Meet Devon!

It’s our vestibular therapist’s turn to introduce herself! Devon Konrad is one of the owners of Ladner Village Physiotherapy – take a look at her answers below!

What is something totally random that people won’t know about you?

I’m a pilot! As high school was ending, I didn’t know if I wanted a career in aviation or something in human anatomy and biology. I loved everything about biology – learning how the body worked, how we move, how we breathe, how viruses and bacteria get in there and screw everything up. But the sky was a huge passion as well. My mom was a flight attendant - I grew up on planes and loved every second of it. I got my pilot’s license and weighed the two careers, knowing I could only do one of them well. Turns out it’s weird to do human biology as a hobby (cue Dexter), so aviation became something I do for fun.

When did you decide you wanted to be a physio?

It took me a long time to get there. I went to university with the intention of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon – I even planned on having the province buy me a plane so I could fly into small communities and do consults!

I realized fairly quickly that I didn’t want to go to medical school. The problem was I had no idea what I did want to do – sound familiar to anyone? I finished by degree in Animal Biology at UBC and ran away to Australia, making it easy to not make any decisions. I flirted with becoming a paramedic, a parasitologist (one who studies parasites – I’m telling you, I love the things) and a pathologist (apparently I have a thing for careers that start with P).

A few family friends are highly regarded physiotherapists. I honestly had no knowledge of the profession. At some point, these family friends started nudging me in the physio direction. After some research, I thought it may fit my personality well – I would be immersed in human anatomy and physiology (yay!), I would get to talk to people all day and develop real relationships (for those of you who know me, you’ll know I’m a talker), and I would get to help people feel better.

In the end, it turns out I picked the perfect career. I have the flexibility to be with my kids when I need to be, I’m challenged daily at work and I have the most incredible conversations with the best people. I love what I do and I’m incredibly grateful to have found it.

Which sports are you into?

Ultimate frisbee! I’m back to playing it after a 3 year hiatus due to chronic foot issues. I’m slow and generally terrible but I love it.

A new love is rock climbing at the Hive – also slow, also terrible, also in love.

Where did you grow up?

I lived in Steveston until I was 12, then moved to South Surrey. I used to say White Rock, but I’ve been called out on that too many times (including once in a hostel in Spain – that was surprising. I’m pretty sure my jaw dropped on the floor with that one).

What is your favourite orthopaedic condition to treat?

Ooooh I have so many! I think shoulders are my favourite – they respond so well to exercise and rehab really well. I also love me some ribs (which isn’t really a condition but you get the idea).

Favourite vestibular condition to treat:

There’s nothing more satisfying than taking away someone’s symptoms in 3 minutes. With BPPV, that’s exactly what we do. When someone comes in complaining of spinning with sitting up, lying down and rolling in bed, it’s incredibly gratifying to be able to take that away with an Epley maneuver and teach them how to do the Epley themselves.

I probably have the most fun with my persistent concussion clients. We get to tap into so many different aspects of their physiology – cognition, vision, vestibular function, balance, proprioception, dual task, the list goes on – and I get to design and play some really fun exercises. Jousting on bosus? Sounds like fun! Obstacle course with me throwing balls at you? Don’t mind if I do!

What makes you happiest?

The simple things. Getting rings off the bottom of the pool with my daughters. Tickle fights with the whole family. Eating really good food with my favourite people. You know – the important things.

LIGHTNING ROUND!!!!!

Cats or dogs? Cats. Obviously.

Favourite food? Depends on my mood. Right now, guacamole.

Favourite dessert: Cookies and milk

Favourite Junk food: Pure, unadulterated milk chocolate

Beach or mountains: Mountains – unless there’s snorkeling, then beach

Favourite colour: Green

Favourite music: 90’s rock/alt rock – Foo Fighters, Nirvana, early Finger Eleven, Incubus, Matchbox Twenty, Green Day. Also: musicals (Hamilton!)

Favorite day of the week? Sunday – it’s ultimate frisbee day!

Nickname? Dev

Would you rather be able to speak every language in the world or be able to talk to animals? Every language in the world

Favorite holiday? Christmas

How long does it take you to get ready? 20 minutes

Invisibility or super strength? Invisibility

Is it wrong for a vegetarian to eat animal crackers? No

Dawn or dusk? Dusk

Do you snore? I don’t think so?  

Place you most want to travel? ONE!?!? Impossible. Top 7 in no order: northern coast of Spain, Iceland, Borneo, Madagascar, Amazon basin, Antarctica, Belize. Also: everywhere in the world.

Last Halloween costume? I had a rainbow wig and crazy make up – I have no idea what I was

Favorite number? I love all numbers. I also memorize them – I don’t know why. Ask me my mom’s Costco card number. Why do I store such useless information?!?

Have you ever worn socks with sandals? …. yes.

Would you rather cuddle with a baby panda or a baby penguin? Panda!

Would you want to live forever? I’d like to say no but I also never want to die, so….

What's for dinner tonight? Oh man, it was loved by my kids! Lime cilantro chicken on the BBQ, rice and beans with cilantro (we love cilantro), salad.

Meet Nicole!

Meet Nicole Coffey, our resident pelvic floor guru and one of the owners of Ladner Village Physiotherapy. Here, she answers some great and some ridiculous questions about what makes her tick.

What is something totally random that people won’t know about you?

