Our People

Stephanie writes: "I have always had an interest in sport and exercise. I mostly make time for running, cycling and boxing, but enjoy anything that gets me outdoors. Not surprisingly, I have had my own fair share of injuries, aches and pains - and it was this that first lead me to study and graduate with a degree in Sports Rehabilitation and Athletic Therapy.

Helping people along the road to recovery is the most rewarding part of my job. I have on-field experience with various sporting teams, from American football, baseball and basketball in the United States to hurling, soccer and boxing here in Ireland.

I practice at the Priory Clinic, Kimmage, where I diagnose and treat musculoskeletal injuries. A large proportion of my patients are not sports enthusiasts, but have injured themselves through work or demands of daily life. I use specific treatment techniques, injury education and rehabilitative exercise, which ensures a safe and speedy return to optimum activity levels."

Deborah writes: “Before attending the physical therapy course I studied Science in Tallaght IT.  I completed my studies there in 2001 and then took a year out to work in retail!  It was then that I decided I wanted to enrol on the Physical Therapy course; I wanted a career that I could take anywhere, one that allows me to have a flexible schedule.  It brings me great satisfaction to see how physical therapy can relieve people’s pain without medication, surgery or harmful side-effects.”

Mary has been practising at the Priory Clinic for over four years now.  She is also a tutor with the Institute of Physical Therapy and Supervisor at the Student Clinic.  “As a physical therapist I have the ability to touch many lives in a profound and positive way and to teach others to do the same”.  Mary’s treatments include soft tissue work, joint mobilisation and myofascial release techniques.

Sport has always been a huge part of my life. Upon finishing my leaving certificate, I began a degree in Physical Education and Sports Science.  I was 2 years into the course before I realised it wasn’t the course for me. I knew I still wanted to work in the line of sport, so I applied to study  a three year B.Sc.degree in Applied Health Science at the Institute of Physical Therapy. The change in career for me, was by far the best decision I have ever made.

From a young age I have participated in many sports including, soccer, camogie, tennis, swimming, rugby, hockey, basketball, badminton, Gaelic football and Athletics.

Athletics was always my number one sport and began to excel at it throughout my school years. I began running at the age of 13 and continue to do so. I have won numerous medals in Athletics over the years for cross country, middle distance, track and relay and competed at Leinster level aged 15. I won the Junior Cup and Senior Cup twice for best athlete at school. Some of my All- Ireland achievements include, 1^st place 4x100m schools outdoor relay event, 3^rd in the 400m outdoor and Indoor Senior level events. I have dreams of competing beyond national level in the coming years.

Last year I gained a qualification as an Assistant Athletic Coach and enjoy coaching from time to time.

Having been so involved in sport throughout the years, I gained knocks and injuries that I thought I would never over come. I found Physical Therapy an amazing form of treatment to help get me back on the right track and provide me with the treatment and rehabilitation I needed. My brother was born with Scoliosis and at the age of 15 underwent a major operation. It took him three years to recover from it. Throughout this time he received numerous amounts of physical therapy treatment. It helped him immensely.

What is Physical Therapy?

Physical Therapy is hands-on and natural treatment which helps maintain and restore optimum movement and functional ability for your body. It is a primary care health profession and is established on health science principles. My speciality lies in pre and post injuries, injury prevention, rehabilitation, neuromusculoskeletal evaluation, diagnosis of injuries and appropriate treatment and care for the individual patient.

I am very passionate about my profession

Types of conditions treated:

• Back pain
• Musculoskeletal conditions
• Neuromuscular conditions
• Whiplash
• Neck and shoulder complaints
• Sports injuries
• Posture
• Tension Headaches

Stress related conditions

Growing up, sports were a huge part of my life. Camogie was the main team sport I competed in, and I played for the Dublin Camogie Team from the age of 14 up to Senior level. I qualified in Sports and Leisure Management and went on to work as a fitness instructor for the next four years. Over the years I myself endured quiet a few injuries! Eager to get back to my own sport I became more interested in finding out how my injuries occurred and how they could be fixed?  This then spurred me on to qualify as a Physical Therapist.  For me, working as a therapist is very rewarding. I enjoy working with athletes as I know how important it is for them to get back to what they love. I have worked with many different teams including the Dublin U/21 Hurlers, Shamrock Rovers Youths and I am currently running into my forth season with the FAI emerging Talent Programme.

Having spent thirty years in many aspects of both the Nursing and Midwifery professions, I learnt much about people.  When I was a Nursing Administrator I became very aware of the difficulties which many staff experienced in their lives, and how this affected both their personal and working life.

In January 1990 I started my five year training.  I resigned from my Nursing Post and have been working in counselling and psychotherapy since early 1994.  I am accredited with the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy, which is a member of the Irish Council for Psychotherapy.

What is Psychotherapy?  It is essentially a conversation which involves listening to and talking with those in trouble with the aim of helping them understand and resolve their predicament.  My approach attempts to work with the whole person, responding to the needs and uniqueness of each individual.

I mainly work with individuals.  I also do Clinical Supervision for groups of Health Professionals working in high stress areas.

