Missouri

Physical

Therapy

Association, Inc.

Volume 43, Number 1

Newsletter January—February 20, 2010

American Physical Therapy Association

Missouri Chapter

The Missouri Physical Therapy Association, Inc. Newsletter, a membership publication, is published monthly. ISSN: 0195-

0401. Subscription is included in the membership dues. Non-members may subscribe for $75.00 per year. Published by the

Missouri Physical Therapy Association at 745 Josephine, St. Louis, Missouri 63122. Send changes of address (e-mail or

physical) to Missouri Physical Therapy Association Inc. Newsletter, 205 E. Capitol Avenue, Suite 100, Jefferson City, Mis-

souri. Periodicals paid at Jefferson City, Missouri.

In this Issue:

Report from

Haiti

Nominees

needed

Rockhurst pre-

pares for 25th

Anniversary

Dates to re-

member

Physical Activ-

ity Grant

Available

Speakers Bu-

reau

MPTA Board

and Chairs

M

P

T

A

PT REPORTS FROM HAITI

MPTA member Chuck Gulas was one of many U.S. healthcare volunteers in Haiti when

the devastating earthquake occurred on January 12. The selected blogs share just a

glimpse of his volunteer work and his extraordinary experience at Hopital Albert

Schweitzer which is in Deschapelles, Haiti.

While Gulas expected his work in Haiti to end by January 17th, his return was delayed

over a week as the tragedy had a dramatic impact on travel to and from the country.

Chuck returned safely to St. Louis on January 24.

Blog: January 1, 2010

Many of you have questions regarding my upcoming trip. I leave Saturday January 3rd and

will be returning to St Louis on January 17th. I will be teaching the first cohort in the Re-

habilitation Aide Training Program at the Hopital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) in

Deschapelles Haiti. This program is sponsored by Health Volunteer Overseas. I will be

traveling with Denise English, PT, the Program Director.

Denise and I taught in the program at Healing Hands for Haiti, in Port-a-Prince in March

2007. Although they will not be with us this time, I need to thank Mary Christman, Kelly

Nowacki and Cheryl Cavallo, who introduced me to this program and taught with us in

2007.

Blog: January 13, 2010

Reflections the Day After Yesterday morning I was very concerned with a tiny hole in my mosquito netting...what a

difference a day can make.

This afternoon I was sitting and trying to calm a young girl who had a good portion of her

tibia sticking out of her lower leg. She was in a building collapse in Port au Prince and was

transported here in the back of a truck. She is one of the lucky ones. HAS has run out of

beds and for a time today we were doing triage with patients on the floor. We are fine here

in Deschapelles. However this is not the case for those in Port au Prince.

Continued on pg 2

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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

THE MPTA NEEDS YOU!!!

It is THAT time of the year again, and the MPTA NEEDS YOU! Issues both within and outside our profession continue

to require the dedicated efforts of willing professionals like you to ensure the continued viability of physical therapy in

the state of Missouri and represent concerns to the national association. The Nominating Committee is looking for a few

willing MPTA members to fill the following offices in spring 2010:

President Elect

Treasurer

Nominating Committee Member

PTA Caucus Chair

Director

Qualifications: To be eligible to run for office, you must have been a member of the MPTA for at least two years pre-

ceding the election. Affiliate members may serve on the Nominating Committee or as Director. You may nominate

yourself, or you may nominate someone else, although eventually they will need to consent to run for the office. A

Nominating Form is included on page 3 of this letter. The Nominating Form can be filled out and mailed or faxed, or

you can call or email directly a member of the:

MPTA Nominating Committee

Chair:

Angela Connell Jason Woods Jill Fitzgerald

angelaheaton@yahoo.com jason.woods.pt@gmail.com jmfasca@rehabcare.com

3904 Chambray Court 134 Riverwood Drive 5451 Walsh Street

Although the news is grim and I don’t know how Haiti will survive yet another disaster, the hibiscus blossoms were

beautiful today and life goes on. As we were helping in triage, a woman was giving birth in maternity. Thank you all for

your concern and messages. I truly appreciate your caring.

To see more blogs, go to www.drgulas.com

Want to learn more About Hopital Albert Schweitzer where

Chuck Gulas Volunteered?

Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) is a model for health care facilities

in developing countries around the world. An integrated rural health

system, HAS provides medical care and community health and devel-

opment programs for more than 300,000 impoverished people in the

Artibonite Valley of central Haiti. Visiting medical professionals

from North America and abroad work with a permanent Haitian staff

of almost 550. Financial support comes from partner organizations

and private individuals around the world.

Here are links to offer your help and support:

http://www.hashaiti.org/

http://www.friendsofhas.org/

You may also contact Chuck Gulas if you (or someone you know) is interested in volunteer work in Haiti. Mary Christ-

man, PT and Kelly Nowacki, PTA also have experience teaching and practicing in Haiti. You may contact Chuck at

cgulas@maryville.edu.

A whiteboard in HAS reads: “Thank you Maryville

and St. Louis for your prayers and donations to HAS

and Haitian relief efforts.”

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Rockhurst University Physical Therapy Program

25-Year Anniversary Event

Mark your calendar for the weekend of May 7th-9th, 2010 when the Rockhurst University DPT Program

celebrates its 25th Anniversary. Dr. Scott Ward, President of the American Physical Therapy Associa-

tion, will be our keynote speaker the evening of May 8th.

