UBC Alumni Elizabeth MacRitchie (BSR’70) and her husband Donald (BSc’68, MD’70) have won the 2016 Alumni Volunteer Leadership Award. The partnership was described as “Active members of the Prince George community who advocate for improved health care in BC – particularly in remote northern communities – and provide invaluable support for students in the Faculty of Medicine’s Northern Medical Program.” Elizabeth has been an integral part of advocating for the Northern and Rural Cohort and for having PT students in the North.

They have both played an active role in the expansion of the medical and physical therapy programs in northern B.C. They are among a number of couples who met as young students at UBC. Their three children are also UBC alumni.

They, along with other inspiring members of the UBC community, will be honored for their contributions in a ceremony, November 1.  For event details or tickets visit https://www.alumni.ubc.ca/events/awards/

Clinical Associate Professor Marc Rizzardo will be off to the Rio Olympics as part of the Canadian Medical Team. This is his fifth Olympics and he will be focusing on the badminton team. Congratulations to Marc on being selected once again.

Although the PT Knowledge Broker facilitated projects are diverse in topic and type, the common thread which unites them is the incredible quality and quantity of work undertaken by many dedicated partners. As the end of 2017 approaches, it is a perfect time to acknowledge the contributions of a small army of individuals who have given of their time and talents to two projects: (1) The Total Joint Arthroplasty and Outcome Measures Toolkit and (2) The ‘Move More.  Sit Less’ Physical Activity Support Kit Initiative.

The Total Joint Arthroplasty and Outcome Measures Toolkit

Despite recognizing the significant benefits of using outcome measures routinely after joint arthroplasty, clinicians state that they struggle with knowing which ones to use at different stages e.g.  Pre, peri and post–operatively.   To address this need, The Total Joint Arthroplasty and Outcome Measures (TJAOM) Toolkit was developed by over 30 BC Physiotherapy clinicians, students and researchers.

The TJAOM toolkit includes: (1) a summary of the recommended outcome measures (both patient-reported and performance measures) appropriate for each phase of the joint arthroplasty continuum; and (2) two formats of information to assist clinicians in selecting, administering, scoring and interpreting each measure (a) one-page written summaries, and (b) on-line interactive learning modules. The TJAOM online learning modules were developed in co-operation with The Centre of Excellence for Simulation, Education and Innovation (CESEI) at Vancouver Coastal Health, and provide the key points (with videos) on 12 patient-reported and performance-based outcome measures recommended for patients with total joint arthroplasty. The learning modules are freely available by creating an account at http://goo.gl/forms/paj0MBZbZx.

Clinicians tell us that a particularly helpful component of the TJAOM toolkit is the template for discharge letters that provides options for reporting results to physicians and other health care team members.

The entire toolkit can be easily accessed at http://tinyurl.com/TJAOM. It has been viewed over 5000 times provincially, nationally and internationally and was recently awarded the 2016 Arthritis Health Professions Association Clinical Innovation Award.  In addition, an online article about the toolkit was recently published in The Rheumatologist http://www.the-rheumatologist.org/?s=TJAOM+toolkit and the manuscript published in 2014 that reported the results of the survey (McAuley et al, 66[3]) was selected as the article of the month by Physiotherapy Canada.

Kudos to the entire team that has been responsible for the TJAOM Toolkit:  Chart Audit Team – Phil Lawrence, Tracey Wong, Fatima Inglis, Susan Carr, Greg Noonan: Focus Group: Masters of Rehabilitation Science project – Maureen Duggan: Survey Team – Dr Darlene Reid, Dave Troughton, Catherine McAuley, Dr Marie Westby, Ronda Field, Dolores Langford, Lauren Lozinsky, Belinda Wagner, Drey Voros, Danielle Balik, Veronica Naing; Knowledge Translation Team: Dr Marie Westby, Phil Sweeney, Steven Longstaff , Maureen Duggan, Ronda Field, Dolores Langford, Lauren Lozinsky and Robyn Laytham

The “Move. More Sit Less” Physical Activity Support Kit Initiative (PASKI)

There is overwhelming evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior on the prevention and management of ~40 chronic diseases. However, health care providers and persons living with chronic disease report frustration in knowing where to access credible and feasible resources to enable them to facilitate safe and effective change in physical activity and sedentary behavior.

