Our Team

Dr. Burnham completed his undergraduate and Masters degrees, medical school and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency at the University of Alberta. He remained there to practice and, as an associate professor, found his passion for research. In 2000, he moved to Lacombe, Alberta, organized a multidisciplinary team and founded the Central Alberta Pain and Rehabilitation Institute (CAPRI) to treat those suffering with chronic MSK pain. In order to provide better access to the many patients travelling from the south, Dr. Burnham developed and works alongside a multidisciplinary team in Calgary under the banner of Vivo Cura Health.

As a physician, his areas of interest include interventional musculoskeletal pain management, electrodiagnosis and research.

When he’s not doing research or treating patients, he plays the role of “farm boy” working alongside is wife on their acreage. He enjoys the serenity of getting out into nature and the chaos that ensues when one or all of his 6 kids and 19 grandkids come to visit.

Dr. Wegenast received his Bachelor of Science in Physiology, Doctor of Medicine, and completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Alberta. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Dr. Wegenast has received additional training to perform nerve testing and obtained his diplomate (EMG) with the Canadian Society of Clinical Neurophysiologists (CSCN). He has also pursued training to perform interventional procedures under fluoroscopic and ultrasound guidance. He is currently a Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Alberta.

Dr. Wegenast’s clinical interests include musculoskeletal medicine, interventional pain management, and electromyography. He is an advocate for patient-centred care with the support of an established multi-disciplinary team.

Dr. Kutcher completed a Bachelor of Science (Kinesiology) and a Master of Science (Stem Cell Therapies)
at the University of Calgary. He then completed his Doctor of Medicine and 5-year sub-specialty training
in Physiatry at the University of Alberta.

Dr. Kutcher has additional training in nerve testing and is certified through the Canadian Society of
Clinical Neurophysiologists to perform Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Testing. He also has
additional training in ultrasound and fluoroscopic interventional pain procedures.

Dr. Kutcher’s academic interests include emerging regenerative medicine therapies as well as
interventional procedures for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. His personal interests include
biking, skiing, hiking and various outdoor adventures.

Originally from rural Alberta, Dr. Andruski has remained close to his roots. After earning undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Calgary, he completed a Rural Family Medicine residency based in Lethbridge, Alberta. Since 2012, Dr. Andruski has worked in a full-scope rural practice based in High River, Alberta focusing on hospital and emergency medicine. He is also currently a Clinical Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary. Dr. Andruski’s broad experience in rural medicine has allowed him to explore clinical interests in point-of-care ultrasound and orthobiologic therapies and he is excited to bring these skills to the Vivo Cura team. When not at work, Dr. Andruski can be found hiking & climbing, golfing, or spending time with his family.

Ashley is excited to be part of the Vivo Cura team, realizing a lifetime ambition to work with an integrated, multidisciplinary team of specialists determined to provide the ‘right treatment at the right time’–customized to the patient to optimize their recovery.

Ashley is an Australian trained physiotherapist with nearly 30 years of experience. He was admitted as a Fellow in the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy in 2001 and recognized as a Clinical Specialist in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (Canada) in 2011. Academically, Ashley completed his PhD and Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the RECOVER Injury Research Centre within the University of Queensland, Australia.

He continues to be actively involved in research, investigating the mechanisms responsible for persistent pain in individuals following road traffic trauma. He also in involved in research evaluating the role of regenerative therapies in improving treatment outcomes. Faculty appointments within universities in both Canada and Australia help facilitate these ambitions. At the root of Ashley’s passion for research is helping to improve outcomes for patients to enrich their lives.

Vivien graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Master of Physical Therapy after receiving her Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology. She has completed training in functional dry needling (FDN)/intramuscular simulation (IMS), Mulligan and is rostered in spinal manipulation. She has a passion for women’s health in pelvic floor physiotherapy and has completed courses with Uro Sante. She works with women that have urinary incontinence and pelvic pain.

Vivien believes in lifelong learning throughout her physiotherapy career. She continues to take courses in manual therapy and women’s health to further improve her knowledge and skills. She believes in providing patient education, corrective exercises and manual therapy to manage their condition to return to daily activities and sports.

When Vivien is not working, she enjoys travelling abroad, trying new restaurants, hiking in the mountains and spending time with family and friends.

Hi my name is Sydney, I have been a licensed practical nurse for 4 years now. Along with Vivo Cura, I also work with Alberta health Services rurally at the Black Diamond Hospital. I enjoy being the person that is there to walk patients through their health journey. When I’m not working, I enjoy hiking, boating and spending time with family. I am excited to work with such an amazing team here at Vivo Cura health.

I’m Kristie and I have been an LPN for 20 years. I initially worked in Neurorehab at the Foothills Medical Centre and then moved on to general surgery, private family practice and am thrilled to now be part of the Vivo Cura team! I also a worked as a registered massage therapist for 10 years focusing on myofascial release and pelvic issues.

I am super passionate about travel, cooking and spending time with family and friends. I am very excited for what the future holds at Vivo Cura and am looking forward to providing exceptional care to each and every one of our patients.

