We are delighted to celebrate one of our dedicated team members who has been bridging language barriers and bringing evidence-based physiotherapy education to the French-speaking world! Since joining Physiopedia in September 2023, our French translator has been making high-quality content accessible to francophone communities globally while balancing a dynamic clinical career in musculoskeletal care and preparing to launch her own private physiotherapy clinic in rural Quebec. With a passion for translation, patient care and continuous learning, she exemplifies the collaborative spirit that makes Physiopedia’s mission possible. Let’s get to know more about this remarkable contributor.
Time active with Physiopedia: I have been with the Physiopedia team since September 2023. Two years already!
Current role with Physiopedia: French translator
Where did you go to university/college? I studied physiotherapy at l’Université de Montréal in Canada and am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in translation at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières in Canada.
Where do you work? I currently work as a physiotherapist in a public hospital’s outpatient clinic in Canada, specialising in musculoskeletal care. Alongside this and my work with Physiopedia, I also run my own online physiotherapy service. However, I’m currently in the exciting phase of launching my own business – I’ll soon be the proud owner of a private physiotherapy clinic in Lanoraie, a charming small rural town about an hour from Montreal, Quebec. I’m expecting to open in January, at which point I’ll be leaving the hospital.
Describe your role: In my hospital role, I work primarily with musculoskeletal patients. Our mission is to rehabilitate people who have had fractures or surgeries. We also see patients with pain conditions such as low back pain, focusing mainly on education and providing exercise programmes. Additionally, I work extensively with older adults experiencing balance issues and deconditioning, as well as patients with neurological conditions. I have quite a varied practice, which keeps my work dynamic and allows me to develop skills across different areas of physiotherapy.
What is the most rewarding part of working with Physiopedia? As a clinician, the most rewarding part is truly helping people regain their quality of life through improved functional capacity. I find it incredibly gratifying when I succeed in building a strong therapeutic relationship with a patient and feel that they trust me enough to rely on my advice and guidance.
With Physiopedia, what I find most rewarding is making high-quality physiotherapy content accessible to the French-speaking community around the world. What a difference that makes! It’s fulfilling to know that the work we do can reach and help so many people across the globe who might otherwise have limited access to evidence-based physiotherapy information in their own language.
What are some of the more challenging aspects about your work? One of the most difficult aspects is not being able to help everyone. In Quebec, access to physicians and specialists is very challenging, and sometimes I run out of tools in my toolkit to help patients further. Knowing they’ll have to wait a long time before having access to other therapeutic options to improve their condition is really hard. Working in the public healthcare system, we also don’t have the ability to see patients as many times as we’d like. I find it very difficult to discharge a patient when I know we could achieve even more progress together with additional sessions.
What are some of your professional passions? I really love working with children – they’re definitely my favorite clientele, especially those who are fearful at first. Watching them blossom from session to session and gradually have more and more fun coming to see me is incredibly rewarding. I love bringing out balloons, balls, bean bag games, and even the Wii to redirect their attention while still accomplishing therapeutic work.
Games are something I’ve been incorporating more and more, even with adult patients. Seeing people – young or old – doing their exercises while smiling and even laughing is always beautiful to witness. It reminds me that rehabilitation doesn’t have to be tedious or painful; it can be engaging and enjoyable, which ultimately leads to better outcomes and adherence.
I’m also passionate about working with patients who have jaw problems, neck pain and headaches. I’ve completed extensive continuing education in these areas, and the interconnection between these conditions is truly fascinating. To deepen my expertise even further, I’ll soon be taking a course on dizziness and vertigo.
What are a few of your personal passions? I work a lot, so what really allows me to disconnect is mountain hiking, especially in the fall with the beautiful colors of the trees. It’s my way of recharging and finding balance. I’m also a big fan of board games and especially escape rooms – I’ve done about 30 of them! One of my favorites was on a farm with real alpacas wandering around us while we solved puzzles. Beyond that, I love cooking (especially desserts), reading and the French language of course.