The PASKI Core Committee (Greg Noonan, Dr Marie Westby, Dr Lynne Feehan, Dr Kim Miller, Dr Zainisha Vasanji, Rosalyn Jones, Chiara Singh and Alison Hoens) are leading an impressive team of 145 patients, clinicians, researchers and students in the development of a repository of resources – The Move More. Sit Less Toolkit – that will include audiovisual and print resources that support screening/assessment, prescription of and adherence to physical activity level in varied chronic diseases,and provision of equipment and services that enable it.

This is a massive undertaking and we are pleased to share that a tremendous amount of work has been completed. Six of the eight working groups have completed their work in identifying, cataloguing and evaluating (using standardized tools) existing resources  (such as videos and pamphlets) to support people living with chronic musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, metabolic, renal,  neurological and mental health conditions to move more and sit less. The resources which received the highest evaluation were then vetted by members of the Advisory Committee (recognized research experts) to ensure that each resource was in agreement with the current evidence. The resources which have passed both of these evaluation processes (“the best of the best) are currently been  loaded onto a website that has been designed and built by the PASKI Core Committee with a team of dedicated students from UBC and SFU.

Given (1) the magnitude of this project, (2) the reality that everyone is graciously contributing ‘off the sides of their desks/lives’ and (3) that there is no dedicated funding, there is no fixed date for completion. However, the progress has been remarkable and is a testament to the fact that passionate people can accomplish anything!

It is not feasible to list in this newsletter format the names of all those whom have been involved in this project. However, a complete list may be accessed on the Knowledge Broker area of this website under “Who is Involved?”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In Canada, approximately 1 in 9 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, including 3,400 women in BC alone. Early detection and treatment advancements have greatly increased 5-year survival among women with breast cancer to 88% in Canada. However, breast cancer therapy including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, are associated with several adverse effects including fatigue, muscle and bone pain, nausea, lymphedema, peripheral neuropathy and potentially autonomic nervous system changes and other cardiovascular complications. These treatment side effects can persist long after treatment and can impact patient quality of life.

Dr. Kristin Campbell’s lab in the Department of Physical Therapy at UBC conducts research on the beneficial role of exercise and rehabilitation along the cancer continuum, including during and after cancer treatment. There is strong evidence demonstrating exercise is safe, feasible and beneficial during treatment for breast cancer. However, the precise role exercise may play in combating some of the most prevalent and debilitating side effects associated with breast cancer therapy is still unknown.  

Most early-stage breast cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy will receive a particular class of chemotherapy drugs known as taxanes. Taxanes are some of the most effective agents used in the treatment of breast cancer today. However, taxanes are neurotoxic and can lead to peripheral nerve degeneration (peripheral neuropathy), resulting in numbness and potentially burning neuropathic pain in the hands and feet. There are currently no pharmaceutical agents shown to be effective in preventing or treating peripheral neuropathy and thus, peripheral neuropathy is the number one cause of chemotherapy delays and cancellations. In addition, these agents may also cause autonomic neuropathy leading to unfavorable changes in heart rate and blood pressure. There is biological plausibility and evidence in non-cancer populations that exercise may be beneficial in combating peripheral and autonomic neuropathy development and progression. Therefore, the primary aim of my Master’s thesis will be to investigate the role of combined aerobic, strength and balance training on these specific side effects during taxane chemotherapy for breast cancer.  

Breast cancer patients, recruited from the BC Cancer Agency, will be randomized to either an exercise training group or usual care for the duration of their taxane chemotherapy (8-12 weeks). The exercise group will complete three supervised exercise sessions at Dr. Campbell’s off-campus exercise training facility near the BC Cancer Agency, in addition to two home-based aerobic workouts each week. We will collect a variety of self-reported and objective measures of peripheral neuropathy and cardiovascular autonomic nervous system function. We are excited to be collaborating with Dr. Victoria Claydon’s Cardiovascular Physiology Lab at Simon Fraser University on this project. Dr. Claydon is an expert in the field of cardiovascular autonomic control and collaboration with her lab will allow use to effectively perform a wide-range of comprehensive short-term autonomic function tests.

