Practitioner Bio

Tara M. Drew, BScPT, MSc, D.O.M.P.

Tara attended Queen’s University at Kingston, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy in 1989, under the ROTP program with the Canadian Armed Forces. She worked as a Physiotherapist Officer until 1994, and was the first active military therapist to be certified in acupuncture with the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute. Tara retired as a Captain to civilian private practice. In 1995, she began her Doctorate of Osteopathy (Manual Practice) training at the Canadian College of Osteopathy and completed her thesis in October 2001. The Osteopathic Still Point: a quantifiable measurement using index finger plethysmography during CV4 and Sphenobasilar techniques was authored by Joanne Baines and Tara Mueller for which they received the William Garner Sutherland Award for excellence in clinical research.

Tara has lectured at the Canadian Forces Medical School and the Canadian Forces School of Physical Education and Recreation at CFB Borden, Ontario. She has also been a clinical educator for Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario and Georgian College, Barrie, Ontario. Tara also has the pleasure of being a member of the teaching staff at the CCO where she is responsible for the 2nd year Dorsal II and TMJ course, the 3rd year TMJ II course, and the 4th year Stomach course. Her teaching commitments include the Vancouver, Toronto, Swiss and German colleges. Tara is a member of the Thesis jury of CCO, CEO and DOK; vice president of the CCO Academic Council, member of the research committee at the CCO, and is an active thesis director.

Tara and Joanne presented their research on the Still Point at the 7th European Symposium of Traditional Osteopathy at Kloster Frauenworth, Germany and at the 20th International Symposium of Traditional Osteopathy in Montreal, Canada in 2003. In October 2003, Tara was presented with the A.T. Still Award for her work with students at the CCO and for contributing in the promotion of the advancement and recognition of Osteopathy in Canada. Tara presented a speech at the 8th European Symposium of Traditional Osteopathy in Germany 2004 on searching literature on the Internet which was then published in the German osteopathic journal Osteopathische Medizin.

Tara is presently in private practice in King City, Ontario. Four to five times a year Tara holds a satellite in Sioux Lookout, Ontario.

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Belinda Heleno, D.O.M.P.

Training as a health care provider began at the University of Western Ontario, where Belinda received her Bachelor of Arts Honors in Kinesiology in 1997. She continued her education at Sutherland-Chan Schools, obtaining a Diploma in Massage Therapy and further licensing and registration with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario in 2001.

In search of a more efficient means of treating patients, Belinda began her osteopathic training with the Canadian College of Osteopathy in 2002. She obtained her Diploma in Osteopathic Manual Practice in 2008 after completing a quantitative research dissertation entitled, The Osteopathic Still Point Measuring Heart Rate Variability During CV4 and Sphenobasilar Techniques. The research study examined the effects of a 'still point', which can occur during osteopathic treatment, on the autonomic nervous system. Her dissertation was awarded the Louisa Burns D.O. Thesis Award for excellence in Basic Research.

Belinda is continually seeking to expand her knowledge in order to provide the best care to her patients. Belinda regularly attends postgraduate training in Osteopathy as well as other complementary therapies.