What would be your advice to a newly graduating physiotherapist or professional? I had a difficult start to my career, and for a while, I even thought physiotherapy wasn’t for me. I worked for a year in an environment where I wasn’t thriving. When I changed workplaces, I realised that the problem wasn’t me or the profession itself – it was the environment I was in.
My advice to a new graduate would be: don’t stay in a workplace where you don’t feel good, where you’re not comfortable asking questions or where you don’t feel valued and recognised. Keep exploring until you find the right place for you. The right environment makes all the difference in your growth as a clinician and your love for the profession.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Professionally, I hope to still be translating engaging courses with Physiopedia, continuing to learn a little more every day and offer the best care to my patients. I envision having a thriving clinic filled with patients and wonderful collaborators who share my passion for helping people. Personally, I hope to finally be reunited with my husband, who is in Egypt now.
What are the best things about being part of the Physiopedia team? The team is truly extraordinary – everyone is so supportive, collaborative and passionate about making quality physiotherapy education accessible to all. There’s a real sense of community and shared purpose that makes the work meaningful and enjoyable.
As a clinician, Physiopedia allows me to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in our field, but it also helps me revisit foundational concepts. Sometimes, even when I’m translating a beginner-level course, I’ll catch a valuable new piece of information or a fresh perspective that I can incorporate into my clinical practice. These little gems often make a significant difference in how I approach patient care. It’s a constant reminder that learning never stops, regardless of how experienced we become.
How has being a Physiopedia team member helped your professional development/career progression? Collaborating with Physiopedia has significantly enriched my professional development in several ways. First, translating courses has deepened my understanding of various physiotherapy topics – explaining concepts in another language requires truly mastering the material, which has made me a more knowledgeable and confident clinician.
It has also kept me engaged with evidence-based practice and current research, which can be challenging when you’re busy with day-to-day clinical work. Physiopedia provides that bridge between research and practice that’s so essential for quality care.
Given the wide variety of subjects covered, I’ve developed knowledge and become more aware of topics I wouldn’t necessarily have explored before – such as wound prevention, for example – because I have a predominantly musculoskeletal focus. This has broadened my perspective and made me a more well-rounded physiotherapist.
What are your hopes and aspirations for Physiopedia? My hope is that Physiopedia continues to grow and reach even more physiotherapists and healthcare professionals around the world. I’d love to see the French content continue to expand, making evidence-based resources accessible to the entire francophone community. I also hope that Physiopedia continues to foster this wonderful collaborative spirit, bringing together clinicians, researchers, and educators from diverse backgrounds to share knowledge and elevate the profession as a whole. The more we can break down barriers to quality education, the better care the patients will receive everywhere.
What is your favourite Plus course? I can’t choose just one! I really loved the ACL rehabilitation programme – it gave me a much clearer structure for managing these cases and increased my confidence in my interventions. As a “neck enthusiast,” I absolutely loved Chris Worsfold’s programme on cervical sensorimotor impairment. It was fascinating and directly applicable to my practice. Finally, with my business launch, the Business and Management programme series has been truly incredible. As I mentioned earlier, I love that Physiopedia’s content is so diverse, offering not only excellent material to improve our clinical skills, but also non-clinical skills like management and business operations.
Anything else you would like to share? It’s truly an honor for me to be part of this amazing family that makes a difference globally. Being able to contribute to Physiopedia’s mission of making quality physiotherapy education accessible to everyone is incredibly meaningful to me. I’d also like to thank my translation team – this wonderful, supportive and inspiring group. Working alongside such dedicated professionals who share the same passion for knowledge-sharing and excellence has been one of the most besutiful aspects of this journey.
Physiopedia Plus is a subscription site that offers internationally accredited continuing education and professional development opportunities for the global rehabilitation community in 6 languages.
Your subscription fees fund the Physiopedia charity website to keep it updated and openly accessible to all.
Your subscription also provides FREE access to Plus for rehabilitation professionals in low income countries.
There are also discounts available depending on where you live and for students.