On this episode, Healthy Wealthy and Smart Combined Sections Meeting Scholarship recipient Becky Bouressa, SPT joins me to discuss CSM from a student’s perspective. Becky is a second year Doctor of Physical Therapy student at A.T. Still University in Mesa, AZ and is most interested in pediatric physical therapy and developing her niche through further clinical rotation experience. Stay tuned to the podcast for next year’s scholarship opportunity to attend Combined Sections Meeting 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana!
In this episode, we discuss:
-How to prepare for and make the most of a conference experience
-Becky’s conference and networking highlights from CSM
-How technology can improve your next CSM experience and social media resources for students
-Recommendations for students networking with seasoned clinicians
-And so much more!
Combined Sections Meeting has ample opportunities for student engagement both clinically and professionally. Becky recommends preparing activities in advance to make the most of your conference experience as, “There is always an opportunity to learn at CSM.”
Becky encourages students to reach out to many of the lecturers from Combined Sections Meeting with follow up questions. She has found that, “People are happy to respond so don’t be afraid to [email]. They are open to answer any questions. They are there to teach.”
For more information on Becky:
Hello! I am a second year DPT student at A.T. Still University in Mesa, AZ. I am originally from Wisconsin where I received my undergraduate degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee. As of now, I am most interested in pediatric physical therapy, but am open to all types and hope to develop my niche through further clinical rotation experience.
Resources discussed on this show:
Doctor of Physical Therapy Student Group on Facebook
Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!
Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!
Xo Karen
P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!
On this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, I welcome Dr. Sarah Haag, Dr. Sandy Hilton and Dr. Jason Falvey for another installment all about sex. The was recorded live at CSM and we covered a wide range of topics including 50 Shades of Grey. Two of the four of us read the books…guess which two! Make sure to catch up on Part 1 and Part 2 and enjoy the show!
In this episode, we discuss:
-What’s normal female anatomy?
-Graded exposure for women’s sexual health
-Can interventions for sex be researched?
-Sex education for people with low back pain
-What you should and shouldn’t be inserting into the vagina
-And so much more!
For a lot of people in today’s society, there is almost no body part which escapes insecurity. Sandy believes the variety of human forms should be celebrated and genitalia is no different. Sandy reminds us that, “The normal human variability is as variable as noses.”
Patients may question whether they should continue sexual activity that is accompanied by chronic pain. Both Sandy and Sarah emphatically agree, “sex should never be painful,” adding, “if it doesn’t feel good, don’t do it.”
Many chronic pelvic pain patients may have adverse experiences with sex. Sarah finds that a graded exposure treatment plan which is sensitive to psychological associations and fears will lead to better outcomes. Sarah finds, “It’s really important to have something that the person doesn’t feel the need to protect against.”
For more information on the panel:
SARAH HAAG PT, DPT, MS, WCS CERT. MDT, RYT: Sarah graduated from Marquette University in 2002 with a Master’s of Physical Therapy. Sarah has pursued an interest in treating the spine, pelvis with a specialization in women’s and men’s health. Over the past 8 years, Sarah has seized every opportunity available to her in order to further her understanding of the human body, and the various ways it can seem to fall apart in order to sympathetically and efficiently facilitate a return to optimal function. Sarah was awarded the Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Physical Therapy (CAPP) from the Section on Women’s Health. She went on to get her Doctorate of Physical Therapy and Masters of Science in Women’s Health from Rosalind Franklin University in 2008. In 2009 she was awarded a Board Certification as a specialist in women’s health (WCS). Sarah also completed a Certification in Mechanical Diagnosis Therapy from the Mckenzie Institute in 2010. Most recently, Sarah completed a 200 hour Yoga Instructor Training Program, and is now a Registered Yoga Instructor. Sarah plans to integrate yoga into her rehabilitation programs, as well as teach small, personalized classes.
Sarah looks at education, and a better understanding of the latest evidence in the field of physical therapy, as the best way to help people learn about their conditions, and to help people learn to take care of themselves throughout the life span.
