Wendy Chan is the founder and clinic director of PhysioOne Centre. Born in Macao in 1975, she moved with her family to Toronto, Canada at the age of 13. In high school, she volunteered in hospitals and nursing homes which paved the path to her future career. She first earned her degree in psychology at the University of Toronto in 1996, then embarked upon a second degree in physiotherapy at the University of Western Ontario. Chan also possesses credentials in Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment from the McKenzie Institute of Canada and holds a Certificate of Medical Acupuncture from McMaster University. She is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
Upon graduating in 1999 and passing Canada’s Physiotherapy National Examination, Chan practised as a private physiotherapist based in Toronto. Often part of a multidisciplinary team, she amassed over a decade’s-worth of experience. In 2010, she moved back to Macao with her husband and two children to be closer to family.
In December 2012, after 18 months of planning and preparation, Chan, together with a dedicated team of internationally-trained physiotherapists, opened PhysioOne Centre in Ferreira do Amaral Street, city centre. Bolstered by positive reviews from satisfied clients, PhysioOne Centre has become a trusted name for people seeking top-notch service in Macao.
In addition to maintaining an active practice, Chan has been Vice President of the Macau Physical Therapists Association (MPTA) since 2011 and is also acting Director of the International Affairs Department for the MPTA. She is a member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association and Macau Physical Therapists Association.
With no schools of physical therapy in Macao, opportunities to fulfil the continuing educational needs of local physiotherapists are nonexistent. Chan has thus proactively taken matters into her own hands, inviting instructors from Hong Kong to run professional development courses at PhysioOne Centre. Seven courses have been held in the past three years to great turnout and success.
As an advocate of her profession, Chan often represents the MPTA at meetings held by the Medical Affairs Council regarding the implementation of professional certification and registration framework for healthcare professions. She hopes to implement a formal registration process which would protect both the general public and the reputation of the physiotherapy profession from under-qualified practitioners who lack proper credentials. Chan has also appealed to the council for the inclusion of Western acupuncture within the scope of physiotherapy.
In June 2015, she was invited as a guest speaker to the 50th Anniversary Congress of the Japanese Physical Therapists Association. Their international symposium on the “World Physical Therapy Challenge for the Profession” included a panel of speakers from Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Korea, providing rich networking opportunities to share their experiences, visions and perspectives for the collective benefit of the profession in Asia.
Chan is also an expert in the area of lactation and breastfeeding. In 2014, she became a Certified Lactation Counselor through the U.S.’s Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, and, in December 2016, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant—one of only four such professionals in Macao. She also serves as Director of the Macau Breastfeeding Association. She is proud to include breastfeeding support and counselling among the services available at PhysioOne Centre.
In 2015, Chan was honoured with the Young Entrepreneur Gold Award from the Business Awards of Macao in acknowledgement of establishing PhysioOne Centre as well as her dedication to the fields of physiotherapy and lactation.
Chan’s other passions include reading, travelling and good food. Her recent favourite books include Room by Irish-Canadian author Emma Donoghue and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by revolutionary Japanese organising consultant Marie Kondo.
Since moving back to Macao, Chan and her family have found it a great hub for travelling around Asia. With a myriad of diverse Asian metropolises within a 5-hour flight radius, her favourite cities include Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Bangkok, Hua Hin, Taichung, Taipei, Seoul, Shanghai and Beijing. She often combines passions together by enrolling in international professional development courses while visiting her favourite cities.
With its diverse and colourful history as well as its proximity to numerous food meccas of Asia, Macao is a heaven for food lovers, offering endless food adventures for Chan to enjoy.
