Our Team
All Star Talent
No matter the need, our team can handle it.
PhysiotherapistMartin Bull
Martin's passion is physiotherapy and once he discovered this, he has spent his career and 'leisure' time honing his skills, extending his knowledge and ensuring that his practice is always person centred. This means that Martin places the client at the centre of all treatment - he'll assess holistically, ie. the whole person; discusses what their goals are; agrees where they want to be and how. Martin will explain what has occurred, why, ways to rehabilitate or manage and ways to prevent recurrence or worsening. The client will always feel that their questions have been answered and that they have been 'listened to'!
Martin has extensive experience in physiotherapy, incorporating: 8 years of experience working with professional rugby and soccer players, 5 years’ experience working in a hospital setting and in the community, palliative care and 12 years experience working in private practice and within a multidisciplinary team. He has spent several years studying and collaborating with other specialisms to allow him to incorporate other techiques into his practice.
He uses a combination of manual techniques, combining physiotherapy & osteopathic methods to achieve the best results. Martin is able to interpret biomechanical and functional analysis to address musculo-skeletal injuries and disorders, sporting, occupational, ergonomic and traumatic dysfunction and injury. He is able to utilise electrotherapy when required, acupuncture, k-taping and pain reducing modalities when appropriate.
At leisure, Martin loves being in Nova Scotia and can be found hiking, golfing, painting, playing guitar, swimming and kayaking. He and his wife Debbie, love spending time with friends, trying new activities, attending concerts and the theatre and considers himself a proud Nova Scotian! Martin and Debbie have a wonderful family in Europe, particularly, two little Granddaughters, Mollie and Mia.
Debbie BullAdministration
Prior to coming to Canada in 2012 Debbie had had an extensive history primarily as a specialist nurse tutor in the UK. Much of her nursing career had concentrated on working to develop practice and standards in elderly care. To this end, Debbie had had fifteen years working nationally across the UK teaching nurses and care givers in diverse clinical topics, including safer administration of medicines, palliative care, dementia awareness and safeguarding adults. Debbie's experience includes:
- Working as a nurse with experience in trauma and cardio-thoracics until she found her love of elderly care
- Teaching at a large hospital in London
- Medical director for a semi-professional rugby club for 8 years, responsible for trauma management and health promotion
- Lead educator for distance learning colleges for nursing studies
- Obtaining teaching certification to teach health care, further education and complimentary therapies, including massage
Debbie and Martin opened the first physiotherapy practice in Elmsdale together and developed a fantastic rapport with the clients, their doctors and the amazingly supportive multi-disciplinary team and staff at Elmsdale Medical Centre. Debbie says 'It has been a joy to work in Elmsdale and we will never take for granted the welcoming and generous nature of the people concerned; clients and staff alike! We will always do our very best to recognise the trust that these individuals have placed in us and provide the most supportive and effective service to reciprocate.
For leisure, Debbie and Martin get to have fun with friends and this often means trying new things, 'including the time that we all tried white water rafting in Maine where we scared ourselves silly!' Something that Debbie would not have even considered in the UK......'One of the best things about living in Nova Scotia is going for a walk, or looking out of the window, one of the most beautiful places in the world and all for us to see!' Debbie and Martin also have a wonderful family back in Europe and pride of place are their children and wonderful Granddaughters.
Reception/administrationLaurie Vandal
Laurie Vandal grew up in Dartmouth where she lived until May 2005 when she moved to Wales in the UK, returning in September 2016 for the birth of her grandson. She instantly knew, with his birth, that she didn’t have the heart to return to Wales and wanted to stay home in Canada and watch him grow up.
Laurie worked the previous five years of her life in Wales at the University Hospital of Wales, in the Dental Hospital, working as a receptionist on one of the clinics before progressing to a Medical Secretary working for various specialty dentists, professors, surgeons and students. Her previous work experience included being a receptionist within a Community Mental Health Team, The Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia and fifteen years in customer service in retail management.
She currently lives ilocal to the clinic and enjoys spending time with her daughter, grandson, granddaughter and close friends. She enjoys walking, whale watching in the summer and driving to the valley to visit her sister and her family, as well as dining out, watching a movie or a play at Neptune Theatre. She has always enjoyed working in a patient oriented environment and does her best to make everyone feel welcomed at PhysioDirect.