SANDY HILTON PT, DPT, MS: Sandy graduated from Pacific University (Oregon) in 1988 with a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Des Moines University in December 2013. She has worked in multiple settings across the US with neurologic and orthopaedic emphasis combining these with a focus in pelvic rehabilitation for pain and dysfunction since 1995. Sandy has teaches Health Professionals and Community Education classes on returning to function following back and pelvic pain, assisted with Myofascial Release education, and co-teaches Advanced Level Male Pelvic Floor Evaluation and Treatment. Sandy’s clinical interest is chronic pain with a particular interest in complex pelvic pain disorders for men and women. Sandy is also pursuing opportunities for collaboration in research into the clinical treatment of pelvic pain conditions.
Sandy brings science and common sense together beautifully to help people learn to help themselves.
JASON FALVEY PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA: Jason is a board certified geriatric physical therapist with a strong interest in improving outcomes for both frail older adults and older adults with hospital-associated deconditioning. He has current funding from the Foundation for Physical Therapy (PODS 1 Award, 2015) and the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy to support his participation in ongoing research the use of a novel Progressive High Intensity Therapy (PHIT) training program on medically complex older adults after acute hospitalization. He also has funding from both the American Physical Therapy Association Health Policy and Administration Section and the Home Health Section to evaluate how physical therapists can reduce avoidable hospital readmissions. Lastly, Jason is collaborating with local long-term care providers to determine how physical functioning can be assessed and best managed to reduce rates of falls, ER visits, and hospitalization.
Resources discussed on this show:
Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!
Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!
Xo Karen
P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!
LIVE from Combined Sections Meeting, this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast features Professor Peter O’Sullivan discussing elements of the biopsychosocial model for chronic pain management. Peter O’Sullivan is Professor of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy at Curtin University, Perth, Australia. In addition to his teaching and research at Curtin University, he works in clinical practice as a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2005) in Perth, Australia. He is recognized internationally as a leading clinician, researcher and educator in the management of complex musculoskeletal pain disorders.
In this episode, we discuss:
-Why you should validate your patient’s pain experience, understand their beliefs and fears, and disconfirm them through behavioral learning
-The link between a practitioner’s language and self-efficacy
-The informal and non-threatening art of Peter’s initial examination
-Maintaining professional boundaries with chronic pain patients and avoiding burn out
-And so much more!
One of the strongest influences to better treatment outcomes for chronic pain patients is trust in the therapeutic alliance. “You’ve got to build a strong therapeutic relationship,” Peter suggests if you want to see patient’s engage in their program and take more control over their pain.
Treating chronic pain patients can be challenging. With the right evaluation framework and understanding of neuroscience, Peter believes you can make instant impact for the patient. Peter stresses, “The nervous system is so damn plastic. If you can get to the heart of what someone is thinking and feeling. Validate it and take them on a journey—it can break that schema up.”
Peter is critical of therapeutic techniques in physical therapy when in fact a majority of patients would benefit from relaxation strategies and progressive loading. He suggests, “I think we undermine how smart the body is…someone who gets in trouble is someone who is too hyper vigilant and probably obsessed with their technique.”
For more information on Peter:
Peter is the Professor of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy at Curtin University, West Australia and is a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2005). His private clinic is Body Logic Physiotherapy in Perth www.bodylogicphysiotherapy.com.au. Peter has an international reputation for clinical research investigating the development, multi-dimensional assessment and targeted management of chronic spinal pain disorders. He has also developed a management approach for chronic low back pain – called ‘cognitive functional therapy’. He has published over 190 papers with his team in international peer review journals, has presented the findings of his research at more than 90 National and International conferences and has run clinical workshops in over 24 countries. Peter’s expertise is linking of clinical research to the clinical setting. (see www.pain-ed.com)
Resources discussed on this show:
Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!
Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!
Xo Karen
P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!
