The Primary Care Advisory Committee is made up of volunteer members who advise OPA staff and the Board of Directors on issues affecting physiotherapy in primary care settings.
This committee supports members and promotes quality physiotherapy services within primary care organizations across Ontario.
Interested in joining? We welcome new volunteer members who want to help shape the future of physiotherapy in primary care. Contact us a physiomail@opa.on.ca.
The Home Care Advisory Committee is made up of volunteer members who advise OPA staff and the Board of Directors on issues affecting physiotherapy in the home care sector.
This committee brings the voice and perspective of home care physiotherapists forward to support quality care and influence sector-wide decisions.
Interested in joining? We welcome new volunteer members who want to help shape the future of home care physiotherapy in Ontario. Contact us at physiomail@opa.on.ca.
The Hospital Advisory Committee is made up of volunteer members who advise OPA staff and the Board of Directors on issues affecting physiotherapy practice in hospitals and rehabilitation centres across Ontario.
This committee ensures that the interests and concerns of physiotherapists in these settings are heard and considered in policy decisions.
Interested in joining? We welcome new volunteer members who want to help shape the future of hospital and rehabilitation physiotherapy in Ontario. Contact us at physiomail@opa.on.ca.
The Private Practice Advisory Committee is made up of volunteer members who advise OPA staff and the Board of Directors on issues affecting private practice physiotherapy.
This committee ensures your voice is heard on policy decisions that impact your practice.
Interested in joining? We welcome new volunteer members who want to help shape the future of private practice in Ontario. Contact us at physiomail@opa.on.ca.
“My journey in the field of physiotherapy began in 1999, when I recognized how many patients were living with pain and disability without timely access to proper care,” says Venkadesan (Ven) Rajendran. “This observation motivated me to pursue a 4½-year Bachelor of Physiotherapy program at The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, which I completed in 2003.”
After graduating, Ven began his career working in rehabilitation settings treating patients with complex medical conditions. It didn’t take long before he identified a significant gap in care: “Within two years, I noticed that individuals with neurological conditions, especially those who had experienced a stroke, faced significant challenges in accessing specialized rehabilitation and assessments. That led me to pursue a master’s degree in advanced physiotherapy in neurology (MPT).”
Ven’s training in the MPT program deepened his expertise in neurological rehabilitation and introduced him to specialized clinical practices. “As part of the program, I gained experience conducting electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) studies and worked closely with neurologists to triage patients with stroke and spinal injuries, bridging the gap between acute care, outpatient clinics, and community rehabilitation,” Ven explains.
Ven eventually brought this expertise to Canada. He joined Health Sciences North (HSN) in Sudbury and began conversations about the possibility of expanding physiotherapy’s role in stroke care, which the leadership team supported. “This role emerged from the unique convergence of personal vision and institutional strategy,” Ven says. Because of Ven’s efforts, Health Sciences North was the first academic hospital in Canada to implement an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APP) role specifically for stroke, which has allowed him to extend the boundaries of physiotherapy practice while directly addressing system-level challenges to improve patient outcomes.
Continuing Professional Development
“My professional advancement happened gradually and strategically within the same healthcare system” says Ven. He notes that continuity within Health Sciences North allowed him to build institutional knowledge, trust, and strong interprofessional relationships. Building on these foundations, Ven has continued to pursue ongoing professional development to adapt to the ever-changing Canadian healthcare landscape.
“Even after completing my PhD in Rehabilitation, I felt it was important to stay current” he explains. “I completed a one-year graduate certificate in stroke rehabilitation from the University of Alberta to better understand stroke rehab practices in Canada.”
Evolution of the Role
Over time, the APP role has grown beyond its original scope. “It started with a focus on direct clinical assessment and research, but now it includes leadership responsibilities and managing system-level triage pathways for stroke patients.”
He has also led initiatives that challenge traditional care models. One of these is the ‘MObile TIA and Stroke with AdaptiVE Workflow (MOTIVE)’ project, which utilizes an expert stroke team that tends to patients throughout every area of the hospital setting, not just in the stroke unit.
One of the most innovative aspects of our MOTIVE project involves rehabilitation triage of mild stroke patients in collaboration with stroke neurologists and other interdisciplinary members, ” Ven said. “We were able to triage patients with rehabilitation needs within hours or on the same day, which significantly reduced delays and facilitated faster discharge of patients with TIA/minor stroke.“
Advocacy and System-Level Approaches
To further support this shift, Ven has begun advocating for legislative and regulatory changes.