Other activities planned for the weekend of May 7th-9th:

Friday, May 7, 2010

· Student demonstrations of current research, newest equipment and technology

· Campus tours

· Displays from scholarship, teaching, leadership, AND service activities

· Afternoon Golf Tournament (DPT Student Scholarship fundraiser)

· Opening Evening Reception - Celebrating Rockhurst’s PT Program - Past, Present, and Future –

Insights by Ellen Spake, founder of the PT Program, current students, and Brian McKiernan, Chair

of the Dept of PT Education

· Evening Class Receptions

· K.C. Power & Light District– Late evening escape

Saturday, May 8, 2010

· Let's Get Physical Walk / Run to benefit the American Stroke Foundation.

· Softball & Volleyball -- Students vs. Alumni

· Picnic Lunch

· Dinner with recognition of those who have supported and continue to support our program.

· Evening presentation - The Future of Physical Therapy

· Mark Dwyer, President of the Kansas Physical Therapy Association

· Tamara Burlis, Vice President of the Missouri Physical Therapy Association

· Keynote Speaker - Scott Ward, APTA

Sunday, May 9, 2010

· Ecumenical Worship Service

· Sunday Brunch

For updated details about this event, please go to www.facebook.com and look at the ―Rockhurst DPT Pro-

gram‖ page. This event is open to Rockhurst alumni, faculty, and students, PT clinicians, and all others in-

terested in participating in a weekend-filled with social events.

If you would like to volunteer to help with this event, please contact Catherine Thompson at

catherine.thompson@Rockhurst.edu.

Come celebrate 25 years of Physical Therapy at Rockhurst!

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Some Dates to Keep in Mind... The MPTA Call for Posters deadline is February 26, 2010

The MPTA Service Awards Nominations are due by March 1, 2010.

April 1, 2010—Applications are due for the MPTA Physical Activity Grant

http://www.mopt.org/fitnessgrant.html

Research Grant applications are due April 12, 2010

http://www.mopt.org/rgrant.html

Want to sign up for the MPTA Speakers’ Bureau or join the Technology Task Force? Contact

Carol Kemna at ckemna@bardgett.net.

Upcoming Events!

February 17-20, 2010 --- Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), San Diego, CA

February 23, 2010 ------- 2010 MPTA Lobby Day

April 16-18, 2010 -------- MPTA Spring Conference, St. Louis, MO—Crowne Plaza Hotel—Clayton

October 16-17, 2010 - --- MPTA Fall Conference—Missouri State University, Springfield, MO

April 15-17, 2011 -------- MPTA Spring Conference—Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO

Have trouble scheduling the MTPA Lobby Day each year?

It has been decided that Lobby Day will be held the

4th Tuesday in February EVERY YEAR!

It's Not Too Early...To Start Thinking

About

Elections!

The following positions are open for

election in Spring 2010:

Treasurer

PTA Caucus Chair

Director

Nominating Committee Member

President-Elect

More information will be published in

the coming months about the open

positions.

If you have questions or know you are

interested, please contact

Nominating Committee Chair

Angie Connell via email:

angelaheaton@yahoo.com.

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Physical Activity Grants Available from MPTA

Inspiring healthy behavior is central to our physical therapy mission and staying true to our public service

commitment, the MPTA Board approved funding for Physical Activity Grants for Missouri schools.

The program is modeled after the Physical Activity Grants of the Arizona Chapter of the APTA. With the

blessing of the Arizona Chapter, we have modified their process and hope to donate the first grant funds to

Missouri schools by May 2010. We will be able to offer up to $1000 for three schools to support physical

activities for youth through the school physical education programs. Public or private middle school and jun-

ior high schools (grades 6-8) are invited to submit a proposal for the funds. The proposals must outline how

the funds will be used to support physical activity in the students. It must include provisions for inclusion of

children with disabilities, and it cannot be used to fund salaries. The goal is to stimulate a project that will be

on-going and benefit students for years to come. Arizona grants have been used to purchase equipment such

as pedometers, heart rate monitors, exercise mats, treadmills, exercise videos, etc.

There is evidence that physical activity habits developed in children and adolescents will be carried into

adulthood.1,2,3 This effort to instill value in physical activity serves our mission to keep every body MOVING

FORWARD!

The MPTA needs your help to spread the word about these grants. You are encouraged to visit the website

http://www.mopt.org/fitnessgrant.html to review the information and access materials. A brochure has been

developed that you can print and share with schools. The application form and instructions for potential ap-

plicants are available from this site as well. Applications will be due by April 1, 2010 and decisions regard-

ing the grants will be made by May 2010. Schools are asked to participate in a public relations presentation

of the check and to report back to the MPTA about the program implementation. Schools are also invited to

present an oral report to the local districts if desired. Please share this information with schools in your area

and encourage them to apply for the MPTA Physical Activity Grants. This is a win-win situation for the

schools, the MPTA, and the health of your community!

Questions can be directed to

Teresa Briedwell (briedwellt@health.missouri.edu)

or Erin Miller (gottaskiit@yahoo.com).

References:

1. American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM’s Guidelines For Exercise Testing and Prescription. 7th ed.

Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.

2. Guidelines for school and community programs to promote lifelong physical activity among young people.

US Department of Health and Human Services. 1997.

3. Faigenbaum AD. Resistance training for adolescent athletes. Athletic Therapy Today. 2002;7(6):30-35.

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