Conference Info

Join us at the 2025 Saskatchewan Pediatric Therapy Conference: Connecting Care: Enhancing Pediatric Practice Through Communication, Engagement, and Evidence-Based Approaches. This two-day virtual event on January 23 & 24, 2025 will gather leading experts, clinicians, researchers, and other partners to explore shifting paradigms and current perspectives in childhood disability. This enriching and collaborative learning experience aims to bridge gaps across key topics, supporting impactful changes in interprofessional practice that positively impact children and families.

 

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Target Audience

Target Audience:

  • Pediatric rehabilitation providers (physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, etc.)
  • Healthcare providers working with children and youth
  • Researchers and students in pediatric healthcare fields 
  • Healthcare leaders and policy makers  
  • Educators and special education professionals  

Connect & Converse

Tailored Breakout Sessions for Meaningful Networking

Welcome to the Connect and Converse networking session! This engaging event will blend guided discussion on pediatric themes, led by moderators, with opportunities for informal networking and free-flowing dialogue. It is designed to foster collaboration, inspire learning and cultivate meaningful connections among participants of all backgrounds and experience levels.

The session includes 7 breakout rooms, each hosting two 25-minute discussion blocks:

  • First discussion block: 10:00 to 10:25 AM
  • Second discussion block (repeat): 10:30 to 10:55 AM

You can select and join up to two topics—one for each block—ensuring flexibility and a chance to explore multiple areas of interest.

Whether you contribute actively by sharing resources and insights or prefer to listen and reflect, this is your opportunity to connect with peers, exchange knowledge, and build professional relationships that extend beyond the session.

Objectives

These discussions are designed to help you grow your network, gain new insights, and discover practical solutions that you can apply in your own setting. In this session, attendees will:

  • Engage with colleagues and connect with others who share similar interests
  • Learn from peers about how services are provided in other centres and exchange best practices
  • Identify challenges and explore solutions others have implemented.
  • Discuss innovations, successes, and lessons learned from across the community.

Join us for some inspiring and productive conversations where collaboration and knowledge-sharing take centre stage!

Instructions to Attendees

A working webcam and microphone is highly recommended for participation in breakout rooms. If your computer does not have audio and you are unable to connect a headset, you can use your phone for audio using the Zoom "join meeting audio by phone - call me" feature*. For information on how to use that feature please click here. If you are unable to participate using a microphone, the Chat feature will be enabled. 

Breakout Session Topics:

  1. Pain

  2. Gait and Orthotics

  3. Transition from Pediatric Services to Adulthood

  4. Torticollis

  5. Leading Through Change: Fostering Psychological Safety

  6. Screening Tools

  7. Promoting Participation, Inclusion, and Building Capacity in the Community

Ground Rules for Breakout Session:

  1. Respectful and inclusive participation
    Engage in a way that feels right for you—whether by listening, speaking, or using the chat, or reactions. Allow others to share without interruption, and respect diverse perspectives and communication styles.
  2. Use Virtual Hand-Raising
    Raise your hand before speaking to maintain an organized flow.
  3. Confidentiality
    Do not discuss identifiable patient information. Respect the privacy of all shared content—what’s discussed in the room stays in the room.
  4. Mute When Not Speaking
    Mute your mic when you're not speaking to reduce background noise.
  5. Stay on Topic
    Keep the conversation related to the session theme.
  6. Stay Positive and supportive
    Focus on learning and solutions, rather than criticism. Offer constructive feedback and support others' ideas.
  7. Encourage Creativity
    Feel free to share new ideas, solutions, and brainstorm together.

 

Speakers

Bio coming soon

Stephanie Lurch is a storyteller, activist, leader and physiotherapist. A dynamic award-winning educator, Stephanie has worked across multiple settings in the healthcare and education sectors, bridging the gap between academia and practice. Her career has been distinguished by a wide breadth of clinical, teaching and real-life experiences including working with the Cirque du Soleil, as part of a team of caregivers in West Africa, with Indigenous peoples in New Zealand, and currently as a paediatric physiotherapist in the public school system. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster University and formerly the inaugural Assistant Professor and Academic Lead: Equity, Anti-racism and Social Accountability at the University of Toronto in the Department of Physical Therapy where she worked for over 10 years. She is recognized for integrating social justice and the arts into health professions education. Her past achievements include, but are not limited to, co-authoring the Essential Competency Profile for Physiotherapists in Canada (2017), co-authoring new equity-driven accreditation standards for Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada (2020) and providing thought leadership to both learners and key opinion leaders. Stephanie has been an invited keynote speaker in the healthcare and education spaces. Her book chapter on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in physiotherapy promises to further her impact. 

Dr. Lindsay Hubenig is a Pediatric Physiatrist with extensive experience in the rehabilitation and management of children with physical disabilities and developmental disorders. Dr. Hubenig completed her medical degree at the University of Saskatchewan, followed by residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a fellowship in Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta.  Dr. Hubenig specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of pediatric conditions including cerebral palsy, neuromuscular conditions, nerve injuries and musculoskeletal injuries. As a leader in the field, Dr. Hubenig is dedicated to using a holistic, family-centered approach to help children achieve their highest potential, collaborating closely with families, therapists, and healthcare teams. She is committed to training the next generation of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Specialists as the program director of the University of Alberta fellowship program. 

Roslyn Livingstone is an occupational therapist based in BC, with over 30 years’ experience working with children with multiple and complex disabilities. She completed her Masters in Rehabilitation Science through McMaster University in 2008 and is currently an Investigator with BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and a Clinical Assistant Professor at University of British Columbia. She collaborates with international colleagues on research and education primarily related to children with CP functioning at GMFCS IV and V. Ros has 30 peer-reviewed publications related to the use of adaptive seating, standing, stepping and power mobility, as well as three related to children with hypotonia. 

