February 2025 - Page 2 of 5 - Ontario Physiotherapy Association

Member Spotlight– Charlotte Anderson- Leading, Teaching and Promoting Physiotherapy

July 6, 2023

Charlotte Anderson is a practicing Physiotherapist, researcher and CEO of Alpha Health Services, a multi-site clinic in Toronto. On June 5, 2023 she was a guest on Zoomer TV with a panel of health experts, answering questions from the live audience. Charlotte explained the benefits of physiotherapy, how physiotherapists can help prevent injury, keep adults active, prevent falls and recover from pain or injury.

Charlotte was also recently elected to OPA’s Board of Directors, and is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream in the University of Toronto Physical Therapy Department. She has worked as an embedded Research Fellow conducting research for Ontario Health, specifically on the implementation of clinical care pathways for Ontario Health Teams.

Check out Charlotte on Zoomer TV:

Segment 1 – (Charlotte at 1:50 onwards)
Is there a connection between glaucoma and pancreatic cancer?

Segment 2 – (Charlotte at 4:40)
Answering questions on stem cells, cholesterol and how arthritis is linked to food

Segment 3 – (Charlotte from beginning and from 4:15)
What are the best methods for fall prevention as we age?

Segment 4 –(Charlotte from 2:20)
Could DNA testing help treat diseases as we age?

Segment 6 – (Charlotte from 2:20)
Advice on staying healthy as you age

Alpha Health Services

Member Spotlight – Kristen Macdonell – Supporting Women Experiencing Cancer

August 8, 2023

“One year ago I opened my clinic MacDonell Family Physiotherapy.

Noting a gap in our community and listening to stories women shared with me during treatment sessions, I founded WECAN – a networking support group for Women Experiencing Cancer that I hold free of charge every other month at the clinic. I have additional training, experience and a passion for supporting women with breast cancer in their rehabilitation.

The women are so appreciative to have a safe space to talk about experiences, challenges, overcoming barriers, return to work, relationships, fears and to celebrate success! And the list goes on and on!

It is open to any woman who has experienced cancer – from just having been diagnosed, to during and after treatment and I even have some women years into remission.

I am proud to be able to provide this to our community.” – Kristen MacDonell

Member Spotlight- Sharon Switzer-McIntyre- President’s Teaching Award

September 27, 2023

Congratulations to Sharon Switzer-McIntyre on receiving the University of Toronto President’s Teaching Award, the university’s highest honour for teaching (University of Toronto, 2023).

This Award is in recognition of Sharon Switzer-McIntyre’s ongoing contributions to educational leadership and innovation and her sustained excellence in teaching. During her 25 years in the department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto, Sharon Switzer-McIntyre has been deeply involved in innovative curricular design, development and delivery, learner assessment, mentorship, administration and leadership activities. Her students consistently praise her engaging style and interactive teaching approach.

She has also been directly responsible for leading a team of faculty in the development and implementation of the Ontario Internationally Educated Physiotherapy Bridging (OIEPB) Program, which has successfully prepared internationally educated physiotherapists for practice in Canada.

Sharon has been a Physiotherapist leader for many years and an active supporting member of the Association, volunteering for projects and groups nationally and provincially. She is also a previous Chair of the Canadian Council of Physiotherapy Programs.

“Sharon is truly an exceptional educator and mentor who is passionate about teaching and improving the lives of all students. She is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in everything that she does. I can think of no one more deserving of this award,” says Susan Jaglal, Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy.

Reference

University of Toronto, (2023, May 29). Sharon Switzer-McIntyre receives 2023 President’s Teaching Award. Department of Physical Therapy.

Member Spotlight – Raj Suppiah – PT Podcast Guest & Business Leader

October 30, 2023

Raj was featured on PT Marketing Power Hour, a US based podcast where he discussed building a brand, the importance of systems, delegation and dedicating time working ON your business instead of working in it.

Raj is the co-founder of Foundation Physiotherapy & Wellness which now has seven locations in Toronto, Etobicoke, and East York.

