovincial skin and wound committees and is an advisor to the BC Ministry of Health regarding Pharmacare coverage for diabetic wound healing. Grace worked as a CPed Tech and CPedC from 2004-2014 and was previously the chair of the Pedorthic Research Foundation of Canada, an editor of Pedorthics Quarterly, a PAC Symposium co-chair and a board member of the Pedorthic Association of Canada.

 

Megan Balsdon, MESc, P.Eng

Megan completed her Masters of Engineering Science at Western University in Mechanical Engineering, focusing on biomechanics for both coursework and research. Her research used biplane fluoroscopic RSA to capture and measure a novel medial longitudinal arch angle, comparing this angle among participants with different foot types. This research also evaluated differences in orthotic materials and casting types. She is currently in the final stages of her PhD at Western University (Mechanical Engineering), while working as a Research Associate for SoleScience Inc. Most recent conference presentations include oral presentations at the Foot International Congress in Berlin, Germany (2016), the PAC Symposium in London (2017), the International Society of Biomechanics (2021, virtual), and the IVO Congress in Cologne (2022, virtual).

 

Brad Gibbs, C. Ped (C)

Brad has been a pedorthist since 1988 and has had his own business in Cambridge Ontario since 1990. A past president of PAC and long time member of the Professional Development committee, Brad has been passionate about the profession for 35+ years. In his spare time, Brad enjoys frisbee with his dog Jasper, cross country skiing, scuba diving…and lately, pickleball.

 

 

Shannon DeLenardo

Shannon DeLenardo is the Director, Anti-Fraud with the Canadian Life and Health Association (CLHIA), In her role, Shannon is responsible to build consensus on concerns important to member companies and for leading industry committees, working groups and projects related to the mitigation of benefits fraud, and electronic claims management.

Shannon has held positions in Compliance, Regulatory Affairs, and Privacy with CAA Club Group and Orion Travel Insurance.  Prior to this she held roles at Assurant Solutions including Director of Compliance and Director of Human Resources.

Shannon graduated from the University of Guelph with a BA, Seneca College with the Human Resources Professional designation and has a Certificate in Regulatory Compliance & Legal Risk Management for Financial Institutions.

 

Jonathan Robinson, C. Ped (C)

Jonathan Robinson, C. Ped (C)  has been working in Pedorthics for 30 years.

He is a past President of PAC and a past Chair of the College of Pedorthics of Canada. He has worked on the Ethics Committee, IGR and Professional Development Committees.

He started ABLE Orthotics Ltd. 26 years ago. ABLE Orthotics provides lab services as well as local clinical services in Fredericton New Brunswick.

 

 

 

Madeline Ingrouville, C. Ped (C)

Certified Canadian Pedorthist, Madeline Ingrouville, is the proud owner and operator of Common Sense Orthotics in Victoria, BC. As a Queen’s University Kinesiology alumni, Madeline dove into 5 years of travel and exploration before being introduced to the pedorthic pathway.

With the support of the Western pedorthic program structure, mentorship from Brad Gibbs, and skill growth and development from the supportive and knowledgeable team at Kintec, Madeline’s dream of owning an independent pedorthic clinic on Vancouver Island became a reality in 2020. Following in the foot step of the clinic’s original founder – Bill Goers – Madeline has grown a community focused practice, working to ensure all patient’s feel heard and supported, providing quality pedorthic care. After two and a half years of running Common Sense Orthotics as a one-woman show, she is happy to announce C. Ped (C) Jeremy Hyde has joined her Victoria clinic this spring. Madeline is excited to see what comes next has she continues to grow alongside her business, working to provide improved mobility and independence for the people of her community.

 

Christy Shantz, C. Ped Tech (C), C. Ped (C)

Christy Shantz is a certified pedorthist practicing in London, ON. She began working in the field of pedorthics in 2002 after graduating from the University of Waterloo (BSc. Kin, honours). In 2005, Christy bought and took over the day-to-day operations of her mentor’s practice, rebranding as Shantz Orthotic Solutions Inc. Christy built her business and reputation with hard work, great client rapport, and hundreds of
hours in the business, often as a solo pedorthist in a busy clinic and lab. Christy has grown and expanded her practice to include a second pedorthist and, in 2020, opened a second clinic in Chatham, ON. Throughout her 18 years of business, Christy has enjoyed mentoring the next generation of pedorthists through Western University’s Diploma in Pedorthics as well as Kinesiology students. In her time away
from her clinic, Christy is a busy mom to 2 teenagers and is an avid golfer.