Episode Summary
Through her leadership with the International Neurological Physiotherapy Association, Pitt Physical Therapy Professor Susan L. Whitney is helping shape neurological physical therapy practice worldwide. Her work brings together international clinicians, researchers and educators while reinforcing Pitt Physical Therapy’s role as a center for innovation in vestibular and neurologic rehabilitation.
Episode Audio
Episode Transcript
It actually started at a bar in Vancouver with a group of neuro physical therapists. We decided there should be an international neuro group, and as a result, I’ve been pulled into it and now serve as vice president of the group.
Yes, I was definitely one of the original creators. There were certainly people who did more of the initial heavy lifting than I did, but I was part of the founding team. This was around the time World Physiotherapy was held in Vancouver, which was probably about 15 years ago.
Over the past 15 years, IMPA has experienced remarkable growth. We are now officially recognized within World Physiotherapy, we have formal bylaws, and we even have a small operating budget—which we never had in the early days. Most importantly, we’re providing valuable services to clinicians around the world by giving them access to information that would otherwise be very difficult to obtain.
On a global scale, one of our major educational efforts is our annual conference, which has been incredibly exciting. I led the first one and now help coordinate a team of about 60 people working to improve global healthcare for individuals with neurologic disorders. In addition, we maintain a strong website and offer IMPAC Connect, a free online platform where clinicians who treat neurologic conditions can connect with peers around the world. It’s a truly exciting and collaborative space.
What I’d love the U.S. physical therapy market to understand about the global physiotherapy world is this: physical therapists everywhere are highly skilled. Some clinicians simply have less access to educational materials and resources. If we can help provide those resources, they are absolutely capable of delivering the same level of care as clinicians in more developed countries.