Foundation Physiotherapy & Wellness

Raj is also engaged in the Ontario Physiotherapy Association through his volunteer roles, including joining OPA for a photo and video shoot in 2022. Find him with patients in the video below, featuring Past-President Paulette Gardiner Millar.

Member Spotlight – Trent Health In Motion’s Innovative Program Wins Community Spirit Award

November 27, 2023

Trent Health in Motion’s Seniors in Motion program recently won a Community Spirit Award from the Older Adult Centres Association of Ontario. This news was covered in the Peterborough Examiner. To date, there have been over 200 participants go through the program, and the team at Trent Health in Motion is working to secure more funding so that the program can continue to be offered to participants free of charge.

“This program was an innovative idea that was physiotherapist developed and led. We have been working with research partners to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and found positive health impacts across a range of areas. As we have accepted new clients into the program, additional news outlets have invited us to share more about the program. Check us out on the morning show on Global News.” – Michael Williams

Trent Health in Motion on Facebook

Trent Health in Motion on Instagram

Trent Health in Motion

National Physiotherapy Month – Members on Scope of Practice – Helen Razmjou

April 30, 2024

For National Physiotherapy Month 2024, Ontario Physiotherapy Association members shared the impact of physiotherapists’ scope of practice on their communities.

Helen Razmjou, PT, PhD:

“The Advanced Practice Provider (APP) role was developed in Ontario to maximize health human resources with the goal of streamlining access to care for patients with shoulder conditions, and hip and knee arthritis. Extensive responsibilities of the APPs include triaging of the referrals, clinical examination, ordering diagnostic imaging, using complex decision-making tools, and providing post-operative care. Our APPs at Sunnybrook have shown continuous leadership in clinical and research activities, which contributes to ongoing practice changes.

APPs in our centre have been authorized by medical directive to order diagnostic imaging investigations. We have seen the growth and success of the APP model of care over the past 18 years in Ontario, and I am positive that by final approval of the Bill 179 and expanding the scope of practice to all eligible Ontario physiotherapists, we can further facilitate timely and effective access to diagnostic imaging.

Our team at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre’s Holland Bone and Joint Program is leading the way in optimizing patient care. Through extensive research, we have shown that physiotherapists and occupational therapists working to their full scope and beyond, can significantly reduce unnecessary investigations and consultations, ultimately improving the patient experience. I have specifically written a book about the radiological examination of the shoulder joint, that is available via University of Toronto to all physiotherapists who wish to enrich their training for ordering and interpreting diagnostic imaging of the shoulder.

I would like to celebrate National Physiotherapy Month with all my fellow colleagues who reach for their full potential and strive for excellence every single day.”

National Physiotherapy Month – Members on Scope of Practice – Pamela Houghton

May 6, 2024

For National Physiotherapy Month 2024, Ontario Physiotherapy Association members shared the impact of physiotherapists’ scope of practice on their communities.

Pamela Houghton, Physiotherapist:

“I am a retired physiotherapist as of 2022. I was registered with the College in Ontario (CPO) for 29 years. I worked as a full professor teaching and doing research that supported the important role of physical therapists in wound care in Canada.

For many years physiotherapists in Ontario have been able to “work below the dermis” which includes many of the skills needed to provide wound care. Skin health and wound care is an emerging field of practice aimed at improving the outcomes of people who are at risk of, or those who are living with chronic wounds. This includes a huge number of Canadians since chronic wounds are a common complication of many health conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurological conditions such as MS, SCI, stroke. Problems with skin integrity and delayed healing also affect a significant proportion of elderly people with limited mobility and people with critical illnesses such as acute trauma, complex surgery, and cancer.

Throughout my career I provided evidence based physical therapy treatments that are known to speed healing of many types of chronic wounds including rehabilitation programs that “take the pressure off” the skin and leg exercises that improve peripheral circulation. Additionally, many of the therapeutic modalities used in physiotherapy are known to promote faster and stronger wound closure including electrical stimulation therapy (E-Stim), ultrasound, and light therapies. I have had the opportunity to help many people living with spinal cord injuries (SCI) who have developed terrible sitting acquired pressure injuries. Pressure injuries (PrIs) or skin breakdown is known to be the second most common complication after SCI and the one that has the greatest impact on quality of life.