This project is the first to look at the impact of formal exercise training on taxane chemotherapy side-effects and going forward, may help justify the need to include exercise training as a part of supportive care for breast cancer patients. To-date, we have recruited 21 women into the study and we will continue recruitment over the next 8 months. So far, adherence to our exercise program has been great and we are looking forward to analyzing the results in the coming year!

For more information about the project please contact Kelcey Bland at kelcey.bland@ubc.ca

Kelcey Bland is a 2^nd year MSc student in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of British Columbia. She also holds an undergraduate degree in Human Kinetics from UBC.

Our new 2016-18 MPT Cohort was welcomed at an Induction Ceremony in September

Orientation Week 2016: New Beginnings for the MPT 1 class

As we prepare for our first midterms, it’s hard to believe that we began our journey as Physical Therapy students mere weeks ago. Our orientation was a whirlwind of workshops, networking and fun events. The upper-year MPT2s did a wonderful job of welcoming us to the program. We were treated to a welcoming potluck, academic and work-life balance workshops and a beach barbecue. Through these activities we formed friendships with not only our classmates, but with our upper-year colleagues too.

Perhaps the biggest milestone during our orientation was the Induction Ceremony to the profession of Physical Therapy. It was here we celebrated our acceptances to UBC and networked with experts in the field. It was inspiring to meet these experts and experience their passion for the profession first-hand. The Faculty of Medicine, the College of Physical Therapists of BC and the Physiotherapy Association of BC were present to celebrate with us during this event. We also received a tendon hammer as a symbol of our pledge into the profession

Throughout our schooling, we hope to embody the PABC vision of “Moving for Life” by pairing our academic work with physical activity. Multiple teams of recreational sports have been formed, gym buddies have forged and groups of students can often be found running the stairs of UBC’s Wreck Beach during lunch hour. While only a month into classes, we have begun to find our place in the unique community that is Physical Therapy in BC.

Shanna Graham,
MPT1 Class Representative, 2018 Cohort

Time is flying by for the MPT 2 class

First year came and went faster than expected. August 22nd, 2016, marked the day when we transitioned into our new roles as MPT2s! It was now our turn to welcome the new incoming MPT1 class during orientation week. Events such as a flash mob, potluck, Wreck Beach BBQ, and Amazing Race gave us a chance to bond while having some fun.

With two clinical placements underway, students have been able to gain valuable experience in areas such as acute care, neurological rehabilitation, and orthopedics. Many individuals attended local clinics and hospitals within the Lower Mainland while our Northern and Rural Cohort students were placed in locations as far as Fort St. John.

Our classmates have shown a keen interest in developing and refining their physiotherapy skills. The student-lead Ortho Club has provided individuals with the opportunity to learn from renowned guest lecturers. The talks have been very well received and have included topics such as cupping, manual therapy, and clinical pilates.

The physiotherapy students continue to strive to maintain our position as the most active healthcare professionals in British Columbia. As a group, we hiked The Chief, St. Mark’s Summit, and the Grouse Grind. The Northern and Rural Cohort participated in a group canoe expedition in Prince George. Additionally, many students take part in UBC intramural sports, forming teams for volleyball, soccer, basketball, hockey, and dodgeball.

As our semester comes to a close, we are about to embark on our second year clinical placements. We are all looking forward to the opportunity to apply our clinical skills while working alongside our skilled physiotherapy preceptors.

Sarah Paterson, BScKIN
UBC Masters of Physical Therapy, Candidate 2017
MPT2 Class Representative, Physical Therapy Student Society

When Karen Hurtubise (past CPA president) started her MRSc she was a clinical physiotherapist in Newfoundland. Her studies led her onto leadership roles, workplace improvements and teaching opportunities. Read further to see how far she is going now.