Hi! I’m Carolyn. I have been an LPN for 16 years, seven as an orthopedic/cast tech.  I strive to be positive and active, setting aside time each day for a walk, short hike or bike ride. Spending time outdoors with my family allows me to be a positive influence on my four young grandsons and keeps me healthy.  The most impactful thing I have learned over the years is to approach people with kindness and compassion, especially when dealing with pain. I am very excited to be part of the Vivo Cura team and to compassionately serve patients in pain.

Hi I’m Charlene, graduate from the MRT program at SAIT. After graduation my goal was to find a place that makes a difference in people’s quality of life, like Vivo Cura does. Being able to hear firsthand the relief and benefits our treatment gives patients everyday is very motivating. I was born in Kelowna, raised in Abbotsford, and lived in Calgary for over 18 year. I have yet to catch the hockey bug … not sure if there is still hope for me! I get a lot of joy playing sports such as volleyball, slow pitch, tennis, and occasionally skiing. There is an entrepreneurial spirit in me and hope to one day tap into that in a small or large way.

Nicole has always had a keen interest in the human body and all of its intricacies. Wanting to know more, she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Health Sciences at Mount Royal University. During her studies, she was able to step into the healthcare industry within an allied health setting and developed a vast appreciation for evidence based evaluation and treatment. 

Nicole’s interest in health and wellness extends outside of work. In her spare time, she can be found at the gym, exploring the outdoors with her dog Cosmo, or experimenting with new recipes.

 
Nicole is thrilled to be a part of the Vivo Cura team!

I am a Registered Nurse of 33 years. Prior to joining Vivo Cura as Clinic Manager, I worked in acute care for 23 years (mainly orthopaedics), and 9 years in leadership roles in seniors care.

I am an advocate for compassionate, patient-centred care and a strong collaborator who loves working with all members of a multidisciplinary team.

When not at work, I love spending time with family and friends, walking our family dog Kipper, golfing, shopping, and watching hockey.

I am thrilled to be working with such an amazing team at Vivo Cura Health!

Hi, I’m Catrina,

I grew up in Ontario, where I went to school for Business at Humber College and then moved to BC where I completed a job placement. I ended up staying in BC for three years, where I meet my husband in Whistler BC. After a few years of playing outdoors in Whistler, we decided to leave the bubble and move to Calgary. I went back to school and completed my CAPPA certification.

Over the years I’ve worked in various fields of work, from Hospitality, HR, and finance/accounting. I’ve been fortunate to have worked and trained in very diverse industries, such as hospitality, the oil and gas sector, and seniors care. I’ve always loved meeting new people. I was definitely drawn to Vivo Cura’s passion for people and the vision to change lives for the better. It’s exciting to be part of the growth of Vivo Cura and to learn more about the health care industry.

My life changed sightly when I found out I was expecting twins, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to see the world. When I’m not working, my first choice is always traveling. I love seeing the world, immersing myself in the culture, enjoying new foods, and meeting people along the way. I won’t lie, I can easily spend a week in the sun, laying on a beach somewhere.

Living in Cochrane Alberta, I’m fortunate to have Kananaskis and Banff in my backyard. You’ll find me outdoors skiing, hiking, and or just spending the day exploring the rocky mountains with my family. and our dog Higgins.

David Mifsud co-founded the Missouri Star Quilt Company in 2008 and helped transform a small family business into a company 500 employees strong, bolstering a unique brick-and-mortar retail experience many call the “Disneyland of Quilting”, as well as a strong global e-commerce presence. As Chief Revenue Officer, David managed the company’s marketing, sales, product, finance, and creative teams and helped build an unforgettable brand that has been featured on national news, talk-shows, podcasts, university case studies, and newspaper front pages. He traveled to the White House with his fellow founders to accept the Small Business of the Year in 2015. More recently, David was instrumental in helping the company expand into the broader crafting market through both new start-ups and acquisition of companies in watercolour painting, knitting and sewing – all separate brands under a newly created organization called Creativity Inc. Still an owner, he currently serves on the Board of Directors, helping guide the enterprise to fulfill its mission to inspire and empower everyone to create.

David is thrilled to be part of the Vivo Cura team. Having experienced severe spine pain in the past, he is passionate about Vivo Cura’s mission of empowering people with muscle, bone and joint pain to get back to living.

Throughout his career, Joe has gravitated towards developing and growing businesses. At the advent of his career he found his passion for healthcare providing communication technology, instruments and implants to surgeons as a territory manager for Stryker. His commitment to providing exceptional support and service to his customers led to his territory becoming one of the most productive in Canada. Recognizing a knack for and interest in scaling businesses, he moved on to oversee key aspects of the financing, marketing and operations of renewable energy and additive manufacturing companies. After a short pause to pursue his Masters in Business from McMaster University he returned to healthcare and founded Vivo Cura Health. 

The knowledge and experiences gained across these diverse industries allows Joe to approach challenges and opportunities faced by him and his team at Vivo Cura Health with a unique perspective. He feels blessed to work with such an amazing group of people and looks forward to what the future holds and they endeavour to provide relief to those suffering with muscle, bone and joint pain.