The implementation of self-management programs has allowed 100s of people with SCI and PrIs to treat their own wounds with E-Stim, to close long standing open PrIs, and to ultimately regain their mobility and independence. Not many PTs in Canada appreciate that wound care is part of their scope of practice. However, so many of our current practices can help this growing population of people affected by chronic non healing skin wounds.”

National Physiotherapy Month – Members on Scope of Practice – Wanda Chen

May 21, 2024

During National Physiotherapy Month 2024, Ontario Physiotherapy Association members share the impact of physiotherapists’ scope of practice on their communities.

Wanda Chen, PT:

“Being able to communicate a diagnosis increases patients’ understanding and trust in their therapy program and leads to better treatment outcomes. In addition to communicating a diagnosis, being able to order imaging studies in a private practice could further benefit Ontarians.

Working to full scope of practice will enable physiotherapists to:

order diagnostic imaging when indicated, which will allow for improved diagnoses, more targeted treatment options, and better discussions of prognosis

communicate prognosis with patients and escalate issues to physicians faster. It does not take away physicians’ involvement but saves patients’ and physician’s time in redundant assessments.

decrease wait times to see a physician in Ontario and will alleviate the burden from the general practitioner for musculoskeletal cases.

It will help patients gain an understanding of their pain and have resolutions sooner. It will improve the quality of life for Ontarians.”

National Physiotherapy Month – Members on Scope of Practice – Jennifer Howey

May 28, 2024

National Physiotherapy Month 2024, Ontario Physiotherapy Association members share the impact of physiotherapists’ scope of practice on their communities.

Jennifer Howey, PT:

“Movement is life and life is movement.” As physiotherapists, we are movement specialists, with the ability to diagnose and treat movement disorders and injury. Our scope of practice goes beyond the treatment room. It includes public education, injury prevention and promoting healthy activity throughout the spectrum of life. In today’s sedentary world, it is more important than ever to encourage movement with every generation.

At InsideOut Physiotherapy and Wellness Group, we found that Nordic Pole Walking (NPW) – walking with Nordic walking sticks- is fun, inexpensive, and people of any age or exercise ability can benefit. It can get us moving and keep us moving! NPW has been shown to help people rehabilitate post surgery, those with chronic conditions, diabetes, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s Disease and many more.

As a clinic, we have developed a significant NPW program with a great deal of community outreach. InsideOut has had a 6-year collaboration with the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association and University of Hong Kong Physiotherapy program. Two InsideOut physiotherapists went to Hong Kong and trained 25 physiotherapists to be instructors and started to support research within the University on NPW and its benefits with patients with Parkinson’s Disease. In Hong Kong, physiotherapists now get funding for NPW programs within their rehabilitation and community settings. We are currently advocating to get similar approval in Ontario.

As a physiotherapist, one of my proudest moments was when we had a group of clients enter as Nordic Pole walkers in the Scotiabank 5km walk. These clients would not have thought they were capable of doing an event like this! One of the participants had come to us using a scooter for full-time ambulation seven months earlier. She was completely deconditioned, having suffered years of low back pain and multiple chronic problems. We worked with her, using our physiotherapy treatment and home program that included NPW. Seven months later she was one of the participants completing in this 5 km walk, using the poles. She was so proud of her accomplishment she signed up for two more that year.

It is the impact we can have on the lives of others that motivate me as a physiotherapist and clinic owner. Happy National Physiotherapy Month!”

College of Veterinarians of Ontario Consultation

February 21, 2025

The College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) opened a public consultation related to the Veterinary Professionals Act, 2024. Included in this consultation was the opportunity to provide feedback on the authorized activity model and the development of regulatory exemptions for activities performed by non-veterinary animal care providers, such as physiotherapists who also practice animal rehabilitation.

OPA encouraged members to complete the anonymous consultation survey which was open until April 16, 2025.