Meet Our Team
Each of our highly trained team of physiotherapists has the right qualifications and experience to relieve your pain. They take the time to listen and tailor treatment to your individual needs.
Dr Joel Werman
Specialist Sports Physiotherapist
Post Grad Dip (Sports Physio)
B.App.Sc (Physio)
Member A.P.A., S.P.A., A.C.P
Joel has worked extensively in the sporting domain with both professional and amateur athletes. His sub-speciality is in the treatment of shoulder problems. He is recognised as one of Australia’s leading shoulder physiotherapists. Through years of experience he has developed his own rehabilitation protocols and treatment techniques to remedy shoulder problems. He lectures extensively on the subject at the post-graduate level where he shares his knowledge and experience with other physios and doctors.
Joel is a founding member and immediate past President of the Shoulder & Elbow Physiotherapists of Australasia. Since 1996, Joel has been a NSW and Australian Institute of Sports accredited provider servicing the needs of elite athletes. He is also a mentor and examiner for candidates undertaking the Australian College of Physiotherapists examinations. He regularly trains candidates for the Masters of Physiotherapy Program at La Trobe University, Melbourne.
I teach all the physios who work with me that having the technical skill is important, but not nearly as important as caring for their patients. Listening and taking the time to attend to every person they treat is just as important as the physical therapy.
Dr Mark Kenna
Specialist Sports Physiotherapist
(Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists 2007)
B.App.Sc (Physio)
Member A.P.A., S.P.A., A.C.P
Mark has over 30 years of clinical experience across a wide variety of sports. He is a former partner of Eastern Suburbs Sports Medicine, Bondi Junction. He has worked at a national level in rugby league, basketball and with elite athletes from Surf Life Saving Australia and Triathlon Australia. He has been team physiotherapist to a variety of representative rugby union programs at state and national levels, as well as at international competitions with the Australian Rugby Union Sevens team. Mark has worked for over twenty years in the Schools Rugby Union program including with Scots College Sydney, NSW Combined States and the Australian Schools Rugby teams. He is a NSW and Australian Institute of Sports accredited provider.
He has been Physical Therapist to the US Olympic Sailing team for four Olympic campaigns 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. He was amongst the first Sports Physiotherapists to be awarded a Fellowship of the Australian College of Physiotherapists (ACP) in 2007. Mark has been extensively involved in the Examination Program for the ACP and is currently Chair of the Board of Censors and an executive member of the Council of the Australian College of Physiotherapists.
Mark’s subspecialty focuses on conditions involving knees, hips and lower limb biomechanics.
Edward Gellert
Physiotherapist
B.Ex.ScDoctor of Physiotherapy
Member A.P.A.
Member S.P.A.
Edward has completed a postgraduate Doctor of Physiotherapy course at Macquarie University. He has a keen interest in a wide range of sports, but is a passionate rugby union player. Edward still plays for his beloved Knox Rugby Club, as well as working on the sidelines as part of the physiotherapy team.
Edward has a background in Exercise and Sport Science, and has an interest in sports-related injuries of the knees and shoulders. Apart from rugby, he also enjoys a game of golf with mates and spending time at the beach.
My rugby background gives me a genuine insight into the injuries players face, and the best course of management for them.
Ellicia Davis
Physiotherapist
B.Phty (Physiotherapy)Member A.P.A.
Ellie pursued a career in Physiotherapy achieving a Bachelors degree at The Australian Catholic University, after years of sporting success in Netball, European Handball and Australian Rules Football. Her love for all things sport and health drive her ambition to set goals with patients to get them back doing the things they love – whether it’s returning to the field for an upcoming competition, increasing fitness and activity levels, or getting back to gardening. Ellie’s passion for individualised injury prevention and rehabilitation allows for patient-centred care and attainment of goals.
Since graduating from university, Ellie has been working in a private clinic where she gained valuable experience in assessing, diagnosing and treating patients with a wide variety of injuries and/or illness.
In her spare time, Ellie can be found kicking the footy with her friends, working as a Sports Trainer for the GWS Giants AFL team and is and is qualified in Matwork and Reformer Pilates.
Tara Werman
Physiotherapist
Bachelor of PhysiotherapyMember A.P.A.
Tara’s belief in a healthy lifestyle pervades all that she does. Keeping fit, eating well and a belief in life balance were all factors that led to her choosing physiotherapy as a career. She is a caring and empathic people-person who really enjoys being able to help her patients achieve their wellness goals.
Tara completed a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Western Sydney University. She has a keen interest in rehab and musculoskeletal conditions along with an exceptional eye for detail that will ensure the highest level of patient care.
Tara has trained under Joel’s guidance for a number of years and is well versed on his shoulder rehabilitation program. About 80% of her caseload is treating patients with shoulder and neck related conditions. She also has training in the Mackenzie Method for treatment of lower back injuries.
Tara is a bright asset to our team, and for those of you who have met her already, you’d certainly agree. She loves the diversity of each day as a Physiotherapist and being able to make a real difference in the lives of her patients.
I get so much satisfaction in being able to solve my patients’ problems and then working with them to achieve a resolution.
James Cheok
Physiotherapist
M.Phty (Physiotherapy)
B.Ex.Sc
Jamie has experience in private practice setting and the professional sporting environment. He graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Design in Architecture and Exercise and Sport Science before pursuing his Masters of Physiotherapy at UTS. Since graduating, Jamie has worked with the NSW/ACT AFL Umpires, Carlton AFL, North Shore Bombers AFL, NSW Suburban Rugby Union and most recently as the Head Rehabilitation Physiotherapist for the South Sydney Rabbitohs Junior Pathways Program.
Jamie is personable, kind-hearted, and driven to help you achieve your goals and get you back to doing the things you love. He uses his clinical reasoning skills to provide his patients with an accurate diagnosis in order to tailor specific rehabilitation to their needs.
Jamie has continued his professional development by completing the Level 1 Sports Physiotherapy and Level 1 Dry Needling courses through the APA.
In his spare time, Jamie is an avid sports fan and enjoys a game of golf.
Erica Werman
Practice Manager
B.ArtsB.Sc. (Business)
Erica has worked at The Oval Physio for over 17 years. Erica job-shares the important front-desk role, taking care of the everyday running of the practice and welcoming patients with a friendly smile and calming manner.
In her past career, she worked in consumer marketing. She has a business degree from the University of Southern California. Erica is a devoted mother to two daughters and wife to Joel.
It’s very important to me to be able to welcome and reassure patients that we will look after them from the moment they call to make an appointment with us.
Netty Heppard Burgess
Front Desk
Netty has over 30 years of experience in Office Administration and Customer Service. She joined The Oval Physio team earlier this year and is a North Sydney local who loves working in her ‘’neighbourhood”.
Netty has two amazing adult daughters that keep her feeling young (which of course she is). For fun, she dabbles with floristry and studying to become a marriage celebrant in her spare time.
I really look forward to welcoming you to our clinic.
