Our peopleŌ mātou tāngata
Our team consists of a number of experienced clinicians and researchers who are interested in helping individuals, communities and populations live well through activity and rehabilitation.
Richard Ellis
Professor
Kia ora, I am a musculoskeletal physiotherapist with a passion for rehabilitation and patient-centred care. My research interests include assessment and management of peripheral nervous system disorders, ultrasound imaging, manual therapy and rehabilitation for long-term disorders such as osteoarthritis and chronic spinal pain.
Duncan Reid
Professor
Kia ora, I am a musculoskeletal physiotherapist and researcher. My research interests are in sports injury incidence and injury prevention. I also have a passion for improving outcomes in physiotherapy clinical practice.
Matthew Carroll
Professor
Kia ora. I am a podiatrist, musculoskeletal researcher and dad of two. My research focuses on supporting advances in the clinical management of lower limb musculoskeletal conditions.
Daniel O’Brien
Associate Professor
My primary research focus and my area of clinical specialty is in the management of chronic conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system; chiefly lower limb joint pain and osteoarthritis. Additionally, I have a research interest in the development and implementation of interprofessional clinical services.
Nicola Saywell
Associate Professor
Kia ora. I qualified as a physiotherapist at Guy’s hospital in London and practised as a clinical physiotherapist in acute and community rehabilitation for people living with neurological conditions. The focus of my research is low-cost solutions to extending the reach of rehabilitation for people with long-term conditions and I currently teach and supervise master’s and PhD students.
Karen Adams
Member
I am a paediatric physiotherapist with a specialist interest in the management of non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy, which is the focus of my research. I also have a clinical interest in the orthotic management of gait through my work with the Clinical Gait Analysis Service run by AUT and Starship Children's Hospital.
Tom Adams
Member
Kia ora, I am musculoskeletal physiotherapist, lecturer and researcher. My main research interests are currently in imaging for low back pain, and in force control at the shoulder. In addition, I have a keen interest in knowledge mobilisation to enhance clinical practice.
Jess Cahan
Member
Kia ora, I am a physiotherapist, researcher and educator. My current research interest is falls and osteoarthritis and the management of these conditions in Aotearoa.
Jill Caldwell
Member
Kia ora koutou , ko Jill Caldwell toku ingoa . I am an educator and researcher within the physiotherapy programme at AUT. My current research links with issues of social justice and health equity. In recent years I have been developing my skills and knowledge in the collaborative practice of Māori centred research, while concurrently deepening my understanding of Te Tiriti honouring research practices.
Mike Frecklington
Member
Kia ora. My research interests are in inflammatory arthritis and footwear. I also lead a podiatric rheumatology clinic for people with inflammatory arthritis.
Katherine Forch
Member
Kia ora, I am a musculoskeletal and sports neuro physiotherapist, lecturer and researcher. I am the Rehabilitation Team Lead at Axis Sports Medicine Specialists and my clinical work and research focuses on the assessment and management of sports-related concussion, in particular, return-to-play testing.
Sarah Gardiner
Member
Kia ora, I am a podiatrist, educator and researcher. I have an interest in management of post-traumatic injuries to the ankle and foot, particularly around the use of custom braces and AFO’s.
Bronwyn Harman
Member
Kia ora, I am a musculoskeletal physiotherapist with over 20 years of clinical experience. My research interests include rehabilitation following orthopaedic surgery and long-term conditions such as osteoarthritis.
Julia Hill
Member
I am a physiotherapist and bring a clinical perspective to my research. Low back pain in adults and children, and stratified care models are my areas of research. I am interested in how we can implement our research findings into clinical practice.
Belinda Ihaka
Member
Tēnā koutou katoa. Nō Te Aupōuri ahau. My background is in podiatry, with an interest in improving health outcomes for Māori.
Susan Kohut
Member
Hello. I am a physiotherapist with a keen interest in acupuncture. My research focuses on acupuncture, including Western medical, traditional Chinese and dry needling. I have also participated in research involving older adults, largely related to fall prevention and enabling greater participation in everyday life through enhancement of activity.
Amy McGrath
Member
Kia Ora, I am a physiotherapist and lecturer. I have a clinical background in lumbar spine injuries and persistent pain. My research area of interest is digital health and the integration of technology into practice.
Nico Magni
Member
Kia ora, I am a lecturer, registered physiotherapist and hand therapist. My main research interests include prediction modelling and precision rehabilitation for hand and upper limb conditions. I also have a keen interest in statistics and programming.
Prue Molyneux
Member
I am a podiatrist, educator and researcher. My current research focuses on the clinical utility of ultrasound imaging for osteoarthritis in the foot. My intention is to advance clinical capacity for podiatrists in New Zealand while improving patient outcomes.
Sarah Mooney
Member
I am a part-time academic and part-time cardio-respiratory physiotherapist (advanced clinician). My qualitative research interests extend from clinical and patient education, chronic respiratory and cardiac physiotherapy management, as well as disordered breathing and obesity.
Yanto Naude
Member
Kia ora, I am a registered physiotherapist and Lecturer within the Department of Physiotherapy at Auckland University of Technology. My primary areas of research include lumbar biomechanics, gait, and posture and the application of wearable sensors.
Samantha Norman
Member
Kia ora, I am a musculoskeletal physiotherapist, researcher and educator. My current research interest is in the prevention and management of post-traumatic osteoarthritis, especially for women, with the hope of improving outcomes for women after knee injury.
