For Healthcare Professionals

Dr. Christopher Johnston

M.D., C.C.F.P., M.Sc., Dip. Sport Med. Musculoskeletal Consultant

Dr. Christopher Johnston is a C.C.F.P. certified family physician and has completed a two year Sport Medicine Fellowship and M.Sc. degree in Human Kinetics from the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre at the University of British Columbia. He has a Diploma in Sport Medicine from the Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine and has been published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Johnston was involved in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics as a venue supervisor at the Cypress site, where Canada won six medals (six Gold and two Silver) in 12 events.

In a literature review and survey of family physicians, 14-28% of North American patients presenting to a family physician have a “chief symptom directly related to the musculoskeletal system”. In a UK based study, patients with a musculoskeletal problem referred by their family physician to an orthopedic surgeon waited on average six months and were treated surgically in 20% of cases.

In these times of long waiting lists and shortages of specialists, patients with musculoskeletal conditions can be seen quickly by a specialist like Dr. Johnston.  Dr. Johnston is able to treat musculoskeletal conditions in patients of all ages including children, adults, workers, and older individuals with aches and pains, as well as athletes and non-athletes.

He is able to:

1. Make an accurate diagnosis using further investigations, including MRI, as needed.
2. Review all the treatment options with a patient, including the need for surgical referral and to coordinate their comprehensive treatment plan.
3. Provide close follow-up on the outcome of a patient’s selected treatment options and review all investigations.

His close follow-up of patients will contribute to their speedy recovery. Patients are referred by their family physician and a consult letter following the initial visit is sent to the referring physician. The referring physician will also receive a copy of all test results from the radiology and laboratory departments.

Located in the same space as Arthritis & Injury Care Centre and Citadel Physiotherapy, patients have a “one-stop” option for management of all their musculoskeletal conditions (using physiotherapy, massage therapy, bracing, compression, orthotics, and oral or injectable medications).

Referrals from a family physician can be faxed to (902) 442-5625.  If there are any questions regarding our services, please call (902) 407-8927 or email [email protected]. We welcome your comments and feedback as we strive to provide high-quality care for patients.

Dr. Jacquelyn Corkum

M.D., C.C.F.P. (S.E.M.), Dip. Sport Med. Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician (on parental leave)

Dr. Jacquelyn Corkum is a family physician who completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the University of Toronto. She also holds a Diploma in Sports Medicine awarded by the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine.

Dr. Corkum specializes in the assessment and treatment of acute and overuse injuries (e.g. sprains, strains, fractures, tendinopathies) of the extremities, as well as chronic musculoskeletal conditions (e.g. osteoarthritis). She will see athletes and non-athletes, patients with work related ailments and individuals of all ages, including children.

As a primary care musculoskeletal consultant, she will diagnose patients and create an individualized treatment plan, monitoring their progress and referring to a specialist if indicated. She will optimize non-surgical management as approximately 90% of sports injuries can be treated non-operatively.

Dr. Corkum works with a wide range of professional, elite and amateur athletes. She travels internationally as a team physician with Canada Basketball and is the team doctor for the Halifax Hurricanes (of the National Basketball League of Canada). She was the Chief Medical Officer for the U Sports Final 8 men’s national basketball championships in 2018 and 2019. She provided coverage for the 2019 Memorial Cup that the Halifax Mooseheads hosted. She is also the lead physician with Halifax Road Hammers running group, Basketball Nova Scotia, Mount St Vincent University and University of Kings College Varsity Athletics. She was also on the 2018 Arctic Winter Games medial team in the Northwest Territories. In her fellowship training she provided coverage for organizations such as Toronto Football Club (professional soccer team), Toronto Rock (professional lacrosse team), Roger’s Cup Toronto (professional tennis tournament), National Ballet of Canada, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships, and Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Beach World Tour Finals.

Jacquelyn is from Halifax. She played Varsity Basketball while completing her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology degree at St. Francis Xavier University. She then attended Dalhousie University for both medical school and her family medicine residency.