“I’ve had preliminary discussions with the leadership team at HSN about implementing Bill 179 for stroke care” he explains. “If adopted, physiotherapists could use diagnostic tools like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to identify red flags and triage patients for rehabilitation and treat them more effectively. This wouldn’t replace physicians; it would enhance system efficiency and stroke care.”
In addition to his clinical expertise, Ven brings a systems-thinking approach to his role. “I completed Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification and gained knowledge in Implementation Science. These tools have helped me move beyond individual treatment plans and look at redesigning entire clinical workflows.”
The APP role has proven especially impactful for patients with acute stroke and TIA, where rapid decision-making can dramatically influence outcomes. “This patient group really benefits from quick triage and early discharge planning” says Ven. “By addressing initial system inefficiencies, we can reduce length of hospital stays and direct patients to the right rehab pathway once they’re medically stable.” Ven points to the MOTIVE Project as a clear example of success: “We were able to triage patients within hours or on the same day. Working collaboratively with stroke neurologists, physicians, Occupational Therapists, and Speech Language Pathologists allowed us to significantly reduce delays and support faster discharges.”
Health System Impacts
Ven has seen the significant impacts of his role within the hospital system:
“My role helps reduce hallway medicine by preventing unnecessary admissions and ensuring timely discharges. That improves patient flow, optimizes bed use, and reduces re-admissions.”
Ven believes strongly that the value of APP roles needs to be communicated in system-level terms. “There’s already strong evidence that APPs in musculoskeletal care are a cost-effective way to assess and manage patients. The same applies to stroke. Investing in APPs isn’t just about staffing, it’s an economic strategy. These roles help improve patient flow, reduce hospital admissions, and deliver advanced care at a lower cost compared to relying solely on physicians for triage.”
He emphasizes that APPs are intended to work alongside and not in place of physicians.
“It’s important for other health professionals to know that APP roles are designed to complement, not compete” Ven explains. “In stroke care, our involvement enables timely assessments and planning, so that neurologists and physicians can focus on high-acuity medical needs.”
When asked how the profession can better advocate for APP roles, Ven stresses the importance of aligning with system priorities. “Advocacy needs to go beyond individual clinical outcomes. We need to show the impact on things like ALC days, and length of hospital stays. For example, our MOTIVE project focused on reducing length of stay and readmission risk for stroke patients. If we can connect physiotherapy to government goals like improved flow and reduced wait times, we’ll have a much stronger case.”
For others looking to replicate this model, Ven offers some clear advice: “Effective advocacy for an APP role has to be tied to a specific system issue, not just professional ambition. Focus on solving inefficiencies, like long waits for specialist consults. Use quality improvement methods to measure outcomes and back up your work with data. To ensure sustainability, the role should include clinical practice, leadership, research, and education.”
Ven’s work offers a compelling example of how physiotherapists, when supported to work at full scope, can play a transformative role in patient care and health system design.
Members of the leadership team at Health Sciences North share their perspectives on the importance of the APP role:
“Allowing physiotherapists to order diagnostic tests within their professional scope can enhance patient care by minimizing delays associated with waiting for physician assessments and orders. Advanced Practice roles in internal medicine and stroke care further facilitate collaboration with stroke neurologists and physicians, thereby promoting timely and efficient triage for rehabilitation” – Lisa Zeman, Clinical Manager of Internal Medicine and Acute Stroke, Health Sciences North.
“Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APP) play a vital role in stroke care, partnering with stroke neurologists to provide expert functional assessments and guide timely, and evidence-based rehabilitation decisions.” – Dr. Ravinder-Jeet Singh, Stroke Neurologist, Health Sciences North; Medical Director, NEO Stroke Network.
“Integrating Advanced Practice Physiotherapy (APP) into our stroke team has greatly enhanced both patient care and system performance. At Health Sciences North, we’ve seen measurable improvements in research, clinical outcomes, access to care, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Our APP has demonstrated exceptional clinical leadership and has been instrumental in strengthening the overall effectiveness of our stroke program” – Chantal Liddard, Administrative Director Medicine Program, Health Sciences North.
Are You our Next Member Spotlight?
