Keynote Presentations
9:15 AM - 10:30 AM Morning Keynote Presentation
Dr. Samantha Yammine, PhD
Neuroscientist, Science Communicator, and Digital Media Producer
Dr. Samantha Yammine, PhD is a Neuroscientist turned Science Communicator better known as Science Sam. Through social media, TV screens and keynote stages around the world, she has built an engaged community empowering people to explore science by making it more accessible, inclusive and fun.
With over a quarter million followers across social media channels, Science Sam is a popular science creator, and a regular Science Expert on CTV’s daily lifestyle show The Good Stuff with Mary Berg, where she shares the science behind our everyday lives through interactive demonstrations and experiments. Follow her @science.sam or learn more at samanthayammine.com.
Neuroscience of Motivation: Why Your Patient Didn’t Do Their Homework
In this interactive and engaging keynote, neuroscientist Samantha Yammine will share the latest research on how our brains are wired to motivate our behaviours, including when it comes to sticking to an RMT’s treatment plan. As both a neuroscientist and someone with chronic back pain who trains intensively in combat sports, we’ll go through key tips you can use immediately to improve patient compliance well-being. We’ll highlight key challenges, including online misinformation and provider burnout, with lots of time for questions so that you leave the session with new strategies to support both your practice and patients.
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM Afternoon Keynote Presentation
Dr. Marla Shapiro, CM, CCFP, MHSc, FRCPC, FCFP, MSCP
Medical Contributor, Columnist and Host
Dr. Marla Shapiro trained in Family Medicine and is certified by the Canadian College of Family Practice. She concluded her specialty training in Preventive Medicine and Public Health, receiving her Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She holds a Fellowship in Family Medicine and is a North American Menopause Society credentialed menopause specialist.
She’s been named a member of the Order of Canada, for contributions as a family physician and trusted source of health information. Dr. Shapiro is the Founding Editor of ParentsCanada Magazine. Additionally, Dr. Shapiro is a member of several committees and advisory boards including the Board for the Canadian Foundation for Women and Health, Research Canada and The North American Menopause Society. She was on the original Board of The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer having stepped down after 6 years.
Dr. Shapiro was honoured at the 150th Bayer Anniversary among 22 leading scientists and researchers for her work in Women’s Health and contraception, and she was also named one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women by Women of Influence Magazine in Canada. In 2011, The Israeli Cancer Research Fund honoured Dr. Shapiro at their Women of Action Luncheon for her personal and professional dedication to supporting innovative cancer research. She was the recipient of the 2010 Peter R. Newman Humanitarian Award in recognition of an exemplary commitment to the welfare of individuals or the community, at home or abroad. Dr. Shapiro was the recipient of the 2005 Media Award from the North American Menopause Society for her work in expanding the understanding of menopause.
She won the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada/Canadian Foundation for Women’s Health Award for Excellence in Women’s Health Journalism for her documentary, Run Your Own Race. The documentary was written, presented and co-produced by Dr. Shapiro, and won numerous industry awards including the New York Film Festival and the Columbus International Film and Video award. Dr. Shapiro received an Award of Excellence from the College of Family Physicians of Canada for her lifelong commitment and dedication to family medicine and she was awarded the Excellence in Creative Professional Activity by the University of Toronto, Department of Family and Community Medicine.
She’s author of the national best-selling book, Life in the Balance: My Journey with Breast Cancer.
Wellness & Balance - Looking at RMT's Taking Care of Themselves and their Clients
Living well means keeping a healthy lifestyle in all aspects of our lives: at work, at home, and for ourselves. This keynote will focus on a diverse range of mental and physical health topics, consolidating these areas into pillars of health. Together we will examine how we can juggle the work ball, the family ball and that rare me ball as we strive to find healthy living. Dr. Shapiro will share her personal story on that road to balance.
Concurrent Education Sessions
Morning Sessions: 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Power of Assessment: Migraines vs Cervicogenic Headaches Assessment & Treatment Approaches
Power of Assessment Webinars and Seminars are geared to RMT’s at any level wanting to take an in-depth approach to assessment and apply specific treatment for tension headaches. Migraines are a type of headache that can cripple individuals that experience them for several hours or even days. As an RMT, many of us may have had clients cancel, due to clients experiencing a severe migraine. Nausea, dizziness, sometimes vomiting and sensory hypersensitivity can cripple the sufferer. This webinar is written to explore different types of migraines, triggers, palliative vs provocative factors and how a RMT can aid or educate a client in understanding and treating migraines. However, newer studies suggest cervicogenic headaches often are under-diagnosed due to the nature and symptoms like migraine headaches. So, we’ll explore and compare both conditions to aid in differentiating them and from this, we may be able to dramatically aid our clients to make migraine type headaches more manageable
Caleb Fenton, RMT, CSMTA (cc)
Caleb Fenton is a registered massage therapist (RMT), graduated at the Professional Institute of Massage Therapy 2200 hour in diploma program with honors in 2009 and in 2016 became a sports massage therapist (CSMTA) which has given him opportunities to work with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Eastman Raiders Peewee Football, Steinbach Pistons, Southeast Thistles Rugby Club and the Hanover Fusion U17 Women's soccer team. Caleb specializes in injuries, whether acute or chronic, sport or work related, using an array of techniques such as Acupuncture, Cupping massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), Joint Mobilization, Active Isolated Stretching and many more. Caleb's advanced assessment skills has brought him to develop, write and teach seminars called, 'Power of Assessment,' which helps other therapists sharpen their skills in anatomy and physiology, postural and gait assessment and orthopedic testing and has written four articles submitted to the Massage Therapy Canada Magazine. In 2018, Caleb was awarded the Heather Whittaker Memorial Award, a prestigious award recognizing RMT's in their field of continuing education and in 2019, awarded the MTAM Merit Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the development and growth of Massage Therapy in Manitoba.
