Our Team

Banff Sport Medicine

Below lists our Orthopaedic Surgeons, Sport Medicine Physicians and support team.

Banff Sport Medicine is a teaching facility as such you may encounter a fellow or resident working with our surgeons and physicians. Our fellows are fully qualified and accredited surgeons. Our fellowship training program offers these surgeons the opportunity to gain experience in sport-related musculoskeletal trauma and reconstructive surgery. We also periodically take on short-term residencies. Residents are medical trainees enrolled in a recognized specialty or sub-specialty training program accredited with one of the University of Calgary postgraduate medical education offices in Canada. Our surgeons and physicians are honored to be involved in educating new surgeons and medical students.

Orthopaedic Surgeons

Dr. Mark Heard

Mark received his Medical Degree from the University of Calgary, completed an orthopaedic residency at the University of Ottawa, and a Clinical Fellowship in Arthroscopic Surgery and Sport Medicine at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Mark has worked as an Orthopaedic Surgeon in Banff since 1992 and he is currently a consulting surgeon for Canadian Alpine and Snow Sports, and the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Mark is involved in a number of sport medicine organizations including the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee and Orthopedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS), the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA), the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA), and the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM). He is a past member of the Canadian Whitewater Kayak/Canoe Team. Mark continues to make the most of many outdoor adventures including skiing, biking, kayaking, and mountaineering.

Dr. Greg Buchko

Greg received his Medical Degree from the University of Saskatchewan, completed an orthopaedic residency at the University of Ottawa, and a Clinical Fellowship in Arthroscopic Surgery and Sport Medicine at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Greg has worked as an Orthopaedic Surgeon in Banff, Alberta since 1995. Greg is a member of various Sport Medicine Associations including the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA), the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA) and the Arthroscopy Association of Canada (AAC). Greg’s interests have included coaching hockey, football and baseball teams, and he continues to coach handball. He is a former University football player but now sticks to gentler sports like golf, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and road biking.

Dr. Laurie Hiemstra

Laurie obtained her Medical Degree from the Memorial University of Newfoundland, completed an orthopaedic residency at the University of Manitoba, and a Clinical Fellowship in Orthopedic Sport Medicine at the University of Western Ontario. She also attained a PhD in Neuromuscular Physiology.

Laurie has worked as an Orthopaedic Surgeon at Banff Sport Medicine since 2005. She previously worked at the University of Calgary Sport Medicine Centre from 2001 – 2005 and holds a Clinical Professor appointment at the University of Calgary. Laurie is an active member of many sport medicine organizations including the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee and Orthopedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS), the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA), the American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine (AOSSM), the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA), the Arthroscopy Association of Canada (AAC) and the International Patellofemoral Study Group. Laurie lives in the Bow Valley with her three sons. She is active in sport including mountain biking, road biking, cross country skiing and hiking.

Dr. Michaela Kopka

Michaela received her Medical Degree from the University of Toronto, completed her orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Calgary and a Clinical Fellowship in Arthroscopic Surgery and Sports Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

During her Fellowship working with Dr. Freddie Fu at the University of Pittsburgh, Michaela worked as a team physician with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins. She then travelled to Europe to complete an AO Trauma Fellowship at King Charles University in Prague. Her professional memberships include the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine (AOSSM), the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA), the AO Trauma Society, the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA), the Canadian Academy of Exercise and Sport Medicine (CASEM), and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Michaela is a former NCAA Division I volleyball player but now prefers to climb and ski in the Canadian Rockies.

Dr. Mireille Marquis

Mireille received her Medical Degree and completed an orthopaedic residency at Laval University in her hometown of Quebec City. She then completed a first year of Fellowship in Arthroscopic reconstruction and Sport Medicine with the Banff Sport Medicine team and a second year with the University of British Columbia group in Vancouver.

She is now practicing with our team and extending the program in BC, predominantly in Golden, but also in Fernie. Her professional memberships include the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS), the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM) and the Arthroscopy Association of Canada (AAC). On her own time, Mireille makes the most of what the Golden area has to offer and you might see her around backcountry skiing, ice climbing, mountain biking, or whitewater paddling.

Dr. Matthew Getzlaf - Fellow 2024-2025

Dr. Getzlaf grew up in Southern Saskatchewan, and obtained his Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Regina. He then worked as a fishing guide in Northern Saskatchewan prior to starting medical school at the University of Saskatchewan.

He has a young family that has moved with him to Canmore. In his spare time he enjoys fishing, hiking, biking, and spending time with his family.

Sport Medicine Physicians

Dr. Andy Reed

Andy received his medical degree from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in the UK in 1994.

He then trained as a family physician and pursued a career in Family Medicine and Sport Medicine in the UK, Regina and then in Canmore. He began a full time sport medicine practice in 2012 in Canmore. He is certified by the Canadian Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine. Andy has been the Lead Team Physician of the Canadian National Biathlon, Cross Country and Paranordic ski teams since 2005. He has a keen interest in the utility of MSK ultrasound for the diagnosis and management of sports injuries. As an elite level ultra distance trail runner, he has a lot of experience in the prevention and management of running related injuries.

Dr. Matt McIsaac

Matt received his medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2008, and then pursued a rural family medicine residency in Red Deer through the University of Alberta.

He did extra training in Sport Medicine throughout his residency, and started full time Sport Medicine practice in 2011 in Saskatoon with the Saskatoon Orthopedic and Sport Medicine Centre. He is certified by, and a member of, the Canadian Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine. He has recently completed the qualification for Emergency Medicine competency through the College of Family Physicians of Canada. He is also a member of the Wilderness Medical Society, and has an interest in performance medicine. Throughout his practice he has worked with varsity hockey at the University of Saskatchewan, and more recently with Canada Junior Snowboarding. He now resides in Canmore with his wife. He loves snowboarding and mountain biking, and otherwise spends a lot of time hiking, cooking, and in the gym.

Dr. Elana Taub

Elana was born and raised in Calgary. She graduated from UBC’s Island Medical Program in 2014, and went on to complete her Family Medicine Residency and enhanced skills in Sport and Exercise Medicine at the University of Calgary in 2017.

Before this, she completed aMasters of Science in Exercise Physiology, also at the University of Calgary. She has a passion for helping patients achieve a healthy,active lifestyle. Elana is the team physician for Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton and provides medical coverage for several local sporting eventsas well.

Outside of medicine, Elana loves exploring the trails with her 6 year old golden retriever, Cooper. A retired national and international levelrower, Elana has taken up long distance triathlon – you’ll often find her running the trails around town or riding her tri bike along highway1A. If she hadn’t gone into medicine, Elana would either be a professional photographer, a personal chef or a travel blogger.

Support Team

Sara-Jane, Man-Yi, Marta, Chantal, Crystal, Jessie, Veronica, Rebecca, Madelyn, Natasha, Kelly, and Sam

The Sport Medicine Physicians Administrative Team

Email the Sport Medicine Team

403 760 2897 Ext 2

The Orthopaedic Surgeons Administrative Team

Email the Orthopaedic Team

403 760 2897 Ext 1