Welcome to the first GWHA blog post! This has been a long time coming. Our hope is to offer you monthly educational posts to help you understand your body, your diagnosis, and an opportunity to learn more about what pelvic health physiotherapy is and how it can help you on your Path to Improved Health. But, first, a quick review about who WE are and what we offer to Guelph and the surrounding community.
OUR SPACE
Do you know we’re renovating?! We’ve started revamping and expanding our space to better serve YOU and our community. Everyone at GWHA wants you to feel comfortable coming into clinic and seeing our familiar faces and brand new space, so let us welcome you with a sneak peek at Guelph Women’s Health Associates.
We can’t wait to show you our new space and hope to have the dust settled by the end of 2022.
OUR TEAM
Our team has grown and changed a lot since we opened in 2017 so here’s a quick reintroduction of the most frequent faces at GWHA.
Aishwarya Desai, PT Resident
Aish graduated in 2020 and has been navigating the pandemic-afflicted national exam process that has been on hiatus since the spring of 2020. As a Physiotherapy Resident, Aish can perform all of the same assessment and treatment skills as a Registered Physiotherapist and brings thousands of hours of experience to our clinic. Her clinical interests are broad and she brings fresh blood to our pelvic and orthopedic programs. She is especially interested in neural and fascial treatment techniques and always provides the team with innovative ways to manage their more difficult cases.
Aish has experience treating urinary, fecal and urge incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and postpartum recovery. She is up-to-date with the latest recovery techniques for caesarean birth and enjoys helping women get back to “feeling like themselves” after labour and delivery.
When Aish isn’t in the clinic, you can find her planning her next travel adventure, cooking up a new recipe, or deep diving into the latest historical fiction TV series!
Eliza Karve-Pereira, PT 
Eliza is our newest team member and brings a wealth of knowledge to our clinic to support peri-natal and peri-menopausal women. The rest of the team was excited to welcome her after her yearlong mentorship under one of her favourite physiotherapy gurus, Diane Lee.
Eliza excels in patient-centred goal setting and treatment planning. She strongly believes that optimal health is a combination of a healthy body, and a resilient spirit and mind. She uses a whole-person treatment approach that involves sensitive communication, education, manual therapy, and individualized exercise prescription and modalities.
Eliza loves to explore the world with her spouse and is a self-proclaimed foodie.
Janet MacKinnon, PT
Janet is the OG physiotherapist who opened GWHA in 2017. Her passion for supporting women through pregnancy, post-partum, and beyond is evident in her ever-growing list of continued education courses and certifications. An avid runner an
d athlete herself, her special interest is helping women remain active through their lifeline while helping them navigate any concerns they have about their pelvic health during sport.
Janet treats a gender-diverse clientele and is always expanding her knowledge to better support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Maintaining her own active lifestyle throughout her motherhood journey has laid the groundwork for her three daughters to become active members of their athletic communities and Janet is frequently returning to clinic on Monday mornings with a hoarse voice as she cheers on her girls in arenas, fields, and pools across Ontario!
Shannon Clutton Carr, PT 
Shannon has been at GWHA since 2018 and is our resident Pilates instructor, having introduced Clinical Pilates to EPA in 2011. She has many years of orthopedic and pelvic health experience, offering authentic connection and educational empowerment to help you navigate your physiotherapy concerns.
Having two living children of her own, she recently developed an interest in supporting people through their infant feeding journeys and pediatric motor development. Shannon works closely with multiple team members locally to assist parents navigating treatment for issues like tongue tie, torticollis, latching issues, and head shape concerns.
Shannon grew up dancing ballet in Guelph and still has a soft spot for treating dancers of all ages. She still loves a good kitchen dance party with her family and tries to set a good example for her kids by semi-regularly hopping on her Peloton.
Dr. Robin Urekar, ND 
We can’t forget about our resident Naturopathic Medicine Doctor, Dr. Robin, who recently welcomed her first daughter. Although Dr. Robin is on maternity leave until 2023, her locum, Dr. Christina DeGiuli, is available for virtual appointments.
Dr. Christina’s clinical practice is focused on women’s health and hormones, including treating those with thyroid disorders, PCOS, and fertility challenges. Her ultimate goal is to empower women to feel their absolute best so they can achieve everything they always wanted. You can connect with Dr. Christina here and continue to learn from Dr. Robin on Instagram.
Jessica Dorado, Administrator Extraordinaire
Jessica is our head administrator and sees to the day-to-day smooth operation of our clinic. She’s your team member for any questions you may have about billing, insurance, scheduling conflicts, and general inquiries. Jess personally trains all of our staff to navigate our booking and billing system and we would be lost without her!
When not at the clinic, Jessica enjoys finding gluten-free gems in and around Guelph, hiking, and yoga.
COME IN AND GET TO KNOW US
More in-depth profiles can be found under the GWHA Team tab on the main page, and you can always call the clinic to talk with a clinician prior to booking with them to ensure they are the best fit for your journey towards pelvic health and beyond. We can’t wait to meet you!