Sonia Vovan
PT, BHSc, MScPT, Ph.D. Candidate
I am a Registered Physiotherapist and Vestibular Therapist (based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) with a passion for helping everyone get back to doing what they love. Concussions and vestibular disorders are widely considered as “invisible” conditions, and it may be difficult for others to understand how you feel because they can’t “see” it. My mission is to increase awareness of “invisible” conditions and help you understand what’s going on in your body so that you can feel empowered to have more control over your body and build your confidence to speak up about your health care needs.
I do this by being a:
Clinician
I am an experienced Physiotherapist and Vestibular Therapist working one-on-one with patients in the clinic (in the areas of Toronto, Scarborough, Richmond Hill, Markham, and Vaughan) or virtually (via telehealth services).
Advocate
I am a strong advocate for brain injury awareness. I started my Instagram page (@allinyourheadpt) because a patient of mine once told me that she didn’t know if anyone else felt the way she did. I wanted to share common patient stories and experiences to let others know they are not going through it alone.
Through my work as a Board Member of the Brain Injury Association of York Region, we provide programs, supports, and services for brain injury survivors and caregivers in York Region (Ontario) and beyond (through our virtual programs!). Our offerings are free and made available to anyone who identifies as brain injury survivors and caregivers.
Researcher
I am pursuing my Ph.D. at York University (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) under Dr. Lauren Sergio’s supervision to study sex-related differences in multi-domain changes following concussions in working-aged adults.
I hope to contribute to research with my clinical expertise while simultaneously applying my research to my clinical practice. The world of concussion and vestibular treatment is constantly evolving; therefore, I look forward to being able to contribute to these areas from both ends of the spectrum.
Professional Memberships
Sonia is a member of the following associations:
Sonia is an advocate for individuals suffering from brain injuries (and “invisible illnesses”) and has been a Board Member of the Brain Injury Association of York Region since 2019. She also volunteers for the Vestibular Disorders Association, writing patient-friendly research summaries of papers in the Journal of Vestibular Research. Sonia is an Executive Member of the Neurosciences Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, advocating for and promoting the profession of neurological physiotherapy across Canada.
Volunteer Work
Interests
Sonia has an interest in the 3 main ‘F’s - fun, fitness, and food! She enjoys solving puzzles in escape rooms and playing charades, lifting heavy weights or walking her dog, and eating all sorts of cuisines!
Patient Stories