The Instructors who participate to our training programs in Toronto

A leading figure in osteopathy internationally, Philippe Druelle is considered a pioneer in complementary and alternative medicine. He has been practising and teaching osteopathy for over 40 years. Philippe Druelle began his career as a kinesitherapist in France and quickly turned to osteopathy. After his training at the Collège d'Ostéopathie ATMAN in Paris, he received his national diploma of osteopathy in 1979. He also obtained a diploma in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture in France and completed a full cycle of studies in homeopathy with Doctor Dominique Senn in Lausanne (Switzerland).

He has devoted his life to his patients and to teaching. He was taught by well-known osteopaths such as Viola Frymann, Thomas Schooley, Ann Wales, Denis Brooks, Harold I. Magoun, Fred Mitchell and Alan Becker.

Philippe Druelle founded the first osteopathic college in Canada in 1981, the Collège d'Études Ostéopathiques de Montréal. Seven other campuses soon followed: the Canadian College of Osteopathy (CCO) in Toronto and Winnipeg, the Collège d'Études Ostéopathiques de Québec (CEOQ), the Canadian School of Osteopathy (CSO) in Vancouver, British Columbia, the CEO (Osteopathic Studies) Inc. in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and two campuses in Europe, the SICO in Hertenstein, Switzerland, and the DOK in Rohrdorf, Germany.

He promotes tradition and research. He has taught in 14 countries as an international lecturer. He is the author and co-author of 4 undergraduate and bachelor plus master programs worldwide. He also supports the establishment and creation of programs such as the program at the Russian School of Osteopathic Medicine in Saint Petersburg and the Fulcrum Osteopathy Association in Japan.

He has written 26 textbooks for students. Philippe Druelle has done research, most notably at the Chevenov Institute in the Department of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry in Saint Petersburg on the influence of endocranial osteopathy on brain dynamics. He also developed the clinical methodology that allows each patient to be treated according to their specificities and dysfunctions. He specializes mainly in pediatrics, visceral (especially in osteopathic treatment of the heart region), the central chain, the dynamics of the CO/C1/C2 hinge, the treatment of concussions, children with vertebral subluxation disabilities and injuries, fluid and liquid dynamics, and the bioenergetic aspect of physiology.

His vocation is to transmit knowledge and know-how so that students can successfully perform osteopathic techniques in a safe and effective way.

Daryl is a veteran teacher with many years of experience as a practitioner and a teacher. Daryl is an expert in the foot and pedal mechanics. He received his M.Sc. in Sportsmedicine from Indiana University, Indiana, USA and went on to receive his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, Illinois, USA in 1986.

He teaches liver, lung, and pathophysiology for our programs in Toronto and Winnipeg. Daryl brings with his teaching a keen ability to draw links between structures so students can understand the nuances of what Osteopathy is really about.

He received the companion of osteopathy award as well as the William Garner Sutherland award and the Andrew Taylor Still, DO awards.

Jane Eliza Stark received her osteopathic diplomas (D.O.M.P., D.Sc.O.) from the CCO at Toronto in 2003 and 2017. She obtained her master of science degree in 2014 in pharmaceutical research. Her 2003 thesis was on the fascial concepts of Dr. Andrew Taylor Still. The thesis earned Jane the A.T. Still Award for the most representative thesis on the advancement of osteopathy in philosophical or sociological research. The thesis also earned Jane, in 2006, the A.T. Still Foundation Award for contribution to the advancement and recognition of osteopathy in Canada. In addition to being an osteopathic manual practitioner, she is a certified athletic therapist and a registered kinesiologist with approximately 30 years of experience in Ontario.

Jane serves as the director of research since 2005 at the CCO’s Toronto and Winnipeg campuses. In association with the CCO and Collège d'Études Ostéopathiques, she teaches courses in pelvis 2, knee, small intestine, and research. Internationally, Jane is recognized as an osteopathic historiographer and an author and lecturer on osteopathic history and the biographies of Still, William G. Sutherland, and John Martin Littlejohn. She is a workshop leader on the fluidic approach to treating connective tissue and on the original mechanical approach of William Garner Sutherland. She has lectured or taught in 14 countries, including the United States and nations in Europe and Asia. Since 2014, she has been on the faculty of the Japan Traditional Osteopathic College in Kobe, where she teaches embryology and fascia from a fluidic perspective.

Atman College Valbonne, France, bestowed the honorary degree of Honoris Causa to Jane in 2008. From 2008 to 2011, she served as an executive board member for the World Osteopathic Health Organisation. In 2011, she was selected as an original member of the Compagnon de L'ostéopathie in Montreal. Jane became an EVOST (Evolutionary Medicine in the Osteopathic Field) fellow in 2015 after completing the EVOST program in evolution and embryology, and she is an associate member of the Cranial Academy of Belgium.