Clinical Application of Understanding Fascia as a Sensory Organ
The Facial system of the human body has been traditionally thought of as a passive structure that holds tissues together and transmits mechanical forces. However, as recent studies demonstrate, this concept is currently considered outdated. Fascia contributes much more to movement, coordination, and pain in the human body than previously thought.
This presentation cites recent research finding about fascia and its role as a sensory organ to the body. It attempts to bring them into context about how knowledge of fascial system can be used in the clinical setting to address such issues as pain, reduced range of motion, and coordination of movement.
Sarah Westbury, RMT
Sarah Westbury, RMT has been a certified Bodywork and Movement Practitioner since 1997. Sara has acquired extensive knowledge and training in the USA, Great Britain, Switzerland and Canada.
Incorporating concepts of physiology and neuroscience from evidence-based sources, she continuously seeks to assimilate these principles into her practice. Sarah is passionate about sharing knowledge and information and has presented workshops on integrating fascia, movement, and mental health.
Afternoon Sessions: 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM
Listen with your Hands: Developing Palpation Literacy
Palpation is at the very core of everything we do whether that is manual stretching, instrument assisted soft tissue manipulation, or straight up massage.
This session is designed to highlight the value that an accurate and sensitive touch can serve in both treatment and assessment. The acuity of our hands is arguably our greatest asset and is deserving of being developed!
Participants will learn the therapeutic relevance of palpation, expand their vocabulary in describing their felt sensations, and participate in palpation activities that will test and develop their skill level.
Tracie Skolny, RMT, BHSc
Tracie Skolny has been a Registered Massage Therapist practicing in London for over 16 years and an educator at the college level for over 14 years. Her personal practice is largely influenced by fascia which was born from the teachings of Tom Myers of Anatomy Trains and of Upledger’s Craniosacral therapy.
Tracie enjoys knowledge sharing as a continuing education developer and instructor at On Point Seminars where she hosts Fascial Refinement workshops that are dedicated to developing students’ ability to assess and treat fascia. www.onpointseminars.com
Tracie practices and teaches a treatment approach that allows fascia to be the guide. Her belief is that acuity of palpation within the fascial system improves client outcomes through physical attunement, use of interoception, and tuning into the mechanisms by which fascia operates.
Tracie encourages her students to listen with their hands and that when it comes to pressure, less is more.
Treatment and Management of TMJ Pain
In this presentation, participants will learn current evidence-based frameworks surrounding persistent pain focusing specifically on the TMJ. Best practices for assessment and treatment strategies will be emphasized, thereby enhancing treatment efficacy and improved patient outcomes. Attendees will learn the complexities of tissue health, and biopsychosocial factors in the context of the pain experience and how to optimize rehabilitation and recovery for the TMJ. Participants will be shown evidence-based assessment ideas and a variety of different hands-on techniques to help reduce nociceptive input and therefore helping to reduce the pain experience. Self-management strategies will also be demonstrated to achieve meaningful treatment outcomes.
Eric Purves, MSc, RMT
Eric Purves has been a Registered Massage Therapist since 2006 after graduating from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy (WCCMT) Victoria. He started working at Achieve Health in August 2006 and is the co-owner with Richard McIlmoyle.
Eric’s area of research and clinical interest is in the treatment and management of chronic pain. He has a master’s degree from UBC in rehabilitation science. His studies focused on how to best incorporate research evidence into RMT practice to maximize outcomes in the treatment and management for those experiencing chronic pain.
Eric’s treatments utilize current evidence and science based best practices in treating the multifactorial nature of pain. Through proper application of manual therapies and exercise to alleviate symptoms and address sensitivity within the nervous system, a better quality of life can be achieved. Eric believes living an active and healthy lifestyle is the key to well being. He is an avid soccer player, runner and cyclist and spent many years training in a variety of martial arts.