Our Team
Allison Gardos, pht, MPT
Physiotherapist
Owner
Allison Gardos is a seasoned pediatric physiotherapist with over 18 years of experience. Allison has extensive experience working with children with a wide range of pediatric conditions, including neurologic, orthopedic and gross motor delays. She pursued her dream by attending Georgia State University in Atlanta and obtaining her Master’s in Physical Therapy in 2002. Her passion is working with children and adapting to their needs. She works in a variety of different settings including pediatric clinics, homecare, daycare and schools. Her approach to treatment is family centered and collaborative. She believes in working together as a team with the patients’ families to make a significant difference through physical rehabilitation.
Established as a reference in the Montreal pediatric physiotherapist private services, she also guest lectures at McGill University in the Masters of Physiotherapy department. She has attended national pediatric conferences, symposiums and courses certified by the Montreal Children’s Hospital and by CHU Ste-Justine Hospital. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, skiing, traveling and playing piano.
Marie-Hélène Pilon
Physiotherapist
Marie-Hélène is a physiotherapist with 25 years of experience specializing in pediatrics, including 23 years at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Wanting to offer the best family-centered care, Marie-Hélène joined Physio Step by Step in 2022.
Marie-Hélène has expertise in the care of children 0-12 years of age with torticollis-plagiocephaly, motor delays, brachial plexus injuries, neurological and orthopedic conditions. She participates in improving the care of this clientele by taking several advanced training courses in sensory assessment, leg alignment deviations, rehabilitation of tiptoe walking and has a breastfeeding certification to help mothers and their babies in this experience.
In addition, she contributes to the excellence of the physiotherapy profession as a speaker for childcare centers, as a lecturer at McGill University in the “Introduction to Pediatric Physiotherapy” course and as a clinical placement supervisor.
A mother of 2 teenagers who had their own challenges growing up, Marie-Hélène cares not only about the health of children, but also about their well-being and that of their families. That’s why she considers the family context during treatment sessions and offers parenting education from the start. Her creative, warm, and play-based approach ensures sessions filled with laughter!
Mona Sajjadi
Physiotherapist
Mona graduated with a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from McGill University in 2022. She specialized in pediatrics by completing multiple pediatric courses. Her Master’s research project was on introducing physiotherapists to the Emergency department for pediatric concussions and a pediatric stage working with children with moderate to profound gross motor delays. Mona’s passion to work with children began at an early age, when she volunteered at her childhood daycare as well as when working as a summer camp counsellor.
A quote that has stuck with Mona throughout her physical therapy training is: “Physical therapy adds life to your days”. She strongly believes that the core of physical therapy is promoting a child’s participation in any activity that they enjoy. Mona brings an enthusiastic and positive energy to sessions and is passionate about helping children attain their goals whether it be a specific activity, sport or promoting their development and functional mobility.
In her free time, Mona plays ringette which has been a passion for over a decade, loves to bake and learn new dances.
Samantha Tayler
Occupational Therapist
Samantha graduated with a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from McGill University in 2020. During her program, she completed three clinical placements in pediatric settings, the last one being at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH). Upon graduation, she began her career at the MCH, where she continues to work part-time.
Samantha specializes in early intervention for children aged 0-5, with fine and gross motor delays, feeding and swallowing disorders, motor planning and coordination difficulties and sensory particularities. She has experience evaluating and treating a variety of diagnoses and conditions, such as prematurity, global developmental delay, developmental coordination disorder, and musculo-skeletal, genetic, and neurological conditions.
Samantha uses a holistic, family-centered approach, integrating play and engagement to facilitate participation. She brings energy and creativity to her sessions, to help clients achieve developmental milestones and promote autonomy in activities of daily living.
Samantha played on the varsity hockey team while completing her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Carleton University. In her spare time, she enjoys staying active, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.”
Callie Gruber
Behaviour specialist
I help troubleshoot parenting woes such as tantrums, potty readiness, picky eating, sibling rivalry, and everything in between. I help parents navigate children’s daily behaviours, which can be difficult at times, by supplying them with effective tools and strategies. I use a positive parenting approach which allows every parent to experience success at their own pace and according to their own family needs. I’m passionate about sharing and implementing practical and actionable strategies that can be part of your household daily routine.
Caitlin Hier
Dietitian
Caitlin Hier graduated McGill University, with a Bachelor’s in nutrition, who followed her passion of working with children and began her career at the Montreal Children’s
Hospital. From there she expanded her population to prenatal women and is eager to continue working with mothers-to-be.
Caitlin guides her sessions in a family oriented approach and ensures that any plan put in place has the comfort of the family at the forefront. The wellbeing of families is what drives Caitlin in her practice.
With a background as a personal trainer, she takes a global approach in leading her patients and clients to feel their most confident and strongest. Being outdoors is Caitlin’s favorite way to spend her free time, namely kayaking, hiking and running.