In the spring of 2012, Clinical Associate Professor and alumnus, Nancy Cho (Class of 1982), was asked to kick off the UBC wide “Start an Evolution” fundraising campaign. Thinking of our students she felt we needed to top-up our Rehab Sciences Alumni Bursary. Because it was the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Bursary and she was celebrating 30 years as an UBC Rehab grad, she set an ambitious goal of $30,000. With much thanks and help from a lot of good people we have for the last four years chipped away at this and have now surpassed the goal.

The UBC Rehabilitation Sciences Alumni Bursary was first established in 1982 by the Rehabilitation Student Council led by Nancy Cho as President.  Prior to 1982, all rehabilitation science students were provided a government stipend for their work in the hospitals while on their placements. This helped students with the costs of their education.  This government stipend program was discontinued for allied health professions in 1982, and the bursary was founded in order to assist students in financial need.  The first bursary of $500 was awarded the next year to the first recipient in 1983.  Currently, this endowed bursary is awarded to two students each year ($2200 each), one to a Masters of Physical Therapy and one to a Masters Occupational Therapy.

Nancy has been a longtime supporter of the Department and has contributed in many ways. In addition to her work on this bursary she served a vital role in fundraising for the renovations of the Friedman Building which allowed us to double our enrollment. She has also consistently held roles on both Department level and UBC level committees including that of President of the School of Rehabilitation Sciences Alumni Division. Just after graduation Nancy began sharing her clinical expertise with students.  She has mentored many students and new grads in the clinical setting and has been a longtime classroom instructor on the topics of electrophysical agents & electrotherapeutic interventions, gerontology, and community orthopedic management.

Nancy has also made major contributions to our Profession and has been recognized in the past with the Physiotherapy Association of BC’s Leadership Award and UBC 75th Anniversary  Award; long term service with The Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators, College of  Physical Therapists of BC, and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

We would like to thank Nancy for her leadership on this initiative as well as for the many other contributions she has made to the Department and our profession over her career.

If you would like make a gift supporting this bursary or would like more information about other Department initiatives, explore our website.

UBC Alumni Elizabeth MacRitchie (BSR’70) and her husband Donald (BSc’68, MD’70) will receive the 2016 Alumni Volunteer Leadership Award on November 1 at a ceremony celebrating alumni achievements. They have been active members of the Prince George community and have advocated for improved health care in BC – particularly in remote northern communities. Elizabeth has been an integral part of advocating for the Northern and Rural Cohort and for having PT students train in the North and with fellow alumni Lesley Schwab, Vicki Laverdure, and Johanna Jenkins, Elizabeth established the NRC Travel Award in Physical Therapy.

They have both played an active role in the expansion of the medical and physical therapy programs in northern B.C.

They, along with other inspiring members of the UBC community, will be honored for their contributions in a ceremony, November 1.  For event details or tickets visit https://www.alumni.ubc.ca/events/awards/

The University of British Columbia’s Department of Physical Therapy is excited to announce plans for a new, advanced program in manual therapy.

Subject to University approval we hope to begin offering the Graduate Certificate in Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapy (GCOMPT) in the 2017/2018 calendar year. We anticipate, pending approval from UBC and the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapy (FOMPT),   that the GCOMPT will be available as part of the UBC MRSc online degree, which would grant learners Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy (CAMPT) status.

Program Highlights

• Equivalent to the Orthopaedic  Division (CPA) syllabus (Level 3 upper and lower, through to the Advanced Diploma in Manual and Manipulative Therapy).
• Taught by experienced clinicians and instructors.
• Flexible clinical mentorship assignments with an approved FCAMPT-designated therapist of your choice.
• Core curriculum delivered part-time over 1 year.
• A mixture of online and face-to-face learning. In-class sessions will feature a maximum of 10 learners per instructor and will be held at the UBC Vancouver campus

Meet the Team

More information can be found here

Alison Hoens, Physical Therapy Knowledge Broker and Clinical Professor is pleased to share with you  the launch of the Electrophysical Forum http://www.electrophysicalforum.org/

The Electrophysical Forum is an international initiative  that aims to provide an interactive electronic platform for questions, comments discussions and opinions related to the use of electrophysical agents in physical therapy. It is supported by an internationally  renowned expert panel and a broad sphere of clinicians, researchers, educators and students.

