Meet the Team at Summit Chiropractic
Dr James McDermott (Watford & Hemel Clinic)
Dr James McDermott is based at the Watford practice. He started his education at the University of Hull. After completing a three-year programme in Sports Rehabilitation, he discovered a passion for chiropractic.
He enrolled in the prestigious Anglo-European College of Chiropractic in Bournemouth. In 2013, he graduated with a Master’s degree in Chiropractic. He began practising at one of the biggest chiropractic companies in Europe.
Dr James continued learning, and growing his skills, with seminars across the UK, Europe, and America. He has attended Cal Jam multiple times, one of the best known annual chiropractic conferences, hosting over 2,500 attendees from across the world.
Passionate About Chiropractic
Dr James is passionate about sports, and looks after many professional boxers and combat fighters, to help them reach the peak of fitness, recover and heal. Follow him over on Instagram at @dr.j_chiro for more.
Outside the Practice
You can find Dr James enjoying family time with his wife, Sophie who practises at Hemel, and their three young children, or travelling to see family in his home town of Scarborough.
Dr Briar Nelson (Watford Clinic)
Dr. Briar Nelson is deeply passionate about helping her patients achieve their best health through natural, effective chiropractic care. Her approach is rooted in a genuine desire to listen, understand, and guide each patient toward their health goals, ensuring they feel their absolute best at every stage of their journey.
Dr. Briar graduated from London South Bank University, where she was profoundly influenced by Robert Crowley. His engaging, case-based teaching style not only brought the subject matter to life but also helped shape her hands-on, practical approach to chiropractic care, which she continues to implement in her practice today.
For over a decade, Dr. Briar has been committed to chiropractic, driven by her fascination with the human body and a lifelong passion for helping others. This dedication has only deepened over the years, as she continues to see the transformative effects of chiropractic care on her patients’ lives.
Dr. Briar is continually expanding her knowledge and expertise to provide the best care possible. She has advanced training in shockwave therapy and kinesiotaping, and is currently pursuing courses in X-ray imaging and paediatric chiropractic care. Her commitment to ongoing learning ensures that she remains at the forefront of her field, always ready to deliver the most effective treatments to her patients.
Outside of her practice, Dr. Briar enjoys unwinding with a good book, solving puzzles, or spending quality time with friends. Originally from Canada, she moved to the UK four years ago, where she has built a new family with her partner and a close-knit group of classmates who feel like family. Her twin sister, a nurse, shares Dr. Briar’s passion for healthcare, making their family’s dedication to helping others a lifelong commitment.
Dr. Briar’s warm, compassionate nature and unwavering dedication to her patients make her a trusted partner in their health journeys, empowering them to achieve optimal well-being.
Dr Sophie McDermott (Hemel Clinic)
Dr Sophie McDermott is based at the Hemel practice. She was a teenager when her Dad experienced back pain that kept him from working. She accompanied him to his chiropractor visits and was amazed at the impact it had on his life. She decided she wanted to help people in the same way.
Dr Sophie enrolled in the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, graduating in 2011. She’s excited about the opportunity to help her local community achieve better health. Dr Sophie says, ‘Chiropractic is for everyone'; she loves taking care of families. Her youngest client was two days old and her eldest was 100!
Dr Sophie practices what she preaches, leading a chiropractic lifestyle. She is adjusted regularly, stays positive, eats well and exercises often. She hopes her example will help empower people to make better health decisions.
Read More About Dr Sophie
Outside the Practice
Dr Sophie keeps busy taking care of her 3 children and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Dr James and Dr Sophie are both passionate about chiropractic. They coach and mentor other chiropractors and healthcare professionals to be the best they can be.
Dr Rosa Mendes Gomez (Hemel Clinic)
Dr Rosa Mendes Gomez is based at the Hemel practice. She was always keen on becoming a healthcare practitioner since childhood, and thought she would become a medical doctor or nurse and specialise in paediatrics. “However, when I moved to the UK and was applying for universities, a good friend of mine suggested I look into chiropractic as he had a feeling it would be the right profession for me”.
After researching chiropractic, Dr Rosa was sold. She strongly believes that what made her choose chiropractic was its self-healing and regulating abilities and how it gives power to the body.
Finding Fulfilment Helping Others
When Dr Rosa’s clients first meet her, they appreciate that she is friendly, but professional and approachable. And she’s clearly passionate about what she does.
“My favourite aspect of being a chiropractor is seeing the changes my clients experience not only in the complaint they might have come with but how with better function of their bodies they can see a transformation in other aspects of their lives”.
Read More About Dr Rosa
Education and Achievements
Dr Rosa earned her Doctor of Chiropractic from McTimoney Chiropractic College. “My favourite memory is when it was our turn to organise the BACS (British Association of Chiropractic Students) Conference, and Guy Riekeman, former president of Life University, was one of the speakers”. Dr Rosa found his talk to be so inspiring. The way he was able to transmit his love for chiropractic and dedication made her realise she was going to be part of a special profession and that she wanted to be a vitalistic chiropractor.