Brad McCutcheon attended the University of Guelph for a degree in Exercise Physiology, Sheridan College for a Diploma in Sports Injury Management, Kikkawa College for a Diploma in Massage Therapy and the Canadian College of Osteopathy for a Doctorate in Osteopathic Manual Practice. Brad completed a certificate course in Adult Education in 1999. Brad was awarded the William Garner Sutherland Award for Excellence in clinical research from the CCO in 2003.

A Member of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, Brad was Vice President of the Ontario Osteopaths Association formerly known as TC-COMPO, and previous Clinical Director of the Canadian College of Osteopathy in Toronto and Winnipeg. Brad was responsible for setting up and opening the Winnipeg campus in 2009.
Brad completed his Masters of Science in Osteopathy from the University of Greenwich and the European School of Osteopathy in 2009.

Faculty Member of the Canadian College of Osteopathy and the Wellington College of Remedial Massage Therapists in Winnipeg and the Western College of Remedial Massage Therapies in Regina. Brad is the owner of a private practice in Elmvale Ontario and an educational consulting business he provides both in class and online education for the CCO and CEO

Philippe Aubé has an osteopathic diploma (D.O.) from the Collège d’Études Ostéopathiques (CEO) in Montréal (2010) and a bachelor of science degree in osteopathy, with honors, from the University of Wales (2009). He also has a collegial diploma in social sciences from the Collège de Valleyfield in Quebec (2002). He has been a clinical supervisor and an assistant to Claude Dufour, D.O., at the CEO Montréal campus since 2010. Philippe teaches courses on the introduction to psychology, on dorsal 1 and 2. He teaches also since 2019 « Occiput-Atlas-Axis » (Upper cervical spine) and « Entrepreneurship in osteopathy » in Montreal.

Philippe has special interests in the interrelation between therapeutic attitude and palpation (which was his thesis subject), as well as in pediatric and sports clientele. He has been a multidisciplinary clinic owner since 2009.

Geneviève Forget obtained her diploma in osteopathy (D.O.) from the Collège d’Études Ostéopathiques in Montréal in 2001. She earned her bachelor of science degree in physiotherapy from the University of Montréal in 1992.

Geneviève has held a number of positions at various campuses in the CCO family. She has been a teacher since 2001, providing final-year and continuing-education instruction since 2004. She has also been an assistant and a translator for senior guest speakers since 1998 and a table trainer and review instructor since 1995.

Robert Hufgart is an osteopathic manual practitioner with a diploma in osteopathic manual practice (D.O.M.P.), a diploma in the science of osteopathy (D.Sc.O.), and is a registered massage therapist. His osteopathic thesis was on how the small intestine can influence the tone of the muscles of the lower back.

Rob has been an instructor with the CCO since 2010. He teaches courses at the Toronto campus on assessment, palpation, pelvis 1, and dorsal 1. He previously, beginning in 1999, taught at the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy, covering such subjects as anatomy, orthopedic assessment, biomechanics, and clinical synthesis.

Rob firmly believes that osteopathic therapy—when applied in a way that is respectful to the individual situation and medical history of each patient—can have a profound impact on the patient’s condition. Such well-applied osteopathy can not only improve anatomical dysfunction, but also the physiology of the associated tissue and even the emotional state of the patient.

Anie Lafrance has her osteopathic diploma (D.O.) from the Collège d’Études Ostéopathiques (CEO) in Montréal (1998) and her bachelor of science degree in physical therapy from McGill University (1988). She has been an instructor with the CCO family since 1999. She teaches courses on the hepatic system, kidney, bladder, gynaecology 1 and 2, and obstetrics 1 and 2 at the CEO campuses in Montréal, Quebec City, and Halifax; the CCO campuses in Toronto and Winnipeg; the Canadian School of Osteopathy Manual Practice in Vancouver; and the Swiss International College of Osteopathy.

Anie previously worked as a managing physical therapist at the Clinique de Physiothérapie in Cartierville (Montréal) and as a registered physical therapist at the Sports and Orthopedic Rehab Center in Vermont. She maintains a special interest in obstetrics, gynecology, postpartum issues, and pediatrics. Her thesis, submitted in 1998, was on the impacts of osteopathic treatments on the course of delivery.

Velda Lulic received a Diploma of Osteopathy from Le Collège d’Études Ostéopathiques de Montréal (CEO) in 1995. Velda Lulic teaches for the CEO since 1997. She teaches in the CEO sister schools (Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Winnipeg, SICO and DOK), in Croatia since 2001 and cofounded the Croatian Academy of Osteopathy (Hrvatska academija osteopatije). She presented and co-organized the Croatian Osteopathic Congress in Dubrovnik in 2019.

She presented for OSEAN Open Forums in Potsdam, Paris, and Vienna from 2011 to 2016.

