OPA Update Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Ontario Physiotherapy Association

Meaningful Conversations with PT Students at Queen’s

This week, Ontario Physiotherapy Association (OPA) President Courtney Bean and CEO Sarah Hutchison were joined by representatives from the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, including Craig Roxborough, Registrar, and Mary Catherine Fraser Saxena, Manager, Practice Advice, for a timely and meaningful conversation with second-year physiotherapy students at Queen’s University as they complete their program.

The discussion focused on the future of physiotherapy practice and the important role that both the professional association and regulatory college play in supporting new graduates. From mentorship and advocacy to career resources and continuing education, each organization shared ways they help early-career professionals thrive.

We are always inspired by the commitment and passion that drives our future physiotherapy leaders and thank Patrick Cayen for the invitation.

Celebrating Black History Month 2025

February 6, 2025

The Ontario Physiotherapy Association (OPA) proudly recognizes Black History Month, celebrating the achievements and impact of Black physiotherapists, physiotherapy residents, students, and physiotherapist assistants. Their dedication continues to shape the profession, advance patient care, and strengthen our healthcare system.

The 2025 theme, “Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations,” highlights the diversity of Black Canadians, the importance of Black leadership, and the lasting contributions being made for future generations.

We encourage everyone to visit the government website to access resources and explore the history of Black Canadians, including trailblazers in healthcare.

Canadian Heritage

National Day for Truth & Reconciliation 2023

September 25, 2023

September 30 is a federal statutory holiday commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

It is also a recognized as Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day inspired by the story of Indian Residential School Survivor Phyllis Webstad. On this day people across the country wear orange shirts to create awareness about the inter-generational impact of Residential Schools and to create awareness of the concept that “Every Child Matters”.

Visit Orange Shirt Society

Truth and Reconciliation Week – Lunch and Learns Open to All

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, offers a national program Truth and Reconciliation Week 2023 from September 25-30. Everyone can participate in 5 daily lunch and learns for “an immersive experience to UN-learn the myths of colonial history in Canada.”

Pride Season

May 30, 2023

June is Pride Month and we celebrate 2SLGBTQI+ communities in Ontario and in our physiotherapy community. In addition to celebrating diversity and love in all its forms, we honour the achievements so far to end discrimination based on one’s sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression this Pride Season and commit to the ongoing work including better recognition of diversity and equity in healthcare.

Search for Pride events in your area:

Destination Ontario

Queer Events.ca

Rainbow Health

Women Equality

June is Pride Month

May 31, 2024

June is Pride Month, and we celebrate 2SLGBTQI+ communities across Ontario and in our physiotherapy community. OPA continues to work towards ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression this Pride Season and throughout the year. At InterACTION 2024 we were proud to welcome the Queer Physiotherapy Collective and include education on sexual identity and expression for PTs, PTAs and students.

The Queer Physiotherapy Collective (QPC) is a community of practice that strives to centre the voices of 2SLGBTQIPA+ students, residents, and physiotherapists.

QPC on LinkedIn

QPC on Instagram

Get involved this month in your local area and celebrate Pride Month!

Destination Ontario – Check out Events

Canada’s Pride Season Toolkit

Introducing OPA’s New CEO, Sarah Hutchison

March 19, 2024

I am excited to introduce Sarah Hutchison to the OPA family as our next Chief Executive Officer. She assumes the CEO role on April 22, 2024.

Below is a short summary of Sarah’s vast experience. She will be joining us at InterACTION and l hope that those who are there will join us in saying “welcome.” – Oren Cheifetz, OPA President (in 2024)

About Sarah Hutchison

Sarah is an accomplished health care executive with over 30 years of leadership experience. She brings to the role of CEO of OPA a very unique combination of health professional regulatory and professional association experience in health care, along with a strong results focused experience in member advocacy, strategy, policy, and program and service delivery.

In addition to her consulting practice which most recently concentrated on innovation and entrepreneurship education in health technology, she is also active in the community as a volunteer Director. Her prior experience as the CEO of OntarioMD, a subsidiary of the Ontario Medical Association, focused on supporting and enabling digital transformation working with clinicians, the government, Ontario Health and key stakeholders across the province. She has demonstrated experience and success in results-oriented delivery with strategic partnerships across Canada. She is passionate about people and enabling organizational excellence and is regarded as a transparent and authentic leader.

Sarah holds an MHSc (University of Toronto), an LL.M in Health Law (Osgoode), along with her ICD.D designation as a corporate Director.

“I am truly excited to continue the excellent work that has been accomplished by the Association and to contribute to the mission of improving health for Ontarians by expanding and streamlining access to physiotherapy services.

I am passionate about accessible, integrated health care and very committed to advancing the practice lives of physiotherapists and the patients they serve.” – Sarah Hutchison

Member Spotlight – Robert Cusinato, ‘You Are Not Alone’

October 18, 2022

Robert Cusinato is a long-standing physiotherapist member and dedicated volunteer who won OPA’s Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2019.