David Toomey
Member
Kia ora, Dia dhuit. I am a physiotherapist and lecturer in musculoskeletal physiotherapy at AUT. With over a decade of clinical experience, I completed my PhD as a Vice-Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholar, investigating the pain-relieving effects of exercise in people with knee osteoarthritis. My research focuses on exercise-induced hypoalgesia, pain modulation, and the development of personalised, evidence-informed exercise interventions. I am passionate about integrating research, teaching, and practice to improve outcomes for people living with musculoskeletal pain.
Kelly van der Zwan
Member
Kia ora, I am a musculoskeletal physiotherapist and educator My research interest is currently in the contemporary physiotherapy management of cervical spine pathology, in particular, the feasibility of models of care for cervical spine radiculopathy in Aotearoa.
Steve White
Member
Kia ora. I am a physiotherapist with a 30-year background in managing people with musculoskeletal pain. My research has focused on clinical reasoning and diagnostics. My passion is to improve rehabilitation outcomes for patients by enhancing these skills in health care providers.
Our students
Doctoral students
- Karen Adams (PhD)
Physiotherapy interventions with school-age children with non-ambulatory Cerebral Palsy combined with intellectual disability in Aotearoa
Supervisors: Dr Julie Blamires and Dr Julia Hill - Rohil Chauhan (PhD )
Enhancing the Clinical Recognition and Early Diagnosis of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy
Supervisors: Dr Steven White, Associate Professor David Rice, Dr Anand Segar (Auckland City Hospital/The University of Auckland)
Advisors: Dr Irene Zeng, Tui Barbarich-Tawera - Katherine Forch (PhD)
The SAFE For Play study for objective assessment of recovery after concussion (mTBI) in Sports
Supervisors : Dr Sharon Olsen, Associate Professor Mangor Peterson, Professor Duncan Reid - Daniel Harvey (PhD)
The influence of process variables on patient outcomes in musculoskeletal health care systems
Supervisors: Dr Steve White, Professor Duncan Reid, Professor Chad Cook - Bryce Hastings (PhD)
An investigation into the effect of supervised neuro-motor exercise on pain, function, walking economy and daily activity levels in individuals with hip osteoarthritis
Supervisors: Associate Professor Daniel O’Brien, Dr Steve White and Professor Duncan Reid (Advisors: Gillian Hatfield and Jinger GottShall) - Aaron Jackson (PhD)
The effect of lateral forefoot wedging on walking and running gait in healthy adults
Supervisors: Professor Matt Carroll, Professor Duncan Reid - Kim McCullough (PhD)
Movement Screening and injury incidence in NCAA soccer teams
Supervisors: Professor Phil Sizer (Texas Tech), Professor Duncan Reid - Samantha Norman (PhD)
How can New Zealand women live well following a significant knee injury
Supervisors: Professor Richard Ellis, Associate Professor Daniel O’Brien, Dr Clare Ardern - Eilish Simpson (DHSc)
Psychologically informed physiotherapy following surgery for Low Back Pain
Supervisors: Professor Duncan Reid, Associate Professor Kirsten van Kessell, Dr Jo Egan and Dr Nial Eames - Josie Timmins (PhD)
Understanding Pasifika healthcare workers’ roles and support systems through their experiences and perspectives
Supervisors: Associate Professor Daniel O’Brien (Co-primary supervisor), Dr Juliet Boon-Nainai (Co-primary supervisor), Professor Nicola Kayes - Matthew Willis (DHSc)
Exploring health improvements whist awaiting orthopaedic consultation
Supervisors: Dr Julia Hill, Associate Professor Daniel O’Brien and Professor Duncan Reid
Master's and honours degree students
- Mia Clarke (BHSc(Hons))
Burnout among the podiatry profession: a survey of Podiatrists in Aotearoa New Zealand
Supervisors: Dr Sarah Stewart, Dr Mike Frecklington - Colin Hancock (MHSc)
Return to play following a sports-related concussion – what do general practitioners and physiotherapists know and want in practice? A qualitative study in New Zealand
Supervisors: Jason Chua, Professor Duncan Reid, Professor Alice Theadom - Kim Iverson (MHPrac)
Strength and resistance training for the prevention of running related injuries: a scoping review
Supervisors: Professor Duncan Reid and Dr Kelly Sheerin - Preeti Kaur (MHPrac)
The assessment and management of sesamoiditis in Aotearoa New Zealand
Supervisors: Dr Sarah Stewart, Professor Matt Carroll - Thomas Keef (MHSc)
Patients’ and whānau understanding and expectations of physiotherapy-led orthopaedic triage in Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Supervisors: Associate Professor Daniel O’Brien, Associate Professor Nicola Saywell - Joshua MacKenzie (BHScPhtyHons)
What physiotherapy approaches are currently used for people with Marfan syndrome?
Supervisor: Professor Richard Ellis - Louise Pearce (MHSc)
Improving preterm infants developmental motor outcomes through very early intensive intervention; A feasibility study.
Supervisors: Dr Nusratnaaz Shaikh, Dr Jimmy Chong, Dr Sian Williams, Professor Richard Ellis - Koki Sakamoto (MHPrac)
Exploring the effective loading exercises and parameters for chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy: A systematic review of systematic reviews
Supervisor: Professor Duncan Reid. - Carlton Varela (BHScPhtyHons)
How do patients’ pain-related beliefs and attitudes influence their engagement with, and outcomes from physiotherapy for chronic low back pain?
Supervisor: Dr Steve White - Luanfu Wu (MPubHealth)
Surgical versus conservative care following anterior cruciate ligament injury in adolescent populations: a scoping review.
Supervisors: Professor Duncan Reid and Ayah Elsayed