Velda Lulic presented at the International Congress of Physiotherapists in Dubrovnik, 2008.

She is the Director of thesis for CEO, CCO, SICO and DOK students from 1996 onwards, and was a Head Physiotherapist at BezirksSpital Uster in Switzerland from 1984 to 1988 and a Physiotherapist at Royal Victoria Hospital from 1981 to 1982.

Marc Mongeau earned his diploma in osteopathy (D.O.) from the Collège d’Études Ostéopathiques (CEO) in Montréal in 2008. He already had 2 degrees in professional manual body work from Institut Kiné-Concept; a Swedish kinetic massage technician diploma (1991) and a and Massokinésithérapie diploma (1993); previously he followed collegial studies and earned a diploma in “Pure and Applied Sciences” from the Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Science (1988).

Marc has held numerous teaching positions at various campuses in the CCO family since 2014. He currently teaches courses on advanced dorsal spine lesions and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) at CCO Toronto and Winnipeg, CEO Halifax, and Canadian School of Osteopathy Manual Practice in Vancouver; occipital hinge (C0-C2) at CEO Montréal and Québec City and Interview with the patient at CEO Montreal; lumbar spine and vault bones, pelvis 1, and sacrum/sphenobasilar synchondrosis at the Vancouver campus. In addition, he has been an evaluator of numerous practical and final exams at CEO Montréal.

Before his career at the CCO/CEO, Marc held several other positions at other institutions. He was a teacher/trainer in massage therapy and kinesitherapy at the Kine-Concept Institute from 1991 to 2010. He was head of the masso-kinesitherapy program at the Kine-Concept Institute from 2005 to 2008. From 1997 to 2007, he held an evaluator position for the admission committee and supervisor of failed admission practical exams at the Fédération Québecoise des Massothérapeuthes. In 1996 and 1997, he was manager of the training committee of the Fédération Québecoise des Massothérapeuthes. From 1991 to 2000, he was manager of the employees’ massage service for the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

Marc has a large interest in the treatment of cerebral concussions, osteopathic application and human dissection. His motto is “Be a tool at the service of the forces of osteopathy, nature, and altruism.” Marc has been honored with the 2008 Louisa Burns, D.O., Prize for the advancement of experimental research (for his osteopathic thesis) and with the 2003 Reconnaissance Prize from the Fédéreation Québecoise des Massothérapeutes.

Joan Seaman teaches the Counterstrain course at the Vancouver campus as well as in Winnipeg, Halifax, and Switzerland. She started teaching since 2011 after 7 years as an assistant. Joan has assisted in all courses given in 1st, 2nd, and 4th year studies as well as Upper Extremity in 3rd year and Heart in 5th year.

Her background is in Athletic Therapy with a Bachelor’s degree from Concordia University. She graduated from the Montreal campus of the CEO in 2003 and obtained her diploma in 2007 after completing a thesis titled "Hands-on Validation - Teaching the art of palpation to CEO students". Joan loves helping students understand new concepts and has been nicknamed "Joanalogy" by some of them because of her extensive use of analogies to help them understand new material.

John P. Sage obtained his osteopathic degrees (D.O.M.P., D.Sc.O.) from the CCO in 2014. His thesis was titled “An Inter-Rater Reliability Study of a Photographic Representation of the Vertical de Barre.” He also is a registered kinesiologist, and he has a bachelor of physical education from Brock University in Ontario and a diploma in sports injury management of from Sheridan College in Ontario.

John has been a member of the CCO/Collège d'Études Ostéopathiques (CEO) faculty since 2015, serving as an instructor, teaching assistant, juror, prereader, and thesis advisor. He teaches courses on radiology and muscle energy at the Toronto campus.

John also works as an athletic therapist with Baseball Canada and the National Junior Baseball team, specializing in on-site conditioning, rehabilitation, and acute care management. He was a lead medical coordinator at the 2015 Pan-Am Games in Toronto, and he was part of the training staff for Ontario Hockey at the Canada Winter Games in 2012.

Other positions previously held by John include instructor at Sheridan College and Seneca College in Ontario. While at Sheridan, he completed an internship at Humber College, helping the men’s basketball team achieve a national title. He then worked with the Toronto Blue Jays organization as an intern with the medical staff. John has also worked with varsity-level soccer and basketball teams and a community high school athletic department.

Numerous academic honors have been bestowed on John. These include the Melanie Berger Memorial Research Scholarship, the Christin Cullen Award, the Michelle Kukta Award (Sheridan College), and the Tom Kerney Award (Brock University).

Frederick Sary earned a diploma in osteopathy (D.O.) from the Collège d'Études Ostéopathiques (CEO) in Montréal in 2006. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in physical activity science from the University of Quebec in Montréal in 1998.