“In June, 1997, my dream came true. I graduated from the University of Western with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy and within days I began my career as a physiotherapist at a local hospital in Windsor. Over the years I would have the privilege of assessing and treating individuals of all ages, in several settings and with various diagnoses. This served to strengthen my own knowledge base and more importantly my compassion for others.

In January 2016 my nightmare came true when I was diagnosed with a progressive, chronic condition- Multiple Sclerosis. Initially it was business as usual. However, the disease chipped away at me first physically, then mentally, then emotionally. I was defeated…until I accepted my reality and realized that I could still be of service as a physiotherapist to those in need. My clients and I shared a common link. As much as I was there to help them, they were helping me. We were pushing each other. In addition to maintaining full-time employment at the hospital and contributing to a family, I began to write. This was meant to be a therapeutic endeavour but it evolved into something else.

“Mending Nerves: An Empathetic Journey with Multiple Sclerosis” is my story. It follows the journey of an individual with a chronic and potentially disabling condition. The intersection of his worlds as both practitioner and as patient was unavoidable. Like his clients he needed to live in the present (“what is now”) and not in the future (“what could be”). I hope that the book will provide an avenue for others dealing with chronic diseases such as MS to relate. The main message is that, “you are not alone.”

Since my diagnosis I have become an advocate for those living with MS. I have joined a local MS community group as well as our local Beyond Disability Network group. My family and I have participated in the MS Walk sponsored by the MS Society of Canada where we formed the largest team and raised the most money as a team each year that we participated. I have had the honour of guest lecturing about MS at my alma mater, Western University, to first year Physical Therapy students. Most importantly I have become a resource not only to my clients but also to the clients of my colleagues, particularly those with MS. We are in this fight together. Finally, I have served as the Treasurer for the last 20+ years to the Windsor District of OPA.”

Thank you, Robert, for all that you do for patients, the profession and your community in Windsor District and beyond!

Member Spotlight – Jennifer George, ‘Communication is Care’

November 23, 2022

Jennifer George is an OPA member, podcaster, author and Physiotherapist.

“I’ve been a practicing Physiotherapist (PT) since 2007, which is when I also became a caregiver to my chronically ill father. Throughout my career and caregiving, I saw both sides of the healthcare system – as a clinician and as a family member & caregiver – and I witnessed the gaps in communication between providers and patients. Walking into a medical appointment with my dad was always a psychological experience and quite often, his healing and our outlook was mainly impacted by the quality of the interactions.

When my dad died in 2018, I was inspired to write my first book, Communication is Care: 9 Empowering Strategies to Guide Patient Healing, published in June 2019. I wrote this book with the intention to help healthcare providers enhance their communication skills and be able to communicate with patients in such a way that it would help their patients achieve their highest level of function, recovery, and independence. My book has received a few awards and was an Amazon Bestseller upon its launch.

In October 2019, I further launched my podcast, The Healthcare Provider Happy Hour. The purpose of my podcast is to support the well-being of healthcare providers so that they may create the best patient experiences and minimize their risk of burnout. I’ve released nearly 200 episodes to date and have had the opportunity to chat with like-minded people on a similar mission over the past three years from all over the globe.”

Follow Jennifer on social: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Buy Her Book

Member Spotlight – Amanda Morin, ‘Move with Nature’

December 13, 2022

Amanda Morin is an OPA member, Physiotherapist, and now children’s book author.

‘Last year I published a children’s book ‘Move with Nature’. It is an exercise routine from head to toe to have children develop their gross motor skills! The entire story was inspired by my work in South Africa where I provided exercise therapy to several children with neurological conditions.’

‘Each page features stimulating and inclusive illustrations by Hannah Bursey. The diverse imagery simplifies movement, and normalizes exercise for children of all ages and abilities…all while having fun!’ – from Civil Sector Press

Buy her book

Member Spotlight – Tiffany Tiu, Pain Podcast Developer

April 4, 2023

Tiffany Tiu is a student, researcher and Paincast podcast developer.

“I am an enthusiastic physiotherapy student at the University of Toronto (UofT). Apart from enjoying my studies, I am passionate about evidence-based practice and pain advocacy. I co-chair the Pain Science Division (PSD) Student committee and conduct research at the Biomechanics of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Lab at UofT. I spearheaded the development of Paincast, the official podcast of the Pain Science Division at the CPA, on Spotify! Pain and Physiotherapy are so intricately connected, so there is no more reason than that to follow Paincast. We will continue to produce insightful and engaging episodes with amazing guests, so make sure you stay tuned. I will also be contributing to the May 2023 issue of Physiotherapy Practice Magazine discussing pain management.

Being the only student physiotherapist researcher at the Biomechanics of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Lab, I advocate for physiotherapist inclusion in orthopeadic research. Currently, I am finishing up a study on the Star Excursion Balance Test, and will be starting another project. An episode by the RehabINK Podcast is featuring the lab in May so stay tuned to the podcast to listen.”

Connect with Tiffany