Meet Our Team

Regina is a University of Alberta Physiotherapy grad whose entire professional career has been in BC (something to do with cold and snow it appears). Regina brings with her Acute and Outpatient Spinal Cord Injry rehabilitation experience from GF Strong, Vancouver General Hospital, and previous to that Shaughnessy Hospital, as well as Ortho-Trauma experience at Royal Columbian Hospital.

As Regina sees it, working with Access is a perfect rounding out of her spinal cord injury experience – being involved in all parts of the SCI continuum, from acute care through to community. Regina has always loved being a hands on therapist – treating and teaching, and “can’t imagine a different professional path”.

Her passion is working with those with spinal cord injuries (SCI) , and is currently involved in SCI and trauma work, during yearly trips to Uganda. On a personal level, her family is her number one priority, with one daughter and four sons who are the joy of her life.

Renée graduated from the University of British Columbia (UBC) with a Bachelor of Science in Cell Biology and Genetics and a Minor in Psychology in 2006. Renée completed a Masters in Occupational Therapy at UBC in 2012. Renée has worked with both children and adults to support their mental health in various settings since becoming an Occupational Therapist. She joined Access Community Therapists in 2019 as a community Occupational Therapist and took on the additional role of Mental Health Clinical Lead in 2025.

Renée strives to be an ally and provide safe, supportive, and collaborative care to her clients. Renée specializes in supporting clients with improving their function while experiencing challenges with symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, addictions, and chronic pain. She has been trained to use a variety of frameworks and tools such as CBT, DBT, ACT, and exposure therapy and works collaboratively with her clients to find the tools and strategies that work best for them. Renée has supported many clients to return to work or stay at work after experiencing a mental health injury. Renée also has experience and training working with clients who are neurodiverse and brings her experience as a parent of neurodiverse children to provide strengths-based neurodiversity affirming care to her clients.

Renée currently lives, works, and plays on the traditional territories of the K’ómoks First Nation and works with clients in person on Central and Northern Vancouver Island and provides telehealth to clients across BC. When she is not working, Renée is often enjoying the outdoors with her family.

Shannon graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor in Health Sciences in Occupational Therapy in 2000. Her interest in occupational therapy was sparked in 1988 when volunteering in wheelchair sports in Ottawa, ON.

She participated in wheelchair sports for many years, continuing throughout her undergraduate degree at Brock University (Psychology 1996). She worked in pediatrics for the first few years after graduating as an OT. Since then, she has worked almost exclusively in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Shannon worked at GF Strong Rehab Centre, with people with a variety of neurological disorders, but specialized in spinal cord injury. She had four children in four years which promptly resulted in a family move to the Okanagan.

Since this time, she has been working in the regional and rural areas of BC, providing OT services for those living with spinal cord injuries. Shannon also works for Praxis Spinal Cord Institute as the Regional Clinical Liaison for the BC Interior. In this role, she provides spinal cord injury education to clinicians working within these geographical locations. Shannon’s work experience has gained her extensive knowledge in the areas of pressure injury management, complex seating, equipment and case management. Shannon is passionate about working with people with spinal cord injuries to enhance their function, occupational opportunities and quality of life.

She continues to be very involved with the spinal cord injured community throughout BC, both personally and professionally. In her spare time, Shannon can be found enjoying the Okanagan trails with her four children, or at the hot yoga studio!

Shannon completed her Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy in 1984 at the University of Alberta and finished her Bachelor in Arts in Art History and Classics in 1986. She followed her studies with some travelling in Europe and lived in France for a year and moved to British Columbia in 1988.

Shannon started working at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre after arriving in Vancouver working in multiple areas of neurological rehabilitation. She started the position of Physiotherapy Clinical Practice Leader of the Spinal Cord Program in 1990 as a maternity leave position but it became a permanent position for over 12 years.

During this time she worked in both clinical and administrative capacities managing 12 staff and working on program planning. When the program structure was changed Shannon went back to working as a clinician working exclusively with individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries. Besides her work with both in-patients and out-patients Shannon has enjoyed working on some research projects within the program and SCIRE.

In 2008 she began working with Access on a special SCI Wound project and continues with this along with her work at GF Strong. She also spent a year working with the Rick Hansen Institute in the position of National Clinical Liaison in 2014.

Susan Andrews is a certified wound ostomy and continence nurse who works part time as an enterostomal therapist at the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster B.C. and also works with Access on the wound prevention program for spinal cord injured individuals.

Susan participated in the creation of a Canadian Best Practice Guideline for Spinal Cord Injury and Pressure Wounds and worked for several years at the Provincial Spinal Cord Injured Wound Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital. During this time she completed an electrical stimulation course and lead annual conferences related to Spinal Cord Injury and Wound Care.

Susan completed her nursing degree in 1998 at the University of Victoria and her wound ostomy and continence course at Emory University in 2005.

Taylor graduated from Capilano University in 2017 with a Rehabilitation Assistant Diploma. Prior to becoming a Rehabilitation Assistant, Taylor worked as a support worker with adults with developmental disabilities which sparked a passion for working with people of all abilities. In her spare time Taylor enjoys playing a variety of sports and travelling.