The intent is to address, and share, clinically relevant questions related to the selection and application of electrophysical agents so as to enable evidence-informed practice with modalities such as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), Ultrasound, Low Level Light Therapy (LASER), Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) etc.

Please share with your colleagues the availability of this new resource.

Kind regards,
Alison

The CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis Research (IMHA) awarded Dr. Alex Scott the Ambassadors Knowledge Translation Award for the lay summary of his project, ‘Role of mast cells in tendinopathy’:

Tendons are a kind of connective tissue – tendons connect muscles and bones, allowing joints to move and absorb energy during activities such as sports or manual labour. Tendons often become injured and heal poorly, especially in manual labourers, computer workers, and athletes. Tendon injuries tend to become recurrent and chronic, and for example, can lead to extensive time off work. We have found abnormally high levels of a type of connective tissue cell – the mast cell – in chronically painful human tendons, and also in acutely injured or repetitively strained rodent tendons. This cell type has a well-known role in the allergy response; however, mast cells are also involved in the formation of repair tissue, especially in conditions where there is a chronic or ongoing injury. This project aims to understand the role of mast cells in acute and chronic tendon injuries, including the mechanisms by which mast cells interact with and influence the inflammatory and reparative activity of local tendon cells. This work could lead to new treatments for injured workers and athletes suffering from chronic activity-related tendon pain.

The “IMHA Research Ambassadors Knowledge Translation Award” was introduced to encourage CIHR applicants to write excellent lay abstracts. This award is given to Principal Investigators who submit a superior lay abstract for an IMHA-funded grant or award, and was created to assist with an overall goal of CIHR, which is to foster knowledge translation from scientific research into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened health care system. It is important that researchers be able to communicate their work to a general audience and a variety of stakeholders.

Admission Requirements

Admission is on a competitive basis. The following are the minimum criteria for entry:

Candidates must hold an entry-level degree in physical therapy with a minimum B+ average (76%) in senior level courses. Candidates must also have a minimum of one-year of recent clinical experience in orthopaedic physical therapy , and have completed 30 hours of clinical mentorship in manual therapy (see below for details). Candidates must have successfully completed the Level II Upper and Lower courses and examinations in the Canadian Physiotherapy Orthopaedic Division Advanced Orthopaedic Manual and Manipulative Physiotherapy program, or the equivalent. Candidates must be physical therapists registered in British Columbia. Malpractice insurance is mandatory. For minimum English requirements, please see: http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/Vancouver/index.cfm?tree=12,209,995,0

Tuition

Total fee for Graduate Certificate in Orthopaedic and Manipulative Physical Therapy (21 credits) will be $13,690.38 for domestic students and $13,763.16 for international students for the 2017/18 academic year.

Please note that students may also be responsible for paying fees to the UBC Alma Mater Society, some of which can be opted out. Information on those fees can be found here: http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/?tree=14,267,784,0

Students who wish to obtain an MRSc degree (instead of the GCOMPT certificate) should enroll in the MRSc program rather than the GCOMPT. They will complete an additional 9 credits of RHSC electives (of which 3 credits can be used towards RHSC 589, Major Project). The additional cost for this, as of 2017/18, will be 3,690.42 for domestic and 3,763.20 for international students.

Students are also responsible for any costs associated with travel to and from UBC, any costs associated with their clinical mentorship, and maintaining professional registration including appropriate insurance liability.

GCOMPT Application Process

The following is a summary of the steps you need to take to complete your application for the certificate program. If you have not done so already, review the section Admission Requirements  to ensure you are eligible. In addition, please read the note at the bottom of this page regarding the MRSc program.*

1. Ask your current or previous academic institution(s) to send us the following:

A copy of your official transcripts. These records must be received in official university envelopes, sealed and endorsed by the issuing institution. Please submit copies from each college and/or university you attended (or are currently enrolled). If these are not in English or French, please provide an official translation. If this requires opening a transcript, please order an extra one for yourself for this purpose. The transcripts received at UBC must be sealed by the issuing institution.

