Welcome to Team
Founded by Olivia McAvoy and Lauren Thurley in 2021, Team MT is the perfect blend of personalities and experience. From University qualifications to Senior NHS roles and working in Professional Sport, our team have developed skills that help us provide a service that's second to none.
Olivia MCAVOY
A stickler for healthy lifestyle and an avid lover of fitness, Olivia was always destined for a career in the health and fitness sector. Olivia started her journey in 2010 when she applied to Glasgow Caledonian University and four years later in 2014 she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Physiotherapy.
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As a graduate fresh from uni, Olivia joined the NHS as a rotational physio. Since then, she has developed her knowledge and understanding of Musculoskeletal conditions and injuries and advanced from Senior Physiotherapist, to her current position as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner (Band 7) within the NHS. Over the last four years, Olivia has also specialised in Rheumatology working with patients who have a variety of inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis.
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Whilst attending GCU in 2013, Olivia took up the role of Sports First Aider at Hamilton Academical FC. In the years following, she progressed to Head of Youth Academy and was responsible for the delivery of the entire youth physio service at the Club. As of January 2022, MT began our official partnership with HAFC and are delivering the same first class physio service from our state of the art premise. By performing this role Olivia has gained significant experience of acute sporting injuries and sports rehabilitation for many conditions.
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Olivia is also the practice's resident expert at acupuncture having completed her Certificate in Medical Acupuncture with the BMAS and continues to explore other evidence based treatments to expand her skillset.
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In her spare time Olivia loves to get stuck into a HIIT workout or take her Miniature Dachshund, Ivor (one of our MT Mascots!), on a nice woodland walk.
Lauren THURLEY
In her spare time Lauren loves to play Hockey, watch Rugby and get involved with sport in general. Naturally, she brings us a breadth of experience in the sporting physiotherapy arena as a result.
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Her career got underway after graduating from Edinburgh Napier University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science with Honours Degree in Sports Science (Sports Injuries). She returned to uni soon after and completed a Masters in Physiotherapy at Glasgow Caledonian.
Outside of Academia, Lauren developed her career as an NHS Physiotherapist in Musculoskeletal, progressing to Senior Physiotherapist in Rheumatology and onto her current role as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner (Band 7) within an Emergency Department (A&E). It was during her time with the NHS that Lauren would meet Olivia and this would also lead to her involvement in the youth setup at Hamilton Academical FC as a Physiotherapist.
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Lauren's sport physio experience is extensive, having treated Fiji Rugby Internationals, Team Scotland Athletes, Glasgow Rocks Basketball and Hamilton Rugby Club, as well as a multitude of amateur sports. The result is an expert knowledge of acute sport injuries across all sporting backgrounds. Lauren also has considerable knowledge in massage / soft tissue treatment and is the practice's resident expert in this area.
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When taking time away from sport and physiotherapy Lauren still stays active, as she loves to scale the Scottish Munros. She has bagged over 70 to date!
KIM CRUICKSHANK
Physiotherapist
Kim brings some fantastic and varied experience to our team, having served in the NHS as a Community Physiotherapist after graduating from Glasgow Caledonian University. Her interventions providing rapid assessment of often acute injuries helped to prevent hospital admissions, improve patients functional deterioration and assist in the rehabilitation post operation or after illness.
She has experience working in Musculoskeletal and has treated an array of injuries in this space. Most notably, her passion for travel, meeting new people and impacting communities led to her working in MSK clinics in Cambodia and Africa during her studies. Kim currently works as a Senior Physio in Paediatrics and therefore also provides us with excellent knowledge for youth.
Kim also brings a fantastic sporting background to our team having worked with athletes from Motherwell FC, Hamilton Academical FC, Hamilton Rugby, sports brand Nike, Chelsea Football Club and across teams in Netball, Volleyball and more.
DEREK MCMILLAN
Orthopaedic ESP
Derek graduated from Queen Margaret University of Edinburgh in 2007 with a Bsc (Hons) in Physiotherapy. He began working as a physiotherapist at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Western Infirmary teaching hospitals completing his junior rotations in a wide variety of clinical specialisms.
In 2011 he moved to St John’s Hospital in Livingston to take up a senior post in the musculoskeletal outpatients department. During his 5 years in West Lothian, as well as managing a varied caseload, working for private healthcare providers, leading rehabilitation of complex knee injuries and attaining a post graduate qualification in injection therapy he also completed intensive training to become an advanced physiotherapy practitioner in Orthopaedics.
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In 2016 Derek successfully secured a post as an Extended Scope Practitioner (Band 8) in NHS Lanarkshire’s orthopaedic department working closely with consultant staff to manage complex conditions. During this time he has continued his post graduate study attaining an MSc in advanced physiotherapeutic practice from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2023. His dissertation paper for this degree, focused on knee osteoarthritis, won the MSc award for most accomplished dissertation in 2022/23. Derek has worked for both the NHS and private healthcare providers for the past 16 years assessing and treating complex conditions.
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In his current NHS role Derek routinely arranges x-ray, MRI and CT imaging, provides injection therapy, lists patients for orthopaedic surgery and refers patients onwards to other medical specialists. He also leads second opinion clinics for physiotherapy staff within Lanarkshire. This experience gives him the unique insight to provide advice for patients on diagnosis, condition management and the need for further investigation or ultimately opinion on surgical management.
JACQUELINE MURPHY
Physiotherapist
Meet the newest member of Team MT, Jacqueline Murphy!
Jacqueline joins our team with a background in sport, having completed an HND in Sports Therapy at the City of Glasgow College in 2016. She later progressed her studies at Glasgow Caledonian University and graduated in 2020 with a BSc Honours degree in Physiotherapy.
Like all of our team, Jacqueline has a background working with the NHS. She started her career as a Rotational Physiotherapist in NHS Lothian, gaining great experience in a ward setting. She then progressed into a Senior Physiotherapy post (Band 6) with NHS Lanarkshire and currently serves in the Musculoskeletal department.
Jacqueline brings some fantastic complementary skills to our team, including qualifications in Sports Massage and her recently completed Certificate in Medical Acupuncture with BMAS. These skills complement her NHS experience and ensure that she's also been able to provide first class physiotherapy in a sports setting, having worked for semi-professional rugby team Ayrshire Bulls and Ayr 1XV.
Jacqueline enjoys keeping active, playing netball and plans on hopefully completing her first half marathon later this year!
ANDREW LEWIS
Managing Director
Andrew is our behind the scenes team member that takes charge of our business operations.
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With an Honours Degree in Business Studies, A Membership of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply and a Senior Risk Management job within the Civil Service, Andrew gives our team the backing and experience in areas from accounting to marketing and beyond, allowing our physio team to fully focus on the clinical delivery of our practice.
He also has a passion for graphic design and photography, so takes charge of our digital presence across website, social media and branding, whilst also helping set up any more technical digital aspects within the practice.
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What would make Andrew give up his spare time outside of his day job you ask? Well, he's Married to Practice Director Olivia!
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When he's not doing any of the above, he's on the golf course or cheering on Motherwell FC.