When I was in Grade 1 I won a North American Crayola kids art contest. It was a pastel drawing of a green lizard and I named it “the happiest lizard” (as you do when 6 years old). It did a North American tour (was temporarily lost and recovered in an earthquake in California… why they chose to salvage a 6 year old’s drawing is still beyond me) and I believe it is now sitting in some executive’s office at Crayola headquarters.

Fun fact #2: I know every single word to the entire script (not just the songs but the entire script) to Phantom of the Opera. I memorized it in Grade 5 and it stuck. Literally every single word. I wish I had that kind of retention in physio school, it would have helped a lot with my anatomy exams.  

When did you decide you wanted to be a physio?

Excellent question! It all started when I was very young (maybe 10) and had knee pain while I was playing soccer. Then one day my coach taped my knee for me before the game and I played the ENTIRE game pain free. My little brain was blown, I didn’t know what kind of magic this man had but I was going to find out. As I got older I was still very into sports and also into science. My  type A brain started planning how I could combine these two things into a career. By grade 10 I had decided that I wanted to be a physiotherapist (not a doctor because I pass out too easily), but a physio. I did my undergraduate degree at SFU in Kinesiology with a certificate in Health and Wellness and then went to UBC for my Master’s degree. It’s a good thing it all worked out because I really didn’t have a backup plan.

Which sports are you into?

When I was little I played soccer, competitive softball (I was a catcher) and did a lot of horseback riding. These days I mostly run and workout in the gym, but I’m always up for a game of slow pitch!

Where did you grow up?

Ladner. I went to Hawthorne Elementary and then DSS. I lived in Vancouver while doing my Master’s degree but the promptly moved back to South Delta once I had graduated. I still live in Ladner within walking distance from the clinic, which is awesome.

What is your favourite orthopaedic condition to treat?

I really love treating a stiff/sore neck. Tennis elbow is a solid second place. Bring it on!

Favourite pelvic floor condition to treat:

Hmmm this is a toss up. I really love treating urinary incontinence (stress or urge) because it is generally a very simple fix with great results, which is so encouraging for people. But I think my absolute favourite demographic are women who are suffering with painful intercourse. Usually by the time people get to me they have been to several doctors and dealing with the condition for several years. Dyspareunia (painful intercourse) is so common (1 in 4) but people generally don’t talk about it. I love helping these women overcome their pain.

What makes you happiest?

My kids. They’re still small and in that stage where they think I’m the most awesome thing in the world. Several times per day I think to myself “ok if I could just freeze time and stay here forever I would die happy.” (Disclaimer: this is when they’re being sweet and cuddly, often times I am ready to put them to bed early so I can hear myself think again).

LIGHTNING ROUND!!!!!

Cats or dogs? Dogs!

Favourite food? Ahi tuna

Favourite dessert: Nanaimo Bars

Favourite Junk food: movie popcorn

Beach or mountains: Both

Favourite colour: Blush pink

Favourite music: No idea. I’m eclectic. I love country, classic rock, and everything in between. If you forced an answer I would probably say Elton John.

Favorite day of the week? Friday

Nickname? Nic?

Would you rather be able to speak every language in the world or be able to talk to animals? Oh my gosh I don’t know.

Favorite holiday? CHRISTMAS

How long does it take you to get ready? 10 min. (The kids are another story)

Invisibility or super strength? Invisibility

Is it wrong for a vegetarian to eat animal crackers? Nope!

Dawn or dusk? Dawn

Do you snore? No

Place you most want to travel? Japan

Last Halloween costume? A skeleton

Favorite number? 15. It was my softball jersey number.

Have you ever worn socks with sandals? Perhaps at home. Or at the ball park… don’t judge.

Would you rather cuddle with a baby panda or a baby penguin? Panda

Would you want to live forever? No

What's for dinner tonight? No idea, probably sushi.

Welcome to Ladner Village Physiotherapy!

Let us introduce ourselves!

I’m Devon, the vestibular half of LVP. I grew up in Richmond and Surrey before meeting my husband at UBC and settling in Ladner in 2013. Since then we’ve had two little girls who are the absolute light of our lives. I love playing ultimate frisbee and hiking in the summers, and have a (possibly unhealthy?) affinity for board games. I travel whenever I get the chance and am always up for a foodie adventure. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have found such a great community in Ladner, and I’m excited to put some serious roots down in my adopted home town!

I’m Nicole, the pelvic floor physio! I decided that I wanted to be a physiotherapist when I was eleven years old and haven’t looked back since. I was born and raised in Ladner, and currently live here with my husband, my two young toddlers and my giant golden retriever who thinks she is a lap dog. Life is busy but so fun! In my younger days I was a competitive softball player, soccer player and horseback rider. These days I stick to the gym and running. I do not have Devon’s skill in board games, but I can recite almost every Disney song lyric that I’ve ever heard. Maybe that will become a useful skill one day? But for now I think I’ll  stick with helping the community heal ankle sprains, shoulder strains, and leaky bladders. I can’t wait to meet you all!

We met during our Masters of Physical Therapy program at UBC and have been fierce friends since. Ladner Village Physiotherapy started as an fantastical idea when we were both pregnant, wistfully dreaming of a day when we could open our own clinic. With time and effort we were able to follow through and create our own space, offering orthopaedic physiotherapy as well as our specialties.

We are incredibly excited to serve our community. We hope to see you soon!