You’ve reached Practice Advice – How Can We Help? Tales from the Practice Advice Frontline at the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario

Speaker: Mary-Catherine Fraser Saxena

The use of humor in Oncology

Speaker: Dr. Oren Cheifetz, PT, PhD

Physiotherapy in eldercare – what’s it all about?

Speaker: Amanda Dalcourt, PT, Dip MDT

Dr. Adrienne M. Kelly, MD, FRCSC

Speaker: Susan Robarts, BSc, BHScPT, MSc

Speaker: Dr. Venkadesan Rajendran, PT, MPT (Neurology), PhD

Speaker: Andy Wang, PT, R. Ac, Dip. TCM Acupuncture, Dip. Manip. PT, BScPT, MTS, FCAMPT, CAFCI, DSc(c) PT

Dr. Oren Cheifetz has completed his physiotherapy degree at Queen’s University, Master’s at the University of Western Ontario, and oncology-related doctorate studies at McMaster. He has been working at Hamilton Health Sciences since 1996 in various positions including orthopedics, oncology/hematology, amputee and geriatric rehab, and now management. He is a CPA-certified Clinical Specialists in Oncology, and has served as a Director on the CPA Board of Directors 2014-2017. Currently, he is on OPA Board of Directors and serves as the President. Oren has been an Executive member on the Oncology Division and has been instrumental in creating the World Confederation Oncology Section.

Amanda Dalcourt is Co-Founder, Vice President of Eldercare at Novo Peak Health. With 30 years of clinical experience, Amanda’s strong orthopedic background changed into a passion for the elderly, creating innovative programming, and efficient systems and procedures that have allowed for Novo Peak to thrive in the eldercare industry. As Northern Ontario Business Association’s Entrepreneur of the Year (2011), Co-Author of 5 books, professional speaker and businesswoman, Amanda continues to work as a clinician in eldercare, maintaining direct contact with seniors, so as to have continued experience with the growing and changing needs of the industry

Dr. Adrienne Kelly was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie and returned to practice general orthopedics and adult spine surgery in 2015. She completed medical school at Western, orthopedic residency in Halifax, and spine fellowship in Vancouver. She is an Executive Member at Large of the Canadian Spine Society and actively recruiting patients to the observational cohort of the Canadian Spine Outcomes Research Network, a national registry of spine surgery. In her spare time she enjoys working outside, going to camp, boxing, playing hockey and lacrosse, and teaching skating.

Dr. Venkadesan Rajendran is an advanced practice physiotherapist in the internal medicine and acute stroke unit at Health Sciences North. He is also a clinical lecturer at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and an adjunct professor at Laurentian University’s School of Health Sciences. In 2021, Dr. Rajendran was awarded centenary medals of distinction by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, and, in 2023, received the Innovation and Advancement Award from the Ontario Physiotherapy Association. In addition, Dr. Rajendran founded Ontario Neurological Rehabilitation. He has published 25 research articles in peer-reviewed international journals.

Susan Robarts developed a model of care at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre that changed the status quo. The model of care includes centralized referral intake and assessment by advanced practice physiotherapists, of which she was the first, reducing wait times and improving access to care for people with musculoskeletal conditions. As an advisor to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, she was instrumental in scaling up the team approach and implementing 53 Rapid Access Clinics for people with hip and knee arthritis across the province with over 100 new advanced practice providers. Previously, she developed a funded community-based rehabilitation initiative in the Mushkegowuk Territory with Weeneebayko Area Health Authority and Queen’s University to increase care capacity. Susan has co-authored over 20 publications in peer-reviewed journals. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Ontario Physiotherapy Association. Susan has a B.Sc. in Psychology, B.H.Sc. in Physiotherapy (McMaster University), M.Sc. in Rehabilitation Science (Queen’s University), and certificates in Lean for Healthcare (Michigan University) and Patient Safety Quality and Leadership (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine). Her work has been acknowledged with the Sunnybrook Schulich Award for Clinical Excellence, 3M Health Care Quality Team Award and Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care ACE Award for Achievement, Commitment, and Excellence. In 2022, she received a Distinguished Alumni award from Queens University, School of Rehabilitation.

Mary-Catherine received her Bachelor of Science (Physiotherapy) from the University of Ottawa and a Masters in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Toronto. She has worked as a physiotherapy clinician and clinic director in private and public facilities in Ontario, Manitoba and the United States. In 2020, Mary-Catherine joined the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario (CPO) as a Professional Practice Advisor. She advises all stakeholders in physiotherapy in Ontario, including physiotherapists, patients and their families, PTAs, academics and students. Her role also includes developing educational content for physiotherapists in the form of monthly newsletters, blog posts, educational videos and other continuing professional education opportunities related to the CPO’s Professional Standards. In addition, Mary-Catherine has the privilege of meeting students from across Ontario during their first year of physiotherapy training to help them better understand the College’s role in their future profession, as well as to meet graduating students to review and apply the standards of practice. Mary-Catherine also volunteers with the Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada.

Andy graduated from the School of Physiotherapy, Queen’s University in 1983. He has been an anatomical acupuncturist with the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute (AFCI) and a Registered Acupuncturist with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO) since 1995 and 2015 respectively. He is also a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapists (FCAMPT) since 1999.

• Logo with link on Northern Ontario District website page (this page)
• Logo with link in 3X Northern Ontario District emails sent to over 100 members
• Table at Physio North on September 30, 2023, in Sault Ste. Marie

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• Logo with link at the top of the Northern Ontario District website page (this page)
• Logo with link in 1X Northern Ontario District emails sent to over 100 members

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