Do you want to be featured? Are you in an innovative role? Spoken about physiotherapy in a podcast or the news? Published an article? Or represented the physiotherapy profession through advocacy?
We want to celebrate you as a physiotherapist, PT or PTA student or PTA!
OPA Presents at Health Workforce Canada Connects Conference
Emily Stevenson, Director of Practice and Policy at OPA, spoke at the Health Workforce Canada Connects conference about the value physiotherapists bring to primary care teams. CPA CEO Krissy (Murphy) Bell moderated the workshop “From Silos to Synergy: Scalable, Sustainable Solutions for Team-Based Primary Care”. The session brought together an exceptional panel of leaders from across a diverse spectrum of professions, perspectives, and places in Canada to explore scalable and sustainable models for team-based primary care.
Physiotherapy Access in Primary Care Matters
Emily Stevenson highlighted how critical it is that PTs are incorporated into health human resource planning as they are essential members of team-based primary care. Physiotherapists, when incorporated, increase access and attachment to primary care, as they can assess, diagnosis and treat conditions in their scope, which increases the capacity of family physicians and other team members. Physiotherapists need to be part of every primary care team to provide the right care, at the right time, by the right person.
Roles for PTs in Primary Care
We know that PTs in primary care:
improve access to health services
work collaboratively with other providers to build more capacity in primary care teams
reduce emergency department visits
lead to better outcomes for patients
and enhance continuity of care for patients.
In 2015, OPA was one of the strong advocates leading to the addition of PTs to Family Health Teams in Ontario.
Visit OPA’s Primary Care Hub to stay up to date on all things primary care.
Presenting at national interprofessional conferences allows OPA to demonstrate the value we bring to patients and health system partners. It provides us an opportunity to connect to other health care professionals, building relationships for increased collaboration and advocacy. Thank you to CPA’s CEO, Krissy Bell, for inviting OPA to participate in this important panel discussion.
What is Health Workforce Canada?
Health Workforce Canada is a new, independent organization established by an Interim Steering Committee, supported by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), and funded by Health Canada. It has been created in recognition of the need to bring together health workforce experts and those in the health care field to learn from each other and strengthen health workforce data and planning to help ensure health workers are there to provide the care people in Canada need.
Thank you to the Health Workforce Canada | Effectif de la santé Canada team for bringing together such an engaged community of health systems leaders and workforce planners, and for continuing to create space for collaboration and innovation.
Join representatives from the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario and the Ontario Physiotherapy Association for an interactive discussion. Get updates about the organizations, learn about upcoming priorities, and have your say with a chance to get your questions answered.
Light refreshments will be served
We appreciate you registering in advance to help us plan accordingly.
We wanted to share with you recent OPA staff team updates.
Wishing Farewell to Amy Hondronicols, Director, Practice, Policy & Member Services
We bid farewell to Amy Hondronicols, Director of Practice, Policy and Member Services, who has made extraordinary contributions to the OPA over the past two years. Amy has been key in advancing our practice and policy work, engaging extensively with members and stakeholders across the physiotherapy community, and supporting countless initiatives that have strengthened our profession. We are excited for Amy in her new role as Director of Clinical Education at McMaster University. We wish her the very best in this new role and thank her for all that she has done for the profession.
Welcome to Emily Stevenson, new Director of Practice & Policy
Emily is an accomplished health care leader and Registered Physiotherapist with over 20 years of cross sectoral experience advancing physiotherapy and rehabilitation. She brings a combination of clinical expertise, health system leadership, and policy development to the role of Director of Practice and Policy. Her prior experience has focused on strategy, quality improvement, and the design and delivery of innovative programs that improve access and health outcomes.
Emily holds a MSc in Physiotherapy from McMaster University and a BSc/BPHE from Queen’s University. She is the recipient of the Ontario Physiotherapy Association’s Advocacy and Leadership Award (2024) and McMaster University’s Distinguished Alumni Award (2019). Contact Emily at estevenson@opa.on.ca beginning October 6.
Welcome to Janine Framst, new Manager of Marketing & Communications
Janine Framst is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with extensive experience in healthcare and member-based organizations. Before joining the Ontario Physiotherapy Association in June, she led marketing initiatives at the George Hull Centre Institute of Childhood Trauma and Attachment, significantly increasing digital engagement. Her past consulting work with a physiotherapy clinic deepened her appreciation for the profession’s role in improving health outcomes. Janine brings a strategic mindset, a collaborative approach, and a strong commitment to equity and continuous improvement. Contact Janine at jframst@opa.on.ca.
