Student Leadership Committee Organizes First State Student Conference at Pacific University

Inspired by the American Physical Therapy Association’s National Student Conclave last year in Portland, the Oregon Physical Therapy Association's  Student Leadership Committee hosted its first half-day state student conference on Jan. 23, 2019.  Second year physical therapy students Jaylen Wilson '20 and Ellen Key '20 serve on the Student Leadership Committee as its chief liaison and core ambassador, respectively, and were instrumental in organizing this event.  Attendees included students and faculty from the physical therapy programs at Pacific University and George Fox University, as well as physical therapist assistant students from Mt. Hood Community College.  Invited guest speakers included local clinicians, faculty, and alumna of Pacific University.  Participants had the opportunity to network and learn from each other during the conference, which was sponsored by the OPTA and hosted at Pacific University.     

Presentations:

Dr. Megan Kaley presented a case study on a female runner with incontinence and women’s health physical therapy.  Dr. Kaley is a Women’s Health Certified Specialist, works at Providence Health & Services, and serves as a Director for the Oregon Physical Therapy Association. 

Dr. Lydia Jahn (‘2018) presented a case study on a pediatric patient born prematurely with delayed motor development. Dr. Jahn works at Providence Heath & Services and is a recent alumna of our program.    

Dr. Daniel Kang is an assistant professor of physical therapy at George Fox University.  He presented on his scholarship on and experience with primary care physical therapy. 

Dr. Sara Stuhr is the founder and owner of Physiopdx in Portland and presented on lessons, pitfalls, and failures experienced when she started her business.  She is also an adjunct faculty at Pacific for our Musculoskeletal Examination & Intervention courses.     

Dr. Leigh Reece (‘2010) works at The Portland Clinic and she has continued her post-professional development by taking courses from the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute.  She presented practical applications of modern pain science principles. 

Pictured (left to right) are members of the Oregon Physical Therapy Association – Student Leadership Committee:  Justin Lee, SPT from George Fox University; Jaylen Wilson, SPT (‘2020); Chalo Saldivar, SPTA from Mt. Hood Community College; and Ellen Key (‘2020). 

Picture at the front and left side of the room is Dr. Lydia Jahn (‘2018) during her presentation.