Medical Advisory Board

Dr. Laura Cruz trained at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine and has been a Sport and Exercise Medicine Physician since 1996. She is the Medical Director of LiveActive Sport Medicine Health and Performance, and on staff at Women’s College Hospital, and St. Joseph’s Health Centre. Dr. Cruz is the League Physician for the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL), a consultant with Hockey Canada Women’s Programme, core physician with Skate Canada and a Past President of the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine.

Dr. Cruz is actively involved in teaching as current Assistant Programme Director for the University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine PGY3 Sport and Exercise Medicine Fellowship committee. Her Sport Medicine expertise includes concussion management, injury prevention, regenerative medicine, and the care of healthy active women (e.g., Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Exercise and Pregnancy; Female Athlete Triad).

Dr. Rob Meeder is a staff pediatrician at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital and a member of the Orillia Paediatric Teaching Associates in Orillia, Ontario. Dr. Meeder completed his undergraduate training in physics at the University of Waterloo, followed by a Master’s of Science in Physiology & Biophysics at Dalhousie University. He then completed his Medical Doctor training at McMaster University (valedictorian, Class of ’99) and Post-Graduate Training in Paediatrics at the University of Western Ontario. His practice is focussed primarily on developmental and behavioural paediatrics. As a master level cyclist and director of the Centurion Next Wave Cycling team, Dr. Meeder has blended his passion for sports and developmental paediatrics by focussing on concussion education and treatment, especially post-concussion syndrome. Dr. Meeder resides in Orillia, Ontario with his wife and four children.

Dr. Cameron Marshall is a Doctor of Chiropractic and sports injury specialist who holds a Fellowship through the Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences in Canada. Dr. Marshall’s primary research and clinic practice focuses on evidence-based treatment and management of concussion and post-concussion syndrome. Dr. Marshall has been a keynote speaker at several leading concussion conferences and continuing education seminars as well as serves as a Board member for Brain Injury Canada, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living with a brain injury and their families/caregivers. Dr. Marshall has also done peer review work for the Journal of Emergency Medicine and Care.

Dr. Hrkal is a board certified Naturopathic doctor with a passion to apply innovative and evidence-based nutritional, biological and supplemental interventions to address underlying metabolic, endocrine and immunological dysfunctions. Dr. Hrkal has a special interest in neurological health, cancer, chronic pain and chronic infections. He is strong advocate of integrative medical education, frequently writing and lecturing to both healthcare practitioners and public audiences. Dr. Hrkal lectures extensively on the topic of integrative and natural approaches to concussions and brain injuries. He is a member of the scientific advisory board of Complete Concussion Management, an international leader in research based concussion management education and certification. He currently is the medical director for Advanced Orthomolecular Research, an innovative and leading Canadian natural health product company and maintains a clinical practice in the Toronto area at two integrative clinics.

Dana Clark trained at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine (department of rehabilitation medicine) and continued to pursue advanced learning earning diploma in Advanced Manual and Manipulative Physiotherapy as well as a diploma in Acupuncture. He is the Director of Sheddon Physiotherapy and Sports Clinic in Oakville, and consulting therapist to the Oakville Soccer Club as well as training centres for elite athletes. He also travels as the therapist for aquatics clubs during national trials. His interest in sports physiotherapy have helped his clinic become leaders in concussion management, injury prevention, and accelerated rehabilitation.

Dr. Shirley Blanc obtained her Bachelor degree in Honours Science at the University of Waterloo, and then graduated with a Doctorate of Optometry in 2001. She has years of experience working in private practice catering to patients of all ages. In recent years, Dr. Blanc dedicated a significant portion of her practice to assessing and treating patients with traumatic brain injury, due to the need for optometric intervention as a vital component of a post-concussive healthcare team. The skills and education she obtained through an extensive array of specialized courses and certifications in the field of Neuro-Optometric Vision Rehabilitation, as well as her clinical experience has enabled her to provide individualized and research-supported strategies for patients with Post-Trauma Vision Syndrome. Dr. Blanc incorporates a multidisciplinary team-based approach with consideration of vision as an interactive component with other systems in the body.  She has been a speaker for several health professional organizations educating on the topic of vision and concussion, and has received recognition for her volunteer contribution to the Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy & Rehabilitation Association.