RECOVERY ROOM - Key Persons
Anna graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from the University of Otago in 2016. Following this, she completed a FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine in 2017 and a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Physiotherapy through the University of Otago in 2021, specialising in the female athlete.
Anna has worked extensively with premier and representative level rugby teams, giving her a thorough understanding of acute injury management and sport specific rehabilitation.
Anna has additional training in Pilates and dry needling, and has worked in both management and team leader roles at a multidisciplinary rehabilitation clinic in Wellington.
Anna's experience has seen her develop a special interest in sports physiotherapy and working alongside female athletes. She promotes a holistic approach to her clients' rehabilitation, and enjoys working with anyone who is motivated to achieve their goals and get back to doing what they love.
Anna loves the outdoors, and outside of work can be found rock climbing, horse riding, running, hiking and skiing."
Emilee was born and raised in East Otago and moved to Dunedin to study a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Otago, graduating in 2018. She has since been working in private practice in the Hawkes Bay and Dunedin where she has gained a broad range of experience in musculoskeletal physio, with a special interest in sports injuries. This led her to complete post-graduate studies in strength and conditioning to enhance results of end stage rehab and overall athletic performance. Emilee enjoys working as part of a team and has spent many years sports-medicing on the side line of a rugby field and running around a netball court on a Saturday. In her spare time, she enjoys getting outside and spending time with her puppy.
Jackson graduated from the University of Otago with both a Bachelor of Science majoring in Anatomy and more recently a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. He is passionate about physiotherapy, and helping patients use movement and exercise to return to moving and living at their full potential.
Jackson has experience in rugby having worked on the side-line of Dunedin Premier Rugby matches for the past two years, as well as working in concussion recognition at Otago NPC and Highlanders home games. This has developed his passion for sports physiotherapy and delivering high quality treatment and rehabilitation to every patient, from weekend warriors to elite athletes.
Jackson enjoys watching and playing sports, with weekends spent playing tennis, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.
Joanna graduated from Otago University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree after coming to Dunedin from Southland. Her interest in physiotherapy stemmed from being a gymnast, with her own injuries leading her to pursue a career in helping people get back to doing what they love through rehabilitation techniques.
Joanna has experience in a variety of sports from acrobatic dance to rugby. She has previously been a sideline sports medic for premier rugby teams. In her spare time, she enjoys going for walks around Dunedin, yoga and spending time with friends and family.
Jordy is originally from Whangarei in the far north. He moved down and studied Physiotherapy at The University of Otago, graduating in 2023.
Jordy is passionate about physiotherapy, physical fitness and sports. Jordy plays premier club rugby for the Southern Magpies and has been part of the Otago development team.
Jordy is enthusiastic, caring and enjoys helping people return from injury and function at their best.
As the saying goes, without your health, what do you have? Matt enjoys being part of the process to improving a person's health by allowing them to move more effectively enabling them to improve their standard of living. His career in physiotherapy has allowed him to meet people from all walks of life and treat a myriad of diverse conditions and injuries. Matt specialises in exercise prescription and developing rehabilitation programmes following injury and surgery. He also uses video analysis software for the identification of faulty movement patterns that maybe the underlying problem associated with a particular injury. Other treatment options he explores is the incorporation of dry needling and manipulative therapy techniques and well as Pilates Rehabilitation.
Away from the office, Matt enjoys spending his spare time with his wife and three children.
Originally from Christchurch, Megan moved to Dunedin to study physiotherapy and was convinced to call Dunedin home. She graduated in 2016 from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy.
Megan enjoys being part of a team environment, this year she spent her weekend's side line working as the physio for the Zingari-Richmond Rugby Club, however in previous years she has worked for the University Football Club. She also enjoys working in the community, so has spent time in the Edgar Centre's Injury Clinic, and worked at the NZ Masters' Games, NZ Colgate Games and NZ Secondary Schools' Athletics Champs.
Megan is passionate about working with athletes and returning them to their sport quickly, as she was an avid tennis, hockey and badminton player.
Megan has completed further training in dry needling, and is enthusiastic about expanding this knowledge as she has seen great results in her patients.
In her spare time Megan enjoys playing hockey and this year has been trying her hand at some social futsal and squash.
I believe in treating the whole person, not just the injury that has brought someone in. I enjoy building relationships based on genuine enjoyment, empathy and trust so that that my patient and I are both working towards the same goal. Seeing people achieve goals they may have thought out of reach makes it an incredibly humbling experience for me. I have a special interest in sports physiotherapy, paediatrics and special needs physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy is my passion, I want to help people achieve their goals, whether that is reducing pain or returning to sport. While studying Physiotherapy at the University of Otago I worked as a support worker, this experience instilled a greater respect for the Otago community and help me focus on patient outcomes. Physiotherapy is an expanding profession, I love to learn, adapt, and provide the best treatment I can for each individual. Due to my own previous injuries, I enjoy making and progressing rehabilitation for knees and shoulders, but I am interested in any presentation. I am a big fan of wide range of sport from Tennis to Basketball and strive to get people returning to active movement in life or in sport.
Sam's experience in professional sport has given him a passion for rehabilitating individuals to achieve high-level goals, ensuring patients maximise their sporting or exercise performance whilst also optimising injury risk reduction. He recently completed his Masters in Sport & Exercise Physiotherapy through La Trobe University in Melbourne and has previously completed a FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine. His time in elite Football and Basketball gives him particular insight into kicking, change of direction and running sport perormance/injuries.
Sam also has post-graduate training in:
The McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy of Spinal and Peripheral Disorders
Pilates
Dry Needling
Prior to working as a clinician and team leader at a multi-disciplinary sports medicine clinic and Head Physiotherapist at the Wellington Phoenix Football club, Sam also worked extensively with a range of clients from different backgrounds and age groups.
Sam has played Football in the Northern, Central, and Southern Leagues and won the Chatham cup with East Coast Bays. He now enjoys surfing, spearfishing and spending time with his young family on Dunedin's north coast.
Stuart has over 30 years of experience as a physiotherapist, many of those spent in the tertiary education sector as a physiotherapy educator and clinician. He has completed a Masters degree through University of Otago, and holds post graduate diplomas in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (McKenzie Institute International) and Manipulative Physiotherapy ( University of Otago). He has also completed certification in the Watson Headache approach ( Watson Headache Institute). His area of expertise is back pain, neck pain and headaches/migraines, and his approach is to help patients identify simple mechanical solutions to what can be complex and chronic problems.
Stuart is an avid golfer and like most golfers is working hard to lower his handicap. He has completed Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Level 1 and Golf Level 2 training, which gives him an in-depth knowledge of the biomechanics of the golf swing and injury prevention/analysis.