Welcome to Prerna Tawde, new Membership Coordinator
We are delighted to welcome Prerna to the team at OPA. Prerna joined us in early August as our new Membership Coordinator. Prerna is a Healthcare Management professional with a strong background in project management and physiotherapy. She has worked at UHN, where she supported virtual education programs for healthcare providers.
She was trained in India as a physiotherapist where she worked at a multispecialty hospital in Mumbai. With a Master’s in Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy and Postgraduate diploma in Project Management and Healthcare Management, she brings a great combination of skills and experience to our team. Contact Prerna at ptawde@opa.on.ca.
Marcos Rodrigues, Adam A. Saporta, Raj Suppiah, and Kyle Whaley share their perspectives on the benefits of interprofessional collaboration with massage therapists.
Whether it is meeting with clients jointly as health care professionals, coordinating efforts by exchanging observations, developing an effective treatment plan collaboratively or considering the changing client goals together, learn from all the authors about the ways to effectively communicate and collaborate with RMTs in this article.
“Through their combined expertise, RMTs and physiotherapists not only address the mechanical aspects of recovery but also support the sensory, emotional, and psychological dimensions of healing.” – Marcos Rodrigues, PT, MSc, MBA
“Clients feel more supported when they see their therapy team working together, speaking the same language, and reinforcing each other’s interventions with consistency.” – Adam A. Saporta PT, MScPT, PTS
“As a team, physiotherapists and massage therapists must provide their clients with realistic expectations and timelines. Research has shown that treatment planning and effective communication of the plan is as important as the treatment itself. “- Raj Suppiah, BHScHons, MScPT, Cert. MDT, Cert. Sport PT
“By aligning treatment to the patient’s rehab phase—and explicitly linking it to the patient’s rehabilitation goals—RMTs and physiotherapists position themselves as the most effective team in a patient’s recovery.”- Kyle Whaley, BScPT, BSc, BPHE, CAFCI
For students, new graduates, and internationally educated clinicians who want to practice in Ontario
Overview
Congratulations to all outgoing physiotherapy students, recent graduates, and new-to-practice clinicians! This is an exciting milestone in your journey, and we recognize that it can also be a time filled with questions and uncertainty, especially with the recent changes to the examination and registration process in Ontario.
This guide will help you navigate the transition based on your specific situation.
You are eligible to complete either the OCE or the new Canadian Physiotherapy Examination (CPTE).
If you choose to complete the OCE, you must apply for provisional practice class and the OCE at the same time (this is a requirement, and you cannot apply for one without the other).
Next Steps for graduates who are choosing to complete the OCE
Contact CPO immediately to secure your exam spot (please note that you cannot register for this examination until you have completed your PT program).
Prepare application materials for both provisional practice and OCE.
Review exam preparation resources.
Next Steps for those who have passed the PCE but have not yet completed their PT Program
Try to avoid stressing about securing an OCE slot. You cannot book this examination until you have completed your PT program.
Next Steps for graduates who are choosing to complete the CPTE
Q: I’m confused about which exam I need to take. Who should I contact? A: Contact the CPO directly. They can assess your specific situation and provide definitive guidance on which examination pathway applies to you.
Q: Can I practice while waiting for exam results? A: This depends on your registration status. Speak with CPO about provisional practice opportunities and requirements.
Q: How long do I have to complete these requirements after graduation? A: Timelines vary by situation. Contact CPO immediately after graduation to understand your specific deadlines.
Q: What if I’m planning to practice outside Ontario? A: Each province has different requirements. If you plan to practice elsewhere, contact that province’s regulatory college directly.
Q: How does OPA membership help with this transition? A: OPA provides ongoing updates about regulatory changes, professional support during your transition, networking opportunities, and advocacy to ensure these processes serve new graduates effectively.
Need More Help?
Regulatory Questions: Contact the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario (CPO) Exam Information: Contact Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) Professional Support: Contact Ontario Physiotherapy Association (OPA)
Remember: This process can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. OPA is here to support you as you launch your career, and we’re advocating for processes that serve new graduates effectively.
This guide is current as of September 1, 2025. Regulatory requirements may change. Always verify information directly with the relevant regulatory bodies.
