Guelph Women’s Health Associates Physiotherapy

Eliza Pereira-Karve

Registered Physiotherapist & Pelvic Health Physiotherapist

BPT, MPT

Eliza has a special interest in women’s health and pelvic health physiotherapy. Her foray into pelvic health physiotherapy began not as a therapist, but as a patient. Her firsthand experience of the benefits of pelvic health physiotherapy and the positive influence it had on her quality of life, motivated her to pursue formal training in pelvic health.

Eliza graduated in 2009 with a Masters in Physiotherapy. She began practising in Ontario in 2011 with a diverse orthopaedic caseload and gradually transitioned to a focus on treating women. She has completed numerous courses focussed on treating incontinence, pelvic pain, dyspareunia, vaginismus, diastasis rectus abdominis, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic girdle pain, to name a few. In 2021, she completed a pelvic health focussed, clinical mentorship in the Integrated Systems Model (ISM) approach with Diane Lee and associates in British Columbia.

Eliza has experience working with women of all ages, assisting them to overcome sexual health-related challenges, prepare for childbirth, return to exercise and activity after pregnancy and to age gracefully from peri to post menopause.

Eliza 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.

When she is not practising, Eliza likes travelling with her spouse to off the beaten path destinations. She also enjoys all things artsy and craftsy.

Areas of Specific Training:

• Diane Lee Integrated Systems Model ISM series
• Integrative menopause management
• Urinary system fascia mobilisation
• Diastasis rectus abdominis assessment and conservative management
• Piston science and female athlete rehabilitation

Areas of Clinical Interest:

• Pelvic girdle pain
• Post menopausal pelvic health
• Prenatal and postnatal rehabilitation including diastasis rectus abdominis, prolapse and incontinence
• Pelvic and abdominal pain including vaginismus, endometriosis, and interstitial cystitis

Aishwarya Desai

Physiotherapist Resident

BSc (Bio), MPT

Aishwarya Desai graduated from Western University in 2020 with a Masters of Physical Therapy. She also obtained a Bachelor of Science with honours in the fields of Biology and Medical Physiology from the University of Waterloo in 2018.

Aishwarya offers over 2+ years of clinical experience in orthopedics and neural rehabilitation and has been treating pelvic floor dysfunction since 2021. Aishwarya has experience working with women of all ages, helping them overcome urinary, fecal and urge incontinence, as well as pelvic pain. She works alongside expecting mothers, with the aim of helping them prepare for childbirth, postpartum rehabilitation and returning to exercise and/or day to day activity following their pregnancy. She also treats pelvic organ prolapse and constipation and guides her patients as they undergo menopausal and peri-menopausal changes.

Aishwarya has worked with a wide variety of patient population, including those suffering from adhesive capsulitis, low back pain, carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, post-operative rehabilitation, arthritis; cardiorespiratory conditions such as pneumonia, COPD, atelectasis; and neurological conditions such as stroke, MS, Glioma, and Parkinson’s Disease.

Aishwarya speaks English, Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Marathi and would love to use this knowledge to provide the best possible care for her patients.

Areas of Specific Training:

• Level 1 Manual Therapy
• Hand and upper extremity rehabilitation from Roth/McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Center
• Level 1 and 2 of Pelvic Health Physiotherapy
• Post-partum rehabilitation following cesarian birth

Areas of Clinical Interest:

• Urinary, feal and urge incontinence
• Pelvic pain, including pain associated with intercourse
• Post-partum recovery, and post-partum return to exercises
• Acute and chronic neck and shoulder pain

Sara Riazi

Registered Physiotherapist & Pediatric Pelvic Health Physiotherapist

Sara is a graduate of McMaster University Masters of Physiotherapy program. Prior to this, Sara completed her Master’s of Science in Biomechanics and her Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics at the University of Guelph. Sara has furthered her education by taking a Soft Tissue Release course, Manual Therapy Level 1, Concussion Management, Vestibular Rehabilitation and Acupuncture. Sara has a keen interest in paediatric physiotherapy including paediatric pelvic health. She has taken courses in manual therapy, acupuncture and dry needling and has expanded her scope to treat children. Sara has taken courses in paediatric physiotherapy which includes paediatric pelvic level 1 (bowel and bladder disorders) and level 2 (paediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders). Outside of work, Sara enjoys cooking, baking, playing the guitar, and maintaining an active lifestyle.

Emanuela Gembarowski

Physiotherapist Resident, Pelvic Health Physiotherapist & Pilates Instructor

Emanuela holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree, working with clinical Pilates since 2013, completing multiple Pilates Certifications, and a Post Graduation degree in Pilates and Functional Training for rehabilitation. Her experience with Clinical Pilates allows her to integrate treatments for specific joints and/or the pelvic floor into a whole-body active treatment plan. Her special interests include prenatal and postpartum care and management of chronic orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. She has a passion for helping people to move better and improve their quality of life. When not working you will find her exploring the outdoors hiking or mountain biking.

Jessica Dorado

Receptionist, Regional Administrative Trainer

Jessica holds a degree in Geography from the University of Guelph and a diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts Management from George Brown College. She first joined EPA’s Bullfrog location in 2015 where she worked full-time reception for a year before going to pastry school. Jesica worked at the University of Guelph pastry kitchen where she focused on recipe development and ensuring smooth day to day operations. With the impacts of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry, Jessica excitedly rejoined the EPA team in 2020 at the Guelph Women’s Health location. Jessica is your main contact person for any booking and billing inquiries at GWHA.

Hannah Beaumont

 Receptionist

Hannah graduated from the University of Guelph with a degree in Human Kinetics. She is now pursuing her education at the University of Western Ontario, working towards a diploma in Pedorthics. In her free time, she loves to go to the gym, spend time with family and friends, and explore with her dog. Hannah can be found working the front desk at Guelph Women’s Health Associates.

Megan Diamantopoulos

Part-Time Receptionist

Megan has a Family and Social Relations degree from the University of Windsor. She is currently completing training at the Newman Clinic to become a licensed lactation consultant. Megan can be found working the front desk in the evenings at Guelph Women’s Health Associates.