Ginny Paleg is a pediatric physiotherapist from Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.  For the past 20 years, she has worked with children aged 0-3 years in homes and childcare, with a focus on the F-words.  Ginny earned her master’s degree in physical therapy at Emory University and her DScPT at the University of Maryland Baltimore. Ginny specializes in posture and mobility assessment and interventions for children at GMFCS Levels IV and V.  She is certified in Prechtl General Movement Assessment (GMA) and the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Exam (HINE) and trained in Routines Based Interventions (McMaster) and coaching (Sheldon and Rush). 

She has published over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles on standers, supported stepping devices, and power mobility. 

She is the lead author for the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy Hypotonia Care Pathway and past Chair of the AACPDM Communications Committee and a member of the Nominating Committee. She served on the Scientific Committees for the AACPDM and EACD in 2022, and is a current member of the AACPDM Care Pathway Council. 

Sarah Oosman is a physical therapist and an associate professor at the School of Rehabilitation Science (USask), a researcher with the Saskatchewan Population Health & Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU), and a co-principal investigator with the nātawihowin & mamawiikikayaahk (SK-NEIHR). She is a first-generation Canadian of mixed ethnicity, a settler ally & co-liberator, and an intervention Indigenous-health researcher. She prioritizes Indigenous community-driven action research that leads to the development and implementation of culture-based, relevant, and meaningful health promoting interventions across the lifespan. Sarah works in close partnership with Métis and First Nation peoples and communities in Saskatchewan, and is passionate about addressing health inequities through respectful relationships, partnerships, and safe, courageous conversations in classroom, clinical, community, and research settings. 

Dr. Mathew Clarke is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon based in Regina, Saskatchewan. Born and raised in Moose Jaw, Dr. Clarke is excited to return to southern Saskatchewan and serve the local community by providing specialized care for children with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. He is passionate about helping kids in the region receive high-quality orthopedic care close to home. 

Rachel Teplicky is the Business and Engagement Officer at CanChild, a research centre at McMaster University. Rachel is a member of CanChild's F-Words for Child Development and Family-Centred Service research teams. She is passionate about sharing information with parents and service providers, and learning from them about how research can make a difference. She also oversees CanChild’s knowledge translation and revenue generation activities, and brings knowledge from her professional training in occupational therapy.

Dr. Peter Rosenbaum is a developmental pediatrician with over 50 years' experience of the clinical, academic and political dimensions of childhood disabilities. His perspectives have been impacted hugely by hisinvolvement with the Canchild Centre for Childhood-onset Disability (www.canchild.ca) and their work with parents and colleagues around the world.

Patti Thomas is an experienced physiotherapist with over 22 years of expertise. She graduated from the University of Alberta and began her career specializing in adult neurorehabilitation before transitioning to pediatrics 14 years ago.   

Her experience spans across settings, including community schools, hospitals and in-home care for pediatric neurology clients.  Currently, Patti is working in pediatric home care in Calgary which services children from birth to age 18. 

 

Debra Teitelbaum has more than 35 years of experience as a pediatric physiotherapist, the last 27 years at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, working with families of young children with neurodevelopmental issues. It has been a great privilege for her to journey alongside so many families, find solutions together to support their goals and build caregiver confidence and competence along the way. She co-developed an educational gross motor program for parents called Watch Me Move (Natrasony and Teitelbaum, 2016). More recently, she developed the Applied Coaching Tool and implemented training for therapists to move from an expert model to a coaching, learner focused, and relationship directed model. She continues to research the efficacy and clinical application of coaching practices in pediatrics. She obtained her BScPT and MSc in Rehabilitation from McGill University.

Lynda Moore is a parent to a young child with complex health. She is a presenter and parent partner in research with CanChild co-instructing Family Engagement in Research and various F-Words projects. She is part of the BC F-Words Foundation training team and resides on Vancouver Island, BC. Lynda also volunteers on the Board of Directors for the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC, is a writing coach for poetry and memoir exploration and works in partnership with her family to create video stories for organizations and individuals that highlight inclusion. Her passion is in story and knowledge sharing between diverse groups that live and work around the child or individuals in focus. She also holds a BFA in writing and film.

Agenda

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Families, Caregivers & People with Disabilities Special Invitation

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 A Special Invitation

The SHA and CERS would like to invite families and caregivers of children with developmental disabilities to attend select exciting sessions that will be part of the 2025 Saskatchewan Pediatric Therapy Conference.

Presenters from CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability will be joining us on January 24, 2025 for two special virtual presentations that can be attended by the above audience free of charge. 

9:15-10:15 AM F-Words in Childhood Disability Rachel Teplicky and a Parent Partner
10:30 AM-12:00 PM Childhood Disability in the 21st Century: Concepts That are Changing the Field   Dr. Peter Rosenbaum

There will be opportunities for questions and discussion about these concepts.  (Please note the speakers will be unable to address specific questions about individual children or situations.)

A special promo code has been distributed. Check your email and use yours today for a complimentary registration. If you have not received a code, contact your child's SHA provider, or kyra.kane@saskhealthauthority.ca.

 

Fees & Registration

Early Bird pricing until December 13, 2024:

Full Two Day Conference: $200.00 + GST

One Day Only: $125.00 + GST

Regular pricing after December 13, 2024:

Full Two Day Conference: $250.00 + GST

One Day Only: $150.00 + GST

 

 **Special pricing is available for SHA employees. Please check your email for the promo code. If you have not received it, contact your manager or email kyra.kane@saskhealthauthority.ca