November 2016
From the Dean's Desk
Welcome to our first edition of the School of Physiotherapy Alumni Newsletter!
Our Alumni are highly valued at the School and are seen as a vital part of the history, present, and future of the School.
This newsletter is designed to help to keep you updated on the goings on of the School. Our aim is to profile in each newsletter wonderful stories of our current students and Alumni. We also want to let you know about the research we are very proud of doing at the School.
Our hope is that this newsletter also provides an opportunity for you to reconnect with the School and with other Physio Alumni.
Warm wishes,Leigh Hale , Physiotherapy Dean
Alumni stories
Caden Shields (Graduating Class 2014)
Dunedin born physiotherapist and athlete Caden Shields loves the steady sound of his own footfall on a hilly zigzag track.
Caden did his Health Science studies with the help of a scholarship in the US, but found himself drawn home to study physiotherapy at Otago by the famous Dunedin student lifestyle, the hills right outside our doorstep, and by his affection for close family and friends. You can read more about Caden's work here.
- Kathy Dwyer (Postgraduate MPhty Alumni
"As a working clinician, I had questions I hadn't had time or opportunity to really examine. I wanted to keep my practice relevant and keep current"
Research stories
- CHARR Research Week 21 -25th November
Research Week 2016 will showcase research from the School of Physiotherapy's Centre for Health, Activity, and Rehabilitation Research (CHARR) and collaborating Departments. A key focus of this year's week will be on celebrating our postgraduate students, and our community members. Many events on the programme are free of charge and open to all, so check out the weeks' programme then come along and join us.
- Walking to better health after stroke
The dos
e and intensity of walking for health and wellbeing in stroke is currently unknown. An existing physiotherapy-facilitated walking intervention will be modified for people with stroke. Following stakeholder consultation this research project will investigate the feasibility of the modified walking intervention on health and wellbeing in people with stroke. Read about Lynne Clay's funding success and groundbreaking research work into the role of exercise in stroke prevention.
Student news
- Welcome to the new Student Executive for 2017 and farewell and thank you to Student Exec 2016
Outgoing student executive President, Gemma Alchin-Grey, shares some of the highlights of 2016