Colin Dombroski’s connection to Western’s Continuing Studies program dates back to 2001 when, as a Western student, he took the Pedorthic Certificate program concurrently with his undergraduate degree. Today, Dombroski is a Canadian Certified Pedorthist. In fact, the only one in Canada holding a PhD in Health and Rehab Sciences.
Since 2002, Dombroski has been at the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic at Western University. Also in 2002, he started a business, SoleScience Inc, as a single practice. In 2009, he began expanding the clinic and manufacturing network. Today, SoleScience is a 12-clinic network and has a staff of 10.
“It’s been a wild ride,” said Dombroski. “Half of staff are family, which is fun (most of the time!). We’ve earned a reputation for ethical provision of foot orthoses, and we have long-standing relationships with world-renowned centres, such as the Fowler Kennedy Clinic.”
SoleScience evaluates an individual’s specific biomechanical needs and determines an appropriate course of action. For instance, if you’re injured and your foot biomechanics are a contributing factor (if you have really high or low arches), SoleScience can help you recover. If you’re looking to prevent injury, their 3D gait service can identify issues in your running/walking that may predispose you to injury.
The pedorthists at SoleScience first earn a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology or Health Sciences and then complete an extensive Post Graduate Diploma Program in Pedorthics at Western University. Other qualifications include athletic therapy, bike fit, specialization in diabetic wound healing, kinesiology, custom and off-the-shelf bracing, and a solid research program at Western.
In addition to being Canada’s only Certified Pedorthist with a PhD in Health and Rehab Sciences, Dombroski was also named to the Top 20 under 40 list by Business London in 2014. He’s a huge cycling fan, and will be watching this year’s Tour de France in its entirety.
“NOTHING else is allowed on the TV during those three weeks,” says Dombroski, who raced downhill mountain biking in the Expert category for years in his late teens and early twenties.
His current research interests include basic orthotic science, manufacturing techniques, and leg length discrepancy, and his specialities are in custom-made foot orthoses, footwear education and biomechanical gait assessments (walking and running). Meanwhile, he is an Adjunct Research Professor at Western University (Physical Therapy).
And now, many years since he first enrolled in a Western Continuing Studies course, Dombroski teaches the capstone course in the pedorthic diploma program.
“They’re always a pleasure to deal with,” Dombroski said of the Continuing Studies department. “Nicole [Tate-Hill] and her team are world class.”
