Justine White is standing, hugging a cardiac surgery pillow. She’s smiling and looking directly at another person whose back is to the camera. She has shoulder length, medium brown, wavy hair and brown eyes. She’s wearing a navy blue shirt with her KHSC ID badge.
With a ready smile and a kind heart, Justine White brings warmth, compassion and Maritime charm to her role as a physiotherapist at KHSC — one patient at a time.
Credit
Matthew Manor

There’s just something about Justine White. You can’t help but smile when you’re around her... just look at these photos.

The physiotherapist spreads positivity like sunlight, and beams with compassionate care.

“I genuinely love what I do and get a sense of pride in the care I provide,” explains White.

“Being from a small-town in Nova Scotia, having a sense of community is a core value for me. I enjoy getting to spend a lot of time with my patients and learning where they’re from, especially since I know nothing about Ontario geography, the experiences they’ve had, their families and careers.”

White grew up in a small village of about 3,000 people called Pubnico; it’s the oldest Acadian community still mostly home to Acadian people.

Fun fact: its primary industry is commercial lobster fishing.

That’s where she first learned the power of physiotherapy and the difference it can make.

“My Mémère shows her love for us by hand-stitching quilts, which requires a high level of hand and finger dexterity. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis nearly 50 years ago and with this type of condition, she was losing mobility in her hands quickly.

"She saw a physiotherapist for treatment and, though the sessions were hard work, she still credits physiotherapy to this day with preserving her hand mobility and independence—especially for quilting, an activity that has brought warmth to many who’ve had the privilege of cuddling with her quilts."

Justine White is seated at a table with her computer, a cardiac surgery pillow and some paper, which she’s jotting down notes on. She has shoulder length, medium brown, wavy hair and brown eyes. She’s wearing a navy blue shirt with her KHSC ID badge.
Featured

Healing with heart ❤️

Part of White’s role includes helping patients recover from procedures like open-heart surgery and valve replacements — guiding them through mobility, breathing exercises and the transition home with care and compassion.
A close up shot of Justine White’s hands holding a cardiac surgery pillow. The pillow is bright red with a heart near the top of the pillow.
Featured

Healing with heart ❤️

Part of White’s role includes helping patients recover from procedures like open-heart surgery and valve replacements — guiding them through mobility, breathing exercises and the transition home with care and compassion.
Justine White is kneeling working on a walker, a mobility aid device. Physiotherapy assistant Danielle Knapton, whose back is to the camera, is holding the device. White has shoulder length, medium brown, wavy hair and brown eyes. She’s wearing a navy blue shirt with her KHSC ID badge.
Featured

Healing with heart ❤️

Part of White’s role includes helping patients recover from procedures like open-heart surgery and valve replacements — guiding them through mobility, breathing exercises and the transition home with care and compassion.
A close up shot of Justine White’s hands working on a walker, a mobility aid device. She’s tightening a screw.
Featured

Healing with heart ❤️

Part of White’s role includes helping patients recover from procedures like open-heart surgery and valve replacements — guiding them through mobility, breathing exercises and the transition home with care and compassion.
Justine White is photographed smiling directly into the camera. She has shoulder length, medium brown, wavy hair and brown eyes. She’s wearing a navy blue shirt with her KHSC ID badge.
Featured

Healing with heart ❤️

Part of White’s role includes helping patients recover from procedures like open-heart surgery and valve replacements — guiding them through mobility, breathing exercises and the transition home with care and compassion.

White joined Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) 10 months ago.

So what brought her here?

Let’s just say it’s a health-care meet-cute worthy of a Hallmark movie, and yes, there was a Google search or two about the limestone city.

“My life is pretty much a rom-com,” she chuckles.

“Small-town girl meets city boy, they fall in love. Boy is a medical learner being matched to Queen’s emergency medicine fellowship program, small-town girl moves to the big city.

“Jokes aside, this was the best coincidence. As a Nova Scotian, a lot of people told me, ‘Oh you’ll love Kingston, it’s kind of like Halifax because the city is on a body of water.’ Now having moved away from the ocean, being near water gives me a sense of home.

“It’s also a privilege to work among such knowledgeable physiotherapists who are devoted to providing the best possible evidence-based care to patients. They made me feel welcome, and being part of a big team has reinvigorated my desire to be curious. I’m excited and proud to be a physiotherapist.”

Justine White and physiotherapy assistant Danielle Knapton are laying side-by-side with their feet crossed in the air, holding a cardiac surgery pillow. White has shoulder length, medium brown, wavy hair and brown eyes. She’s wearing a navy blue shirt with her KHSC ID badge. Knapton has straight medium brown hair and blue eyes. She’s wearing light blue scrubs with her KHSC ID badge.
Featured

Laughter and healing 😊

Whether it’s a shared laugh or a light-hearted moment at the bedside, physiotherapist Justine White and physiotherapy assistant Danielle Knapton create a positive, uplifting environment that helps cardiac patients feel at ease during recovery.
Justine White is standing next to physiotherapy assistant Danielle Knapton near a care desk. The duo are seen chatting and smiling with another person whose back is to the camera.
Featured

Laughter and healing 😊

Whether it’s a shared laugh or a light-hearted moment at the bedside, physiotherapist Justine White and physiotherapy assistant Danielle Knapton create a positive, uplifting environment that helps cardiac patients feel at ease during recovery.
Justine White and physiotherapy assistant Danielle Knapton embracing with a cardiac surgery pillow. White has shoulder length, medium brown, wavy hair and brown eyes. She’s wearing a navy blue shirt with her KHSC ID badge. Knapton has straight medium brown hair and blue eyes. She’s wearing light blue scrubs with her KHSC ID badge.
Featured

Laughter and healing 😊

Whether it’s a shared laugh or a light-hearted moment at the bedside, physiotherapist Justine White and physiotherapy assistant Danielle Knapton create a positive, uplifting environment that helps cardiac patients feel at ease during recovery.
Justine White and physiotherapy assistant Danielle Knapton are putting together a walker, a mobility aid device. White has shoulder length, medium brown, wavy hair and brown eyes. She’s wearing a navy blue shirt with her KHSC ID badge. Knapton has straight medium brown hair and blue eyes. She’s wearing light blue scrubs with her KHSC ID badge.
Featured

Laughter and healing 😊

Whether it’s a shared laugh or a light-hearted moment at the bedside, physiotherapist Justine White and physiotherapy assistant Danielle Knapton create a positive, uplifting environment that helps cardiac patients feel at ease during recovery.
Justine White is standing and putting together a crutch, while looking at physiotherapy assistant Danielle Knapton, whose back is to the camera. White has shoulder length, medium brown, wavy hair and brown eyes. She’s wearing a navy blue shirt with her KHSC ID badge.
Featured

Laughter and healing 😊

Whether it’s a shared laugh or a light-hearted moment at the bedside, physiotherapist Justine White and physiotherapy assistant Danielle Knapton create a positive, uplifting environment that helps cardiac patients feel at ease during recovery.

And that’s what makes White so special.

Not only is she a highly skilled physiotherapist who pays it forward by mentoring student placements, but she also brings a sense of comfort, community and encouragement to everyone around her.

Which is especially important because she supports cardiac patients, including those recovering from surgeries and their families.

“Positivity and a strong sense of community are what help me get through uncertain times. With each patient interaction, my hope is that I help break the monotony of being admitted to the hospital — whether through a simple conversation or using humour to brighten someone’s day.”

May is National Physiotherapy Month.

Join us in thanking all KHSC physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistants who help patients heal, recover and regain their independence — people like White who make a difference every day with their expertise, compassion and unwavering support.

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