On today’s episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, I welcome Miye Fonseca to talk about the top strategies you can implement to pass the National Physical Therapy Exam! Miye Fonseca is the Founder and CEO of Therapy Exam Prep, provider of online NPTE and NPTAE exam prep courses focusing on the clinical thinking aspects, test-taking strategies and addressing factors on confidence, fear and test anxiety. She has spoken at student conclaves about exam preparation from a clinical thinking and practical approach.
In this episode, we discuss:
-Miye’s top 3 most important components for success
-Is taking practice exam after practice exam the best strategy for preparation?
-Why you need to think clinically and treat exam questions as mini evaluations
-How mindset can be the deciding factor to pass the NPTE
-And so much more!
The shift from academics to the NPTE’s clinically oriented framework can be challenging for students. From Miye’s experience, she found that she was, “viewing the exam too academically and not like a practicing clinician. Patients aren’t textbooks and they’re not study guides either.”
The NPTE mirrors clinical practice forcing students to deal with ambiguity and use the little bit of information available to start an effective treatment plan. Miye reminds us that, “In the clinic, you’re not going to know everything and you have to grasp onto one particular thing to help that patient.”
With stress levels high, mindset can be a deciding factor in getting a passing grade on the NPTE exam. Miye challenges future test takers, “Are you going to beat the NPTE or are you going to allow that exam to beat you?”
For more information on Miye:
Miye Fonseca, PT, DPT is the Founder and CEO of Therapy Exam Prep, provider of online NPTE and NPTAE exam prep courses focusing on clinical thinking, test-taking strategies and addressing factors on confidence, fear and test anxiety. She has spoken at student conclaves about exam preparation from a clinical thinking and practical approach.
Miye graduated from the University of Southern California with her class being ranked #1 for PT programs in US News for the first time. When preparing for her own board exam, she felt there had to be a better way to prepare than just reading a study guide book as there were no online prep courses at that time. The idea of Therapy Exam Prep came about after treating in private orthopedic practice for years and recognizing how the exam had transitioned into being more integrated and clinical.
Miye started the first online exam prep course for PTs and PTAs preparing for their own exam.
She brings the clinical examples into studying and treating the exam holistically by easing fear, stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. With many practical and powerful test-taking strategies as well as receiving training by the FSBPT on writing NPTE format style questions, Miye has been able to help thousands of candidates be successful.
She has worked with recruiting agencies, PT and PTA programs as a curriculum consultant, and also written exam prep articles in publications and blogs.
Resources discussed on this show:
Snapchat: momohime11
Email: miye@therapyexamprep.com
Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!
Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!
Xo Karen
P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!
On today’s episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, Michael Matlack joins me to discuss the Physical Therapy Political Action Committee (PT-PAC). Michael Matlack is the Director of Congressional Affairs with the American Physical Therapy Association which advances the association's legislative priorities on Capitol Hill through federal lobbying, grassroots, and political action.
In this episode, we discuss:
-Physical Therapy Political Action Committee: What it is and what it isn’t
-How the PT PAC attracts the attention of legislators
-Important PT PAC initiatives in 2017
-Ways you can get involved with the PT PAC
-What is up with all those ducks??
-And so much more!
The most effective way to get past the wall of congressional staff and lobbyists is through direct lines of communication from practitioners and patients. To elicit action from our members of congress, Michael believes, “They need to hear from our members, our patients and how healthcare policy affects them.”
One of the initiatives the PT PAC is targeting for 2017 is physical therapy as an alternative to opioid use for pain management. Michael notes that we need to educate legislators that, “We can manage pain. You don’t need to do drugs to do that. Physical therapy is the answer in many ways.”
Members of congress are there to represent their constituents and physical therapists can get involved in local advocacy and contact their own representatives to make the biggest impact. Michael advises, “What’s most important is to share what you do and how this healthcare policy affects your patients. That’s what resonates with members of congress.”