Dr. Corkum is an avid triathlete. She will be representing Team Canada in the Olympic distance tri event at the 2019 ITU World Triathlon Final in Lausanne, Switzerland. She has also completed two Ironman 70.3 races and is currently training for her first Ironman 140.6. She also plays in a local women’s basketball league.

She loves coming to work every day in her collaborative practice at Arthritis & Injury Care with physiotherapy, massage therapy, bracing, pedorthic care and orthopedic specialists. Referrals from a family physician can be faxed to (902) 442-5625. There will be appointments available for acute injuries so please indicate on the referral or call the clinic if you would like your patient seen on an urgent basis.

If there are any questions regarding our services, please call (902) 407-8927 or email [email protected]. We welcome your comments and feedback as we strive to provide high quality care for patients.

Dr. Edward Abraham

B.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.S.(c), Orthopedic Consultant

Dr. Edward Abraham began accepting referrals to his orthopedic practice at Arthritis and Injury Care Centre where he will primarily seeing patients for conditions of the shoulder, knee, hip, extremities, and spine.  His specialty is for conditions of the spine.

Dr. Abraham is a Dalhousie Graduate, and Spine Fellowship trained Orthopedic Surgeon who has been practicing in Saint John, New Brunswick since 1988.  He is an active member of the Canadian Spine Society (2000) and a past president.  He is also a member of the North American Spine Society (1991), Canadian Orthopaedic Association (1988), AAOS, APOS, AO Spine, to name a few organizations.  He has chaired a Motion Sparing Technology Canadian Spine focus group for 11 years.  He has an extensive spine surgery practice encompassing adults and children with degenerative, traumatic, neoplastic, infectious, congenital and deformity conditions for the spine.  He has been involved with spinal implant design teams and evaluations.

As an orthopedic surgeon working at Arthritis & Injury Care Centre he is able to diagnose patients and create an individualized treatment plan using a collaborative approach including bracing, orthotics, injection therapy, physiotherapy, massage therapy, and podiatry. He will optimize non-surgical management and refer to a specialist if indicated.

He is working at the Downtown Halifax location.  Once a referral is received all patients will be contacted directly and offered an appointment time.

Please fax any referrals to (902) 442-5625.  If you have any questions, please contact the clinic at (902) 407-8927.

Andy Hoar

Certified Pedorthist

Andy Hoar is a sixth generation custom shoe maker and is now offering his services from the Arthritis & Injury Care Centre. His family has been providing custom made footwear and foot appliances in Halifax since 1842.  After graduating from George Brown College in Toronto in 1983 with a diploma in Orthotic and Prosthetic Technology.   Andy then went on to complete his training as a Prosthetic Technician in 1985.

He then began his internship under his father in Pedorthics culminating in his receiving his certification as a Pedorthist in 1988 through the American Board for Certification (New York).  Andy then received his Canadian Certification as a Pedorthist in 2006.

As the senior Pedorthist at the NS Rehabilitation Centre Andy spent many years assisting in the training of Physicians as well as many other clinicians affiliated with Dalhousie University  (Physio, OT, Orthotists, Prosthetists).  In 2001 Andy joined the Multidisciplinary Leg Ulcer Clinic at the Halifax Infirmary specializing in neuropathic foot conditions. Working with Infectious Disease, Orthopedic, Vascular and Plastic surgeons.

As a faculty member of the Canadian Wound Care Association Andy spent 5 years as an instructor for The Institute of Wound Management and Prevention lecturing on wound prevention and treatment of neuropathic feet.

Andy Co-Authored the Best Practice Recommendations for the Prevention and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Update (2010) Wound Care Canada; Volume 8 (4): 6-40

Doug Iwasaki

Certified Orthotist

Doug Iwasaki joined the Arthritis & Injury Care Centre Team in 2018 as a Certified Orthotist, having already been practicing as a Certified Orthotist since 2010.

