Bringing together decades of experience in medicine, physiotherapy, and patient care, our team is united by one goal: improving lives through thoughtful, individualized pain management and support.
Pain Assessment & Interventional Care
Brings 25 years of experience to the MDSPASM Clinic.
Dr. Louis Coetzee is a family physician with a special interest in musculoskeletal and spine pathology, chronic pain, and interventional therapies. He brings over 25 years of experience in medicine. After immigrating from South Africa in 2002, Dr. Coetzee practised for 16 years in Bonnyville, Northeast Alberta, as a dedicated family physician. His extensive experience includes sports medicine, acute fracture management, chronic pain care, and interventional treatments.
Since 2019, he has focused full-time on chronic pain assessment and intervention. He is also currently affiliated with BEAM Radiology in Calgary, Alberta. Dr. Coetzee’s career vision is simple: to treat every patient like a family member and to improve the patient experience at every encounter. His compassion and commitment to patient care were recognized with a provincial award from Covenant Health in 2016. His lifelong passion is elevating healthcare to an exceptional standard, particularly in rural communities with limited access to specialized services.
Lead Physical Therapist
JF Bernier is the Lead Physical Therapist at MDSPASM Spine and MSK Assessments and Pain Intervention, bringing over 26 years of experience serving the Bonnyville and greater Lakeland community.
As the longtime owner and physiotherapist at Health First Physiotherapy, JF has guided countless patients through everything from weekend sprains and strains to post-surgical recovery, with a strong focus on musculoskeletal and orthopaedic injury rehabilitation.
Recognized as a trusted cornerstone of physiotherapy care in Bonnyville, JF is committed to delivering the highest quality services while upholding exceptional standards in patient-centred care. By joining forces with Dr. Coetzee under the MDSPASM umbrella, he continues his dedication to reducing pain, restoring function, and empowering patients of all ages to remain active and live life fully.
Physiotherapist & Custom Orthotics Provider
Nicol Bernier has proudly served the Bonnyville and greater Lakeland community for 27 years as co-owner and physiotherapist at Health First Physiotherapy.
With extensive clinical experience and a strong foundation in evidence-based care, Nicol brings additional expertise in acupuncture for pain management and recovery, as well as focused training in foot and ankle biomechanical assessments. She is certified to provide custom foot orthotics when appropriate, offering patients comprehensive solutions to support mobility and function.
As part of the MDSPASM team, Nicol serves as an adjunct therapy provider, enhancing patient care through thoughtful, individualized treatment approaches designed to reduce pain and optimize recovery outcomes.
Clinical Lead
Penny Zaraska serves as the Clinical Lead at MDSPASM. With 42 years of experience as a registered nurse, she brings invaluable knowledge, clinical insight, and leadership to the team.
Compassion has always been the foundation of Penny’s career. A lifelong advocate for her patients, she believes health management is most successful when approached as a collaborative effort. She embraces being part of a multidisciplinary team that brings hope and improved quality of life to those living with pain.
Medical Radiation Technologist
Medical Radiation Technologist
Christine Tercier has been working in the health care field for over forty years in a variety of capacities, starting at the old Edmonton General Hospital in the ’80s. From there, she moved to the Grey Nuns Hospital when it opened in 1984, ending her career there as a Unit Clerk ,to come back to Bonnyville in 2002. She began working at the Bonnyville Medical Clinic at that time and filled several roles there, including transcription, administrative assistant and referralscoordinator. After retiring from the clinic at the end of 2024 ,she began working with MDSPASM part-time and was very happy to have the opportunity to be back working with Dr. Coetzee. Christine has seen a lot of evolution and changes in health care over the past 40+ years and is happy to be working in such a positive, upbeat and compassionate place as MDSPASM. She feels patient care and compassion is paramount and that the team she works with exemplifies “Love at Work.”
Billing Coordinator
Kathy is the senior team member at MDSPASM, bringing 26 years of experience in the medical and clerical field.
Throughout her career, she has witnessed firsthand the challenges and successes patients experience within the healthcare system. Her work has been both promising and deeply rewarding, and she takes pride in being part of a dedicated team that provides compassion, care, and hope to patients and their families.
Reception & Administrative Support
Lianne Barry serves as Administrative Support for MDSPASM Spine and MSK Assessments and Pain Intervention.
With 11 years of experience as both an administrative and physiotherapy assistant at Health First Physiotherapy, she brings a strong understanding of clinical operations and patient care to her role. Lianne has supported the MDSPASM team administratively for the past three years, ensuring a seamless experience for patients from their first phone call through every follow-up visit.
As the friendly voice on the phone and welcoming face at the front desk, she is often the first point of contact for patients and takes pride in guiding them through their care journey with professionalism and warmth.
Outside of work, Lianne enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, both near and far.
