our practitioners
All practitioners at our clinic have completed postgraduate university training and are involved in teaching and research. This means that you are being treated by highly qualified people at the forefront of new developments in the management of musculoskeletal disorders.
Please read our practitioner profiles below.
Dr Sallie Cowan (B App Sc (Physio) Grad Dip (Manip Physio) Phd (PRINCIPAL)
Sallie a founding director of Clifton Hill Physiotherapy is a highly experienced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne. She is internationally recognised as a leading clinician, researcher and educator in the diagnosis and management of anterior knee pain. Sallie also has a particular interest in spinal pain and has post graduate qualifications in Manipulative Physiotherapy. In addition she has many years experience working with sporting teams and athletes.
Sallie is a regular lecturer and supervisor to post-graduate physiotherapy students at the University of Melbourne. She has over 30 publications in international peer reviewed journals and has co-authored two book chapters on anterior knee pain including in the most popular sports medicine text of all time. Sallie has been invited to speak both Nationally and Internationally on the topic of knee pain, and has received numerous awards for her research.
Professional Memberships
The Australian Physiotherapy Association
Titled member of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
Sports Medicine Australia
Jennifer Langford B App Sc (Physio) Post Grad Cert Physio (Continence & Womens Health) (PRINCIPAL)
Jennifer a founding Director of Clifton Hill Physiotherapy graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 1992 and has post graduate qualifications in Continence and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation from the University of Melbourne. A regular clinical supervisor and lecturer to postgraduate students, Jennifer has a special interest in women’s and men’s pelvic health, particularly pelvic pain and continence.
Jennifer has extensive experience working in hospitals and private practise in Melbourne and the UK. She has worked for many years managing sporting, spinal and musculoskeletal conditions, and has worked with numerous football clubs as team physiotherapist.
Currently in her 10th year as senior clinician in a continence clinic, Jennifer understands the impact of bladder and bowel dysfunction on men, women and children. She has also worked in a multi-disciplinary clinic with a focus on pain management for the past six years.
Professional memberships:
Australian Physiotherapy Association
Continence and Women’s Health group APA
Continence Foundation of Australia
International Continence Society
Brendan Egan B App Sc (Physio) Grad Cert (Health Services Management)
Brendan is an experienced paediatric Physiotherapist having spent over fourteen years working at the Royal Children's Hospital treating children and adolescents with a range of conditions. He has presented at national and international conferences and is co-author and editor of a book on sporting choices for boys with Haemophilia.
Brendan's particular expertise is paediatric musculoskeletal issues such as anterior knee pain and sporting injuries, however he also has many years experience treating children with persistent pain, haemophilia and juvenile arthritis. Other interests include advising families on developmental issues regarding concerns such as flat feet, knock knees and torticollis/wry neck. Children and adolescents requiring rehabilitation following trauma, fractures and surgery would also benefit from Brendan's expertise and also has experience with complex conditions such as scoliosis and burns management.
Professional Memberships
Co-Chair Australia and New Zealand Physiotherapy in Haemophilia Group
Brendon Haslam B App Sc (Physio) M Physio (Neurological)
Brendon completed his Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 1992 and Master of Neurological Physiotherapy in 2000, and has worked in both hospitals and private practise in Australia and the United Kingdom. Brendon has regularly been involved in postgraduate physiotherapy education as both lecturer and clinical supervisor for the University of Melbourne Master of Physiotherapy course as well as the Australian Physiotherapy Association in specialty courses of neurological physiotherapy. He has extensive experience in areas of neurological physiotherapy in addition to pain management of both musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.
Brendon has undertaken a wide-range of additional training, including vestibular rehabilitation, Bobath facilitation of normal movement, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and electrical stimulation.
In addition to physiotherapy education, Brendon has regularly presented to other disciplines. These include medical symposiums and lecture evenings on pain management, scientific conferences on spinal cord injury, and as lecturer in neurological dysfunction for the Deakin University School of Occupational Therapy.
Brendon has worked in rehabilitation for over fifteen years, and is currently a senior clinician in neurological and pain management rehabilitation, a position he has held for ten years. While very much a “hands on” therapist, he understands the need for thorough patient education, and the teaching of effective self management skills for patients to maximise their potential. He is currently undertaking clinical research in pain management of the spinal cord injured patient, and is a 2009 recipient of the Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative Skill Development Award.
Cathy Derham B Physio (Hons) M Physio (Sports Physio)
Cathy completed her Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honors in 2001 and Masters of Sports Physiotherapy in 2008. She has extensive experience in treating patients with sporting injuries, musculoskeletal conditions, and following orthopaedic procedures. This experience has been gained through work in both private practice and hospital settings in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Cathy has provided Physiotherapy coverage at sporting events including the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006, and Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010. She has also been the Physiotherapist for Netball and Hockey State Level Teams, and has particular interests in a range of other sports including Alpine Disciplines, Running, Triathlons, Football Codes and Gymnastics. She is currently involved in teaching undergraduate physiotherapists at Monash University.
Professional Memberships
The Australian Physiotherapy Association
Titled Member of Sports Physiotherapy Australia
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia
Sports Medicine Australia