Doug Iwasaki was born and raised in British Columbia and began his career as a Certified Orthotist at a clinic that primarily served British Columbia Children’s Hospital.  There Doug saw and treated cases ranging from infant cranial deformities all the way down to foot/ankle conditions.  In 2015 Doug and his family made the move to Nova Scotia where Doug worked at the Nova Scotia Rehab Centre.   While at the Nova Scotia Rehab Centre Doug worked closely with the entire rehabilitation team treating patients of all ages and conditions.

Doug believes in taking a holistic and patient centered approach to patient care.  With a thorough understanding of the condition and patient lifestyle through physical and biomechanics assessment as well as gait analysis, Doug carefully designs and manufactures the most appropriate supports and/or braces for each individual patient.

Prior to moving into the field of healthcare, Doug was a school teacher and taught both locally and internationally before moving back to Canada to go back to school to become a Certified Orthotist.  Much of his free time is dedicated to chasing his three boys around the house and trying to keep up with them!

Dr. Samir Ouizi

(Hons) Pod; Certified Podiatrist & Certified Canadian Wound Care Specialist

Dr. Samir Ouizi is from Brussels, Belgium. Originally from Casablanca, Morocco. He obtained his degree in Podiatric Medicine at Institution Superieure De Podiatrie, Hopital Universitaire de Bruggman in Brussels. In 2006, he obtained his International Inter-professional Wound Care Certificate from Toronto; Ontario.

Dr. Samir Ouizi has close to 25 years of  lower limb Podiatry care experience.  He appreciates team work and innovation in health care and has expertise in teaching and treating diabetic lower limb wounds, biomechanics, skin care, nail care and nail surgery, always with patient centered and tailored care. He continues to be involved in many scientific international Podiatric research studies. Samir has a keen interest in lower limbs wound and injury prevention, care and rehabilitation.

Samir is pronounced  “Sameer” and Ouizi as “Weezy”. In his free time he enjoys hiking and teaching soccer to his kids.

He is fluent in Arabic, English, French with some knowledge of the Holland language. 

Dr. Samir Ouizi is accepting new patients at the Arthritis & Injury Care Centre locations in Downtown Halifax, Clayton Park, and Dartmouth.

Treatment Services Offered:

• Comprehensive individual assessment, treatment & management plans for all ages
• Biomechanical Assessment and Gait Analysis
• Orthopedic and Custom Made Footwear recommendations and guidances
• Custom Foot Orthotics & Ankle Foot Orthotic
• Footwear Recommendations
• Foot Joint Mobilization and Manipulation Technique
• Musculoskeletal Conditions: Flat Feet, Heel Pain, Heel Spurs, Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendonitis, Shin Splints,  Arch Pain, Metatarsalgia, Morton’s Neuroma, Strains, Sprains, and Stress  Fractures.
• Non invasive management of Bony Deformities: Bunions, Hammertoes, Haglund’s Deformity, Club Foot, Metatarsus Adductus, Charcot Foot, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis,  Leg Length Discrepancies, & Drop Foot
• Nail Care: Thick, Hard to Cut, Fungal, and Ingrown Nails
• Skin Conditions: Painful Callous & Corns, Heel Fissures, Cracked Heels, Eczema, Psoriasis, Hyperhidrosis (Sweaty Feet), and Cysts
• Verrucae Pedis (Plantar Warts) Treatment
• Fungal Infections: Athlete’s Foot, Tinea Pedis,& Onychomycosis (Fungal Nails)
• Diabetic Assessment, Routine Nail & Skin Care
• Diabetic Wound Care Management
• Cardiovascular Conditions: Venous Insufficiency, Vericose Veins, Lymphedema, Foot & Ankle Swelling
• Pediatric foot care, insoles and footwear assessment, evaluation and treatment
• Soft Tissue Surgery: Ingrown Nail Surgery, Wart Excision
• Lower limb Injection Therapy: Cortisone Injection, Local Anesthetic.
• Sports Medicine: Reflexology
• Custom-made toe wedges, props, bracing, splints, and padding materials
• Custom made fiberglass lower limb cast for diabetic foot wounds management

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Samir Ouizi, please contact our offices and our team will be happy to help!