Frederick has been a teacher, supervisor, and assistant with the CEO Montréal for 12 years. He teaches functional emergency techniques, and he is a supervisor at the CEO clinic. He has long served as an assistant for Robert Rousse, D.O., in Montréal.

Samara Stein attended McMaster University and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences with a major in Psychology. She then went on to receive her massage therapy Diploma from Sutherland-Chan massage therapy school. In 2008 she graduate from the Canadian College of Osteopathy, her thesis focused on adults with depression.

Samara has been specializing in paediatrics since graduating massage therapy school in 1998. She began assisting at the CCO in 2018 and took over teaching the paediatric course and paediatric clinical days in 2020.

Samara has taken over Footprints Therapy, a multi disciplinary clinic in North York that specializes in infants and children, since 2014. She has recently expanded the clinic and now has a second location in Innisfil, Ontario.

Samara is a member of both the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario and the Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners.

Lindsay Dixon has over twenty years of experience working in the field of sports medicine and health and wellness.

She is an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, Certified Athletic Therapist and Registered Kinesiologist. Currently, Lindsay’s practice is in downtown Toronto.

She obtained her Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from York University. She then went on to pursue studies in Athletic Therapy at Sheridan College and completed the C.A.T.A national exam where she gained national recognition as a certified Athletic Therapist.

Her appreciation for a holistic approach to health lead her to study osteopathy. Lindsay graduated from the 5-year osteopathy program at the Canadian College of Osteopathy in Toronto in 2014 and successfully defended her thesis in 2015. As an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, she has particular interest in the interconnection between the mind and body. Her research study titled “The effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy on Generalized Anxiety Disorder” assessed the efficacy of osteopathy as an adjunctive treatment in individuals suffering from moderate to severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder. She had the opportunity to conduct her research with Psychiatrist Dr Martin Katzman at the START Clinic for Mood and Anxiety Disorders; a private practice offering psychiatric, psychological, psychotherapeutic, naturopathic, and holistic services. Recently, her research has been published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association March 2020 issue.

Lindsay has been a member of the CCO/CEO faculty since 2020 serving as a clinic supervisor and instructor. She has taught courses on clinic methodology and General Osteopathic Technique at the Toronto Campus. Since 2016 she has also been an examiner, pre-reader and juror for thesis proposals and presentations.

Lindsay also has extensive experience working with recreational and competitive athletes. However, her training in both athletic therapy and osteopathy enables her to work with all individuals, ages and abilities to assist them in restoring their health.

Lindsay is an avid endurance athlete completing several triathlons including a 1/2 ironman and marathons including the Boston marathon. She has contributed to the Canadian Running Magazine including video education series and articles on injury prevention and wellness.

Lindsay had the opportunity to work at the Pan Am Games in Toronto summer 2015 with gymnastics, racquetball, squash and trampoline events. She was also part of the medical team for wheelchair basketball at the Invictus games held in Toronto in September 2017. She was also part of the medical team for Skate Canada National Figure Skating Championships in January 2020.

Darshel Diaz graduated from the Canadian College of Osteopathy (Toronto campus) in 2019, after successfully defending her thesis entitled, The Effect of Global Osteopathic Treatment on First Responders Diagnosed with PTSD: A Pilot Study.

She began her career working alongside the fitness director at McMaster University to develop programs tailored to meet the needs of individuals with mental and physical disabilities. Inspired by the progress made by her clients through movement and mindful-based practices, she continued in this field. Darshel currently works with individuals of all ages; in addition too, a paediatric population diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

As an avid traveller Darshel has been able to combine her love for travel, and passion for helping others, through volunteering with the organization Osteopathy Without Borders.

She believes in the human body’s innate ability to heal itself, and the profound connection between the mind, body, and spirit.

Kevin earned his Diploma in Osteopathy Manual Practice (D.O.M.P.) and Diploma in Science of Osteopathy (D.Sc.O) from the Canadian College of Osteopathy in 2017. Prior to this, he obtained his Diploma in Massage Therapy in 2011 and an Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo in 2009.

Kevin has been a teaching assistant, thesis juror, thesis pre-reader and final practical examiner since 2018. As of 2021, Kevin is the instructor for the Dorsal 1 and Digestive System courses at the Toronto campus.

Osteopathic manual practitioner, Physical and Health Educator, Joseph Gill-Lussier is currently a PhD student in Rehabilitation Science at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montreal where he is developing osteopathic research in the field of postural balance and walking. He teaches osteopathy at both the basic and post-graduate levels in various osteopathic colleges around the world (SICO, DOK, CEOM, CCO, OSD, IFCOPS, UCSM).

He is a member of the International Society of Posture and Gait Research. He won the Leadership Scholarship from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montreal for his interdisciplinary program on fall prevention for people suffering from vertigo and the Merit Scholarship - Antoine-G. Massabki Fund of the Faculty of Medicine - Fall 2022-2023.