If you are a UBC graduate please contact us regarding transcript requirements.

2. Send us the following documents:

1. Proof of registration (or eligibility) with CPTBC
2. Letter from employer verifying 1 year experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy
3. Proof of Level II exam completion.
4. Proof of clinical mentorship completion (10 hours direct and 20 hours indirect, with FCAMPT registrant).

3. If the language of your entry-level PT degree was not English, ask the testing centre to send your English Language test results directly to us.

Transcripts and English language test results must be mailed directly to us at the address below. Other materials may be mailed or emailed.

Mailing Address
Graduate Certificate in Orthopaedic and Manipulative Physical Therapy
Department of Physical Therapy
2177 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
V5Z 1M9
Contact Information
Email | UBC.manualtherapy@ubc.ca
Tel |604 875 5372
Fax | 604 875 4036

*Before applying for the GCOMPT program, we strongly suggest that learners should familiarize themselves with the MRSc program (http://www.mrsc.ubc.ca/site_page.asp?pageid=151) and consider using their studies in manual therapy as credit towards a masters degree. The MRSc requires 30 credits of coursework, as opposed to the 21 of the GCOMPT.If you wish to complete an MRSc, you must enrol in that program at the outset, as UBC has strict limitations on the transfer of credits between programs.

If you would like to apply to the MRSc program with a manual therapy focus, please submit your application following the instructions on the MRSc website.  At the same time, please send us the information described above (items 2a – 2 d) before the deadline (see section Important Dates and Deadlines) so that we can verify your specific eligibility for the manual therapy curriculum. http://www.mrsc.ubc.ca/site_page.asp?pageid=10

Applications to the GCOMPT process may take several weeks to process. Potential applicants will be contacted by our program to arrange an in-person or Skype interview.

with Bernard Tonks
Date:Saturday, May 13, 2017 (All day) to Sunday, May 14, 2017 (All day)
Location:Plinth Lab, UNBC
Campus:Prince George
This is a two-day hands-on, comprehensive, evidence-based introductory course.

The course will be held in the Plinth Lab at the UNBC campus in Prince George, and will link via videoconference with satellite sites in Fort St. John, Prince Rupert, Terrace and Trail.

Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based and manual therapy approach to relieve the symptoms associated with peripheral vestibular and CNS dysfunctions. This course will focus on the importance of vestibular rehab in concussion management and will teach live and satellite participants evidence-based assessment and treatment techniques using case studies, practical time and videos.

Registration via UBC CPD.

We have received UBC Board of Governors approval to offer a Graduate Certificate in Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapy (GCOMPT) course.  Completion of this course will grant learners Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy (CAMPT) status.

Program Highlights

• Equivalent to the Orthopaedic  Division (CPA) syllabus (Level 3 upper and lower, through to the Advanced Diploma in Manual and Manipulative Therapy).
• Taught by experienced clinicians and instructors.
• Flexible clinical mentorship assignments with an approved FCAMPT-designated therapist of your choice.
• Core curriculum delivered part-time over 1 year.
• A mixture of online and face-to-face learning. In-class sessions will feature a maximum of 10 learners per instructor and will be held at the UBC Vancouver campus

Meet the Team

More information can be found here

The Private Practice Toolkit is being created as an online module. It is intended as a quick and easy resource for anyone involved in Private Practice interested in what it takes to have a UBC MPT student on placement.

It will review some of the most frequently asked questions, such as how much time is involved in supervising a student, what level of expertise a student can provide during given times in the program, does a student mean less income for a clinic, etc.

In concise information it will offer facts, suggestions and resources to enlighten private practice physiotherapists on the many benefits (for physio, clinic and student) of bringing a student in on clinical placement. It will address common concerns, such as scheduling a student, deciding on caseload and how much supervision is required.

The toolkit will be available on our UBC Clinical Education homepage as of the end of April. Drop by and find out more about it at our Clin Ed booth at the Physio Forum!