Visit our Contact Page

Email: [email protected]

Downtown Halifax
1554 Dresden Row, Suite 3070, Halifax, NS B3J 2K2
Phone: (902) 442-5199
Fax: (902) 442-5625

Clayton Park
278 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, NS B3M 3N8
Phone: (902) 404-8419
Fax: (902) 442-5625

Dartmouth
250 Baker Drive, Suite 124, Dartmouth, NS B2W 6L4
Phone: (902) 404-8352
Fax: (902) 442-5625

Dr. Kevin Orrell

Orthopaedic Consultant

Dr. Kevin Orrell is originally from North Sydney, Cape Breton. He is a graduate of Dalhousie Medical School and completed his fellowship training at the University of Toronto. He received his fellowship in Orthopaedics from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 1988. For more than 30 years he has had a busy orthopaedic practice and has been the Chief, Division of Orthopaedics Surgery at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.

As Past President of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association and the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation. He has served as a member of the Examination Board (orthopaedics) of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He is a past chair of Orthopaedic training for the Family Medicine Residency, Dalhousie University (Sydney site). He has been a Board Member, Board of Governors, Cape Breton University. In 2019, Dr. Orrell joined the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Health Care Redevelopment Team as Senior Medical Director.

Dr. Orrell has been the Team Physician/Orthopaedic Consultant for the Cape Breton Oilers, American Hockey League and the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and has served as Medical co-chair World Junior Hockey Tournament.

As an Orthopedic Consultant working at the Arthritis & Injury Care Centre, Dr. Kevin Orrell can diagnose patients and create an individual treatment plan using a collaborative approach including bracing, orthotics, podiatry foot care, injection therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic, and massage therapy. He will optimize non-surgical management and make referrals to local specialists if indicated.

Rihab Ouni

Certified Podiatrist

Rihab Ouni is from Sousse, Tunisia. She obtained her degree in Podiatry at the higher School of Health Sciences and Techniques in Sousse, Tunisia in 2018.  In 2019, she received her post-graduate certificate in Diabetic Foot Care at the Faculty of Medicine Ibn Al Jazzar in Sousse, Tunisia. She has three years’ experience as a Podiatrist and diabetic foot specialist in Général Paramédical Company and PROMED centre based in Tunisia. Rihab shares a strong passion for the work she does. She has a special interest in Sports Podiatry and biomechanics.

In addition, she is passionate about Volunteering; she was presented in events with the Red Crescent and Tunisian foot health association. She was trained as a volunteer podiatrist in the Emergency, Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, and Dermatology and Venereology departments at both the University Hospital Farhat Hached and University Hospital Sahloul in Sousse. She is interested in podiatry innovations and research, she was nominated for best dissertation two times and she won 2nd award of ‘’ mémoire étudiant PodoFair 2020’’ , Enghien, Belgium..

Rihab Ouni is fluent in Arabic, English, and French.

In her free time, she likes to practice meditation, taking online courses or reading about self development. She also enjoys cooking and volunteering.

Services Include:

• Biomechanical, Musculoskeletal and Neurovascular Assessments
• Diabetic Assessment, Nail & Skin Care
• Diabetic Wound Care Management
• Baropodometric Assessment to study static & dynamic plantar pressures
• Comprehensive individual assessment,treatment & management plans for all ages, Diabetic & non-Diabetic patients included
• Skin Conditions: Painful Callous & Corns, Heel Fissures, Cracked Heels, Eczema, Psoriasis, Hyperhidrosis (sweaty feet), and Cysts
• Nail Care: Thick, Hard to Cut, Fungal, and Ingrown Nails
• Pediatric foot care, insoles and footwear assessment, evaluation and treatment
• Soft Tissue Surgery: Ingrown Nail Surgery, Wart Excision
• Custom Foot Orthotics & Ankle Foot Orthotic
• Custom-made toe wedges, props, bracing, splints,and padding materials

To book an appointment with Rihab Ouni, Certified Podiatrist, contact us today!