Lucy has a background studying Arts and was awarded her B.A. (Hons) in 2004. After spending a year studying and obtaining a Diploma in Massage Therapy & Anatomy and Physiology in 2005, Lucy decided to take the path of Physical Therapy. She graduated with a Diploma in Physical Therapy in 2009 and then a Bachelor of Applied Health Science in 2010.
Lucy has been supervising and assisting junior colleagues in the student clinic since 2009. “As Physical therapists, I believe our learning is never complete. New information, research and techniques are constantly evolving. It is of utmost importance to constantly keep on top of the latest information available in the field. Through assisting junior colleagues, I believe we maintain the learning cycle in full flow. This keeps us questioning ourselves on how to achieve the best results for our patients in the most effective way.”

Through tailor-made treatment and rehabilitation programmes, which are specifically designed and adapted to suit the specific requirements and lifestyles of each individual client, optimum results can be achieved in a minimum time frame. It is so rewarding as a practitioner to play a part in restoring function where it has been impaired or lost and educate the client in self-management to prevent recurrence.
 
Appointments can be made with Lucy on 1 800 254 642

It has always been my dream to work in the area of sports and exercise medicine and this passion gave me the determination to spend four years studying Athletic Therapy and Training in Dublin City University, where I graduated with a 1st Class Honours degree.  I am a member of the Athletic Rehabilitation Therapists Association of Ireland and carry the title " Certified Athletic Therapist and Trainer".  My speciality lies in the areas of injury prevention, neuromusculoskeletal evaluation and diagnosis of injuries, acute care of injuries and treatment, rehabilitation and re-conditioning of patients presenting with such injuries.  
I have worked with individuals and teams across all sporting disciplines including GAA, rugby, football, hockey, swimming, dancing and athletics and I have traveled to Pisa, Italy where I worked as part of the medical team for the European Baseball Academy. 
Since my childhood, sport has played a huge part in my life.  Having started as a camogie player while I was in primary school, I soon realised that running was more my thing!  I began running at the age of 9 and continue to do so to this day.  I currently race at national level and have major ambitions to break on to the international scene in the coming years.  As a competitve athlete, I have suffered numerous injuries and performance knocks and I understand the mental frustration and upset it causes. 
I fully subscribe to the concepts of professional responsibility and continued professional development and I hope that the patient-centered approach I take in my work will bring you success, whether it is to return to sport at a high level, to ensure that your daily activities are no longer compromised due to injury or to simply provide you with more comfort in daily living.  Whatever your treatment goal, I am here to understand it and help you achieve it. 
I am delighted to be working in the Priory Clinic, Kimmage and I look forward to working with you on your road to recovery.

I have been a receptionist / administrator at The Priory Clinic since October 2009. I job share with Johanna and I "man" the desk in the afternoons! I also organise and schedule the Student Clinic for the IPTAS students. I really enjoy working in the clinic. It’s fast-paced and we have a fantastic team. Over the last few years I have worked on the Festival of World Cultures which is held in Dun Laoghaire in July.  I co-ordinate the market areas and vendors. The festival is hugely popular and it’s amazing to be a part of the craic. Hope to see you there too! In my spare time I like to see friends and family. I also love to travel and I fundraise for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Dejan grew up in Belgrade and gained a BA in Comparative Literature. He worked as a journalist in Yugoslavia and then began traveling the world. He came to Ireland in 1997. He has worked for many top companies, including JAT Airlines, Unibros and Lissadell. He currently acts as administrator for The Priory Clinic and IPTAS (the Institute of Physical Therapy and Applied Science). Dejan maintains his interest in world literature as well as a growing appreciation of Irish writing, both old and new. He is also fascinated by the history of the Former Yugoslavia and edits an online journal in Serbian and English. On most days you will find Dejan in the back room, tinkering with the computer network or updating student and therapist information.

John writes: "I think discovering my chronic back pain might be the best thing that ever happened me! My first episode was about 35 years ago and served as my introduction to healthcare. Through it I met my wife and found a career where I feel I belong and can make a difference. These days, I joke that I have the “most treated” back in physical therapy history. I was involved in developing the practise in the early 80’s and in opening The Priory Clinic. I feel I am lucky to work with an exceptional team of therapists who always give priority to their patients.  The big reason Priory Clinic patients return is because of the standard of care they find here - and returning patients have built our reputation. When you work as part of a Team, you really have a chance to get to know your colleagues and I can recommend any one of them with absolute confidence. I should know; I have attended them all myself! I love long-distance cycling and find I can train a lot harder as well as manage my back pain with treatment. Because I too am an end-user of the Clinic’s services, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how we could make the experience here even better.  So please let me know - email me here."

Anne first qualified as a Nurse and Midwife, before moving to New York to study Medical Massage Therapy. She became passionate about the benefits of "hands on" therapy and returned to Ireland to establish her practise. Anne then studied Osteopathy in the UK and was awarded a Masters in Clinical Education from the University of New South Wales. Today, Anne divides her time between maintaining the practice at The Priory Clinic and with developing the B.Sc. curriculum at the Institute of Physical Therapy (IPTAS) where she is Programme Director. Anne writes: “Our practise encompasses an eclectic, caring and compassionate group of therapists. I think our clients are tremendously loyal to us and appreciate that we have remained loyal to our core values of hands-on excellence. The patient always comes first”.