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Cathy MacKinnon shares her experience of the
Artists' Health Centre
I am a voice coach and actor currently teaching full-time for the Theatre Performance Program at Humber College. I first heard about the Artists' Health Centre in 2000 when I was a coach at Stratford. I attended a conference held at the Tanenbaum Centre as a guest of Janine Pearson, Head of Voice at Stratford. Then about a year ago, my partner Jeff White - also an actor, was having back problems and made an appointment at the AHC. His physician, Dr. Phil Ellison, (TWH), referred him to the AHC's physiotherapist, Ginette Hamel. It was because of Jeff's rave reviews that I contacted Gabriella Herr, the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at the AHC and began working with her as my primary health care giver.
The Centre is amazing! Ginette and Gabriella are both such fantastic women. They truly are the best in their fields. They understand the needs of artists, and that makes such a huge difference. In a recent session with Ginette, she commented that someone who doesn't understand the demands of the craft might look at my mobility and not see anything wrong. Because she understands both my needs and expectations as a performer, she recognized that I wasn't functioning at the highest level that I could reach. She has also been working with me on how the body and the breath connect. It's a bonus to be able to take what I'm learning with her at the AHC into my work when training actors.
I feel as if I am part of a team when I am working with Gabriella and Ginette (as they often consult with one another) – that my opinions matter and have an effect on my treatment. I am always given the time I need, and both my emotional and physical states are taken into consideration. The facility itself is great with the movement assessment studio to work in and with the resources of the hospital to access.
It is an invaluable place and I am so glad that it exists! More artists need to know about it and take advantage of this incredible facility.