For more information on Michael:
Michael Matlack is currently the Director of Congressional Affairs in the Government Affairs department of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). He oversees APTA’s lobbying team, PAC, and grassroots departments. Michael was employed by APTA on April, 1999.
Prior to joining APTA, Michael was employed by the National Society of Professional Engineers as their Manager of Congressional Relations for two and half years. Michael was in charge of their political action committee, grassroots programs, and lobbying on education and research issues.
Michael also worked at Pearson & Pipkin, Inc, a small consulting firm, the Republican National Committee and interned for former Congressman Richard Pombo (R-CA).
Michael is responsible for all political action at the federal level. Michael is in charge of APTA’s political action committee, PT-PAC. In the 2015-2016 election cycle PT-PAC raised more than $1.6 million through the direction of Mr. Matlack.
Michael received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University in 1993. Michael has been married to his wife Cynthia for twent-one years and has two children named, Summer and Kayla.
Resources discussed on this show:
Email: michaelmatlack@apta.org
Phone: (703) 706-3163
Private Practice Section Annual Conference 2017
Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!
Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!
Xo Karen
P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!
LIVE from Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Justin Moore joins me to discuss the American Physical Therapy Association’s initiatives for 2017! Dr. Justin Moore, PT, DPT, a physical therapist and veteran of both the profession and the association with more than 20 years' experience, leads the American Physical Therapy Association in the role of CEO. He has been with APTA for 18 years and has held numerous positions, including executive vice president of public affairs, leading the public policy agenda and payment and communications departments, leading its federal and state affairs advocacy departments and serving as the association's lead lobbyist on Capitol Hill.
In this episode, we discuss:
-The American Physical Therapy Association’s focus for 2017
-APTA’s renewed focus on building partnerships with others in the healthcare ecosystem
-The role of advocacy within the physical therapy profession
-Updates on APTA’s progress in new legislative initiatives and the regulatory environment
-How can diverse sections within physical therapy work together to promote the profession as a whole
-And so much more!
There are many opportunities for physical therapists to participate in advocacy and both individually and collectively impact the profession. Justin notes, “One of the things that physical therapy has is strength in numbers.”
The physical therapy profession nurtures ideal qualities for strong advocacy. Justin notes, “We are naturals at advocacy. We advocate for patients on a daily basis so advocating on that macro level and state capitols and on Capitol Hill is a great function for physical therapists.”
Dr. Moore’s advice to budding physical therapists is to utilize their energy and drive to, “Take more risks early.”
For more information on Justin:
Justin Moore, PT, DPT, a physical therapist and veteran of both the profession and the association with more than 20 years' experience, leads the American Physical Therapy Association in the role of CEO. He has been with APTA for 18 years and has held numerous positions, including executive vice president of public affairs, leading the public policy agenda and payment and communications departments, leading its federal and state affairs advocacy departments and serving as the association's lead lobbyist on Capitol Hill. Moore also previously oversaw APTA's practice and research departments. He has been honored for his contributions to physical therapy and public policy by receiving the R. Charles Harker Policymaker Award from APTA's Health Policy and Administration Section and the Distinguished Service Award from APTA's Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. In addition, Moore has written, presented, and lectured on health policy, payment, and government affairs issues to a variety of health care and business groups across the country.
Moore received his doctor of physical therapy degree from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2005, his master of physical therapy degree from University of Iowa in 1996, and his bachelor of science degree in dietetics from Iowa State University in 1993. He was honored by Iowa State University's College of Human Sciences with the Helen LaBaron Hilton Award in 2014 and the university's Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition's Alumni Impact Award in 2011, and he was the Family and Consumer Sciences' Young Alumnus of the Year in 2003. He also recently completed a 3-year term on Iowa State University's College of Human Sciences Board of Advisors. Moore was part of the inaugural Leadership Alexandria class in 2004 and served on the Northern Virginia Health Policy Forum Board of Directors.
Resources discussed on this show:
Email: justinmoore@apta.org
Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!
Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!
Xo Karen
P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!