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Advocacy
Dr. Gunther is currently a physical therapist at Richmond Physical Therapy, an outpatient orthopedic private practice in Richmond, Virginia. He received his bachelor’s degree at Randolph-Macon College with a major in psychology and a minor in speech communications. After working in the mental health field for a few years, he decided to change course and go to PT school at VCU. In 2013, he graduated with his DPT and began working as a PT.
In the interview that follows, Dr. Gunther discusses his new role as the Legislative Chair for the VPTA and his perception of the current physical therapy industry.    First and foremost, to all the volunteer students, faculty, PTs and PTAs, board members and VPTA members who worked together to make the 2018 VPTA Fall Summit successful, thank you! It was great to see that both the courses offered were filled to capacity, indicating that a desire for in-person continuing education is alive and well.
 Like the Fall Summit, seats are anticipated to sell out. Be sure to grab your spot.
Don't give up your seat for VPTA's educational offering at CSM! When Your Patient is Not Improving: Using Pain Science by Craig O’Neil, PT, DMT; Brandon Ellison, PT, DPT; and David Sheer, PT,DPT. VPTA's Lobby Day 2019 will be Wednesday, January 16th from 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. in Richmond, Virginia. As you know, the capital building is under construction, so we are limited on the number of members who can attend Lobby Day. Consequently, we are able to have 20 PT or PTA members attend.
Registration is required by December 7. VPTA leadership will be working to finalize a group by the end of the year.
Be sure to let us know who your legislature is by filling in the comment field. You can look up your legislature here. If you have any questions, please send an email to Geoff Gunther, VPTA’s Lobby Day Chair. Student News
by: Catherine Cunningham, SPT; Katherine De Lara, SPT; Emily Schaefer, SPT
Students from physical therapist (PT) programs in Wisconsin were among the 178 schools that participated in the 2017-2018 Mercer-Marquette Challenge, raising $328,456, with a record number of returning schools. Since its inception in 1989, more than 300 schools have participated in the Marquette Challenge in raising more than $4 million. District News
Meeting Recap  Earlier this fall on October 13th our Tidewater District participated in the National PT Day of Service where members volunteered with CATS (Children’s Assistive Technology Service), an organization with a local facility that provides for the re-use of pediatric rehabilitation equipment and assistive technology devices in Virginia. CATS is a no-cost resource for children with disabilities who need adaptive equipment and whose families have limited resources. We had 12 local clinicians and students participate by cleaning, repairing, measuring and labeling equipment under the guidance of CATS staff. It was a gratifying way to spend a Saturday knowing this equipment will help local children play with their friends and siblings; participate in ADL’s; explore their world by moving and learning providing greater independence.
Fall 2018 Elections provide us with new and continuing leaders to our team. We welcome Jonathon McGruder as our representative to the VPTA’s Nominating Committee and Alysia Horeczko was re-elected to continue her service as our Tidewater District Treasurer/Finance Director. We are grateful for their commitment and service. Our District owes a great thanks to outgoing District Director Emily Hawkins, her term has come to an end. She has been a driving force of our leadership team and as you can see from the above events reported, has contributed greatly to the opportunities available to our local clinicians and students. Thank you, Emily! We are still actively recruiting to fill her position and if you would like more information please contact Samantha Ficksman at sficksman@gmail.com. February 20, 2019, REACH Prosthetics will provide a speaker at Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News who is providing us with a meeting space at 500 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. Refreshments sponsored by REACH at 6:30 pm with the meeting to follow from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The VPTA & the VBB: Coming Full Circle by Tawny Chamberlian, PT, DPT
In 2011, I moved to Richmond to develop the physical therapist assistant (PTA) program at South University. Since the inception of this program, my faculty and I have received consistent feedback from clinicians and faculty from other programs regarding the importance of professionalism in PTA education. In response, we developed our program and curriculum with professional behavior as a cornerstone. This foundational principle is made apparent to students at each and every encounter they have with us in the program. One of the tools we utilize to help students self-assess professionalism is the APTA’s Values-Based Behaviors for the PTA (VBB). For those of you who are unfamiliar with this tool, the eight behaviors include: Altruism, Caring and Compassion, Continuing Competence, Duty, Integrity, PT/PTA Collaboration, Responsibility, and Social Responsibility.1 Students complete their initial self-assessment during the first quarter of the program utilizing past work experience or behaviors as a student for their ratings. Self-assessments are then repeated after clinical experiences to assist the students in refining their strengths and weaknesses and recognizing where growth has occurred.
SIG Updates
By Kim Lephart, PT, DPT, MBA, Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist
2018 ANNUAL VPTA PSIG BUSINESS MEETING UPDATES:
- OFFICER UPDATE
Elections for officers was held. Kim Lephart was re-elected for another term as President. Terry Izzo stepped down after completing her terms as Treasurer. It is with great appreciation we acknowledge Terry Izzo for her service within the VPTA PSIG! Thank you Terry! A new Treasurer was elected, Katie Labuda. Welcome Katie!
Kim Wesdock, PT, MS, PCS, was an extraordinary woman. She spent her life serving and advocating for children all over the world. As a Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist, she volunteered with organizations such as Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) and World Pediatric Project (WPP), teaching local health care providers and evaluating patients as part of yearly mission trips. She has multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals and was actively involved in research.
Industry News
PT in Motion News
Are you up to speed on the requirements involved with participation in the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Merit-based Incentive Payment System? |
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We had Brandon Poen from the Healthcare Education Transformation Podcast (
