Dania Jukaku

BSc (hons), DOH R.D.

Dania has a bachelor’s degree in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics (Chancellor’s Honors List) from the University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. She is registered with the BDA, AND and DOH Abu Dhabi and is the UAE Country Representative for the IAAND. Dania has a great passion for nutrition and health and is motivated by a vision to empower people to live healthier and more fulfilling lives.

Focused on providing personalized, evidence-based dietetic care to the local community Dania has experience working with various nutrition-related disorders such as diabetes, insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, pre/post-natal health, PCOS, weight management and sports nutrition.

Initially part of the Clinical Nutrition department at Dubai Health Authority across the most well-known government hospitals in Dubai including Rashid Hospital, Latifa Hospital and Dubai Hospital with rotations in Cardiology, Renal, Oncology, Gynecology, Pediatrics and Intensive Care Units. Dania gained experience working with outpatients for weight loss, diabetic management and pre/post bariatric surgeries. Moving on to gain experience with the Ministry of Health at Al Qassimi Hospital in Sharjah where she worked with a great team of clinical dietitians developing evidence-based nutrition education for patients in various wards and out-patient clinics.

Personal

Dania enjoys travelling the world and exploring different languages and cultures. During her travels and free time, she loves to visit the beach and experience nature at its finest.

Professional Memberships

Department of Health (DOH)

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)

International Affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (IAAND)

British Dietetic Association (BDA)

Laura Foley– Speech Therapist

BSc (hons), SLP, IASLT, CORU

Laura Foley is a Speech and Language Therapist with a BSc.Honours Degree from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Since graduating in 2013, she worked in clinical, educational and hospital settings for four years before moving to the UAE in 2017. In this time Laura has developed a wealth of experience in supporting children presenting with a range of communication disorders including:

• language delay and disorder
• phonological delay and disorder
• articulation difficulties
• stammering
• hearing impairment
• emotional and behavioural difficulties
• general and specific intellectual disabilities
• communication disorders associated with a variety of syndromes e.g. Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, and Down Syndrome

Laura is passionate about holistically supporting children to reach their potential and advocates for training and collaborating with parents/caregivers/ teaching staff and relevant professionals.

She is certified in Hanen It Takes Two to Talk, The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Lamh sign language, Resilience training, First Aid and Basic lifesaving, Autism and communication, Autism and Sensory Processing, Autism Learning Styles.

Current Professional Memberships:

• HAAD licensed – Health Authority Abu Dhabi (UAE)
• CORU licensed – Health and Social Care Professional Regulatory Board (Ireland)
• IASLT – Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (Ireland)

Lia Triantafyllidou – Physiotherpist

MSc, BSc (hons)

Specializing in Neurorehabilitation Lia completed her BSc degree in Physiotherapy and obtained her MSc degree in Stroke rehabilitation from the International Hellenic University in Greece. Lia believes in a holistic, interdisciplinary, patient-centred approach is key in helping her clients reach their full functional level, gain independence, achieve SMART goals and improve their quality of life after a thorough assessment following ICF standards.

Having worked within the UAE since 2017 Lia has treated patients with Stroke, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, dementia, acquired brain, spinal and multiple injuries and offers her skillset to BounceBack clients.

Current Professional Memberships:

-Department of Health, Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (DOH/HAAD)

-Dubai Health Authority, DHA

-Panhellenic Physiotherapist Association

-European Stroke Association

-Emirates Physiotherapy Society

Additional Qualifications:

Joanne Blackwood – Physiotherapy

MSc Orthopaedic Medicine, BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy MCSP, HCPC, HAAD

Joanne Blackwood (Physiotherapy) completed her BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy in 2002 at the University of Hertfordshire, UK.  She worked initially for the NHS completing basic rotations, including paediatrics, out patients and orthopaedics, and progressed to senior level specialising in musculoskeletal problems.  Since 2006 she worked privately in the UK in both private clinics and for one of the largest private hospitals in the UK Nuffield Health.

Her work in private clinics enabled her to treat patients of all ages, including paediatrics, and treat a variety of injuries, particularly spinal problems, shoulder, knee and biomechanical problems.  She was also able to treat many local sports teams and athletes.  While working for Nuffield Health she attained the positions of out-patient lead physiotherapist, regional clinical lead (South UK) and advanced musculoskeletal physiotherapist where she worked with complex cases, facilitating referral for diagnostics and consultant referral directly as required.  She also taught courses on orthopaedic medicine at a nation-wide level to fellow physiotherapists.

In 2011 Joanne completed her MSc in Orthopaedic Medicine at the University of Middlesex/Society of Orthopaedic Medicine, London. During this time, she took a particular interest in tendon problems and had her research into knee tendon problems was published in the medical journal ‘International Musculoskeletal Medicine’.  She continues to take an interest in tendon problems and also enjoys treating all musculoskeletal injuries.