An Interest in Paediatrics & Women’s Health
With her biggest passion being paediatrics and women’s health, Dr Rosa strives to provide the best care for the whole family with a particular focus on aiding children to grow healthy and happy, as they are the future. One of her favourite quotes is, “It is easier to build strong children, than repair broken adults”.
Over the years, Dr Rosa’s perspective on health has changed as she believes in the importance of taking responsibility for one’s health. She feels that when people come to the realisation that health is dependent on everything we do, from how we think, how we feel, how we move, how we eat and our daily habits, it encourages us to make the right choices to live a healthier life.
Outside the Practice
When she’s not practising, Dr Rosa loves reading about a range of topics from self-motivation and development books to novels. She also enjoys learning new skills and knowledge to apply in practice and to better help her clients. Pole fitness is one of her hobbies.
Dr Hussein Vakili (Hemel Clinic)
Dr. Hussein Vakili is driven by a profound commitment to helping others lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. For him, the most rewarding part of being a chiropractor is seeing his efforts contribute to his patients’ well-being and happiness. It’s this ability to make a difference that inspires him every day.
A graduate of London South Bank University, Dr. Hussein’s journey was shaped not only by his studies but also by the connections he made with his peers. Early in his education, he discovered the value of collaboration when he joined a study group, transforming his approach to learning and reinforcing the importance of building strong, supportive relationships.
Patients quickly recognise Dr. Hussein’s genuine passion for chiropractic care and his unwavering dedication to their health. This calling became clear when he took time to reflect on his purpose in life and realised that helping others was what he was meant to do.
Dr. Hussein believes that long-term health requires a proactive approach. He encourages patients to prioritise self-care while they can and to seek out activities that bring joy—both essential to overall well-being.
Before pursuing chiropractic, Dr. Hussein was deeply involved in football, playing for QPR Academy before transitioning into coaching youth teams. His experience in nurturing young talent and fostering growth continues to influence his approach to patient care today.
When he’s not in the practice, you’ll likely find Dr. Hussein running at the gym or recovering in the sauna after pushing himself to new limits. Growing up in a large family of nine—with five brothers and one sister—he learned the importance of connection, teamwork, and always having someone by your side.
Dr. Hussein combines his personal passions, professional expertise, and deep empathy to deliver exceptional care, empowering his patients to live their healthiest lives.
Stuart Day, Sports Massage Therapist (Hemel Clinic)
Stuart Day started his education at Sports Therapy UK back in 2010. He has always had a deep interest in sports injuries, having experienced so many himself while playing sports throughout the years.
But there was a moment in his previous career, where he was teaching at a college on the topic of sports injuries when he realized, “Why haven’t I looked at becoming a Sports Massage Therapist?” Fast forward to today and here he is living out his dream.
Qualifications and Accomplishments
Stuart has additional qualifications as a sports massage therapist. These include:
- UTCT L5 Qualifications in Upper and Lower Body Injuries
- Pregnancy Massage– from the London School of Massage
- Trained in the use of the Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
Love for Sports
When Stuart is not at Summit Chiropractic, you can find him watching one of his favourite sports, cricket. Following one team in particular, the Essex County Cricket team. His love for sports doesn’t stop there, he is also an avid fan of the Fulham Football Club. If there is a football match or any other sporting event going on you will most likely find him there in attendance.
Hannah, Sports Massage Therapist (Hemel Clinic)
What do you love most about being a sports massage therapist?
What I love most about being a sports massage therapist is the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, big or small. Whether it’s helping athletes reach their peak performance or enabling someone to walk and sit without pain, seeing the joy and relief on my clients’ faces is incredibly fulfilling. It’s rewarding to know that my work helps them live more comfortably and enjoy their daily activities, whether it’s excelling in their sport or simply being pain-free at their work desk. The ability to positively impact their well-being is what makes this profession truly special to me.
Where did you study?
University of Hertfordshire
It is said that the most successful people are those who are irrationally passionate about something. What’s that “something” for you?
For me, that “something” is living a healthy life and promoting the belief that movement is medicine. I’m passionate about helping everyone experience the freedom of being pain-free. I believe that everyone deserves to live without pain and to enjoy the benefits of health, fitness, and overall well-being. This drives me to help others find relief and regain their mobility, ensuring they can live their lives to the fullest.
During my competitive swimming career, I suffered an injury that required extensive rehabilitation. Fascinated by the process of regaining strength and mobility, I discovered the powerful combination of strengthening and mobility exercises with sports massage. This experience inspired me to become a sports therapist incorporating massage so I could help others achieve the same successful recovery and well-being.
I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Therapy and am certified in Cupping therapy and sports massage. My specialisation lies in treating injuries not only from sports but also those caused by day-to-day activities. I focus on effective rehabilitation and utilize soft tissue therapy to enhance recovery for athletes and clients alike.
When I’m not working, I like going to the gym for group classes and swimming. I enjoy dining out with friends and family, especially Italian food. Taking long walks with my two dogs and I also love traveling to new places.
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We’re Here For You!
Our chiropractors would love to introduce you to chiropractic care, and Stuart Day, would like to introduce you to sports massage therapy. Contact our friendly team to make an appointment today.
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