Physio Sue

Suzanne Thompson, physiotherapist and owner of Kootenay Therapy Center (KTC) in Cranbrook, B.C., is a natural-born motivator. She custom-designs her rehabilitation programs to the specific needs of each patient, and she’s likely to demonstrate the exercises herself, encouraging her patients to follow along. Her easy laughter often rings out through the therapy centre, usually echoed by the laughter of the person in her company.

Saskatchewan girl heads west

Thompson was raised in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and received two bachelor of science degrees from the University of Saskatchewan—in physical therapy and in physical education. She moved to Cranbrook from Vancouver in 2001.

“I chose Cranbrook because I wanted a smaller town with lots of sunshine,” she said. “I wanted someplace easily accessible to my family in Saskatchewan, with lots of opportunity for outdoor activity and with a strong sense of permanent community.”

A rapid evolution

As well as putting in a full week treating patients and running her business, Thompson spends 10 hours per week on study; she’s working toward her master's degree in rehabilitative sciences through the University of British Columbia. With that kind of energy and dedication, it’s no surprise that her business has grown from a part-time practice at Gold’s Gym (now Fitness Inc.) to a thriving, 11-practitioner therapy centre at Western Financial Place, Cranbrook’s recreational complex.

Thompson moved her growing practice into its present location in 2005. Though it was an ambitious financial undertaking, she was confident that the practice would grow, because in every city where she had worked, the local recreational complex had a thriving physio clinic in it.

“We have a great team of therapists here,” she said. “The clinic certainly wouldn’t have grown so quickly if the team wasn’t dedicated and professional.”

Thompson said her administrative staff are “amazing, with great people skills. They’re very calm and patient and organized, and they’re willing to work with patients on any problems they might have.”

Obstacles? Maybe not

Though she admits it’s a little unsettling, Thompson loves times of growth and transition.

“I never planned for the business to evolve the way it has,” Thompson said. “I went to Community Futures for help with cash flow for the first six months, and the five-year business plan I presented to them was done in two years. The obstacles we encountered have directed us to new paths, and those paths have been where the greatest need and the greatest opportunity exist.”

Empowerment through education

Thompson believes that the more her team can empower people to take care of their own health, the more effective their services will be.

“People now want a program rather than a pill," she said. "They realize that lifestyle is a big factor in their health. It would be great to see more programs devoted to prevention of illness and injury, and maintenance of health.”

Thompson herself is a big fan of continued education. She said that one of her ways of giving back to her community is by building health care services.

“I love to learn,” she said, “and I have to feel that I’m competent in my work. I have a special interest and education in pelvic floor health and core integration, and the Women’s Health Clinic in Vancouver has asked me to co-teach their therapist training program.”

This fall, Thompson will audit a teaching course in Toronto to prepare herself for more teaching opportunities. Her master's degree will also qualify her to do clinical research in the area of pelvic floor and orthopedic health, and to publish her results.

“I absolutely have goals,” Thompson said. “They are very important in providing structure to my life. I don’t have a bucket list, though—it would go on forever. I go with the opportunities that are presented to me.”