Joanne has completed many other courses as a physiotherapist, including acupuncture, and is confident using this to treat musculoskeletal injuries as well as auricular to treat generic health problems.

Joanne joined BounceBack Physiotherapy in Jan 2017.

Personal 

Joanne moved to Abu Dhabi in 2015 and enjoys living here with her husband and 2 young boys.  She is a keen runner, fitting it in where possible around family life, and has developed a passion for yoga.  She also enjoys walking her 2 dogs.

Current Professional Memberships

MSCP – Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (UK)
HCPC – Health and Care Professions Council (UK)
HAAD – Health Authority Abu Dhabi (UAE)

Additional Qualifications

• MSc Orthopaedic medicine
• Published in International Musculoskeletal Medicine
• Foundation acupuncture (UK)
• Auricular acupuncture (UK)
• Evidenced based treatment of spine/shoulder/knee/ankle
• Grade 5 manipulations
• Taught orthopaedic medicine courses at a national level (UK)

Raquel Pessoa – Occupational Therapist

SAISA, HPCSA, BSc (hons), OTESA

Raquel Pessoa is a qualified Occupational Therapist in 2006 from Witwatersrand University in South Africa. She also has a BSc Degree in Psychology and has completed her postgraduate specialisation in Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy with the South African Institute for Sensory Integration in collaboration with the University of California. She has worked in various settings including a rehabilitative centre, remedial/special needs schools, private and public mainstream schools, and various private medical centres.

Raquel has worked with children with various diagnoses including:

• developmental delays
• ADHD and ADD
• learning disorders
• sensory processing disorders
• dyspraxia
• autism spectrum disorder

She is knowledgeable in pediatric evaluation using standardized assessments for goal setting and intervention planning. She believes that collaboration with families and other multidisciplinary team members including teachers, and other health professionals is important in aiding the child reach his/her full potential. Her passion is working closely with schools and teachers to meet the needs of some students to promote participation, performance, and independence in the school setting.

Kyle Edwards – Massage Therapist

Deep Tissue Therapist

Kyle is an internationally qualified massage therapist in both Sports and Holistic massage and a qualified Personal Trainer who has worked with national and provincial sports teams as well as in various gyms, sports events and private practice settings. Originally from South Africa with over 11 years of experience in sports therapy, he has worked with many international and local sporting teams. Working in Hong Kong for the past six years,  in a variety of capabilities allowing him the opportunity to work with clients and athletes of all levels, providing soft tissue work that covers tension, headaches, sports injuries and recovery maintenance.

His experience includes working with the Cell C Sharks Rugby Team, South African Cricket – the Proteas and Hong Kong Rugby 7s to name a few. Kyle has worked at sporting events across various disciplines globally, such as ATP tennis, Liv and Asia golf tours.

Kyle specialises in:

• Massage therapy
• Special interest in sports massage and remedial massage
• Assessment, treatment and management of soft tissue issues and dysfunction
• Recovery and maintenance work with local, national and international sporting teams
• Recovery and support work at sporting events

Tim Fletcher – Physiotherapy

BHMvt, MPhys, MAPA

With more than 10 years professional experience, Tim’s undergraduate was completed in rural Australia, where he undertook a Human Movement degree and majored in Exercise Science at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst. Following its completion in 2002, and with the desire for more study he then completed a Masters degree in Physiotherapy at the University of Sydney.

In Tim’s first job, he enjoyed 4 years of learning from two of the best physiotherapists in Newcastle, Australia, which included both private practice and hospital experience. It was here that Tim also established the clinic’s hydrotherapy function and gained experience in the Mckenzie method of treating spinal pain and also pre and post natal Physiotherapy for pregnant mothers at Newcastle Private Hospital.

Following this, Tim and his now wife headed to the West coast of Beautiful Ireland where he worked at the Baily Point Physiotherapy clinic and specialised in Musculoskeletal outpatients and dry needling.

Moving to Dubai in 2008, Tim worked for Dubai Physiotherapy and Family Medicine for 6 years where he worked at events such as Dubai 7’s, Dubai Marathon and began treating PGA golfers.

In 2015 Tim and Simon established BounceBack Physiotherapy Treatment Centre at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Both worked hard to develop a highly skilled team, providing the very best physiotherapy standards to the Abu Dhabi community.

Personal Bio

Tim enjoys all sports.

Following a rugby contract in Galway Ireland in 2007, Tim’s rugby career continued as he played for the Jebel Ali Dragons. In his time representing the UAE at both Fifteens and Sevens rugby, he was also extremely privileged to be named the first ever captain of the UAE, whilst at the annual Dubai Sevens tournament, a tournament that is a part of the Sevens World Series.

His goal is to get his golf handicap into single digits in 2015, he also enjoys to travel and has recently taken up triathlons due to being a washed up rugby player!

Current Professional Memberships

• MAPA– Australian Physiotherapy Association
• TPI– Titleist Performance Institute- Medical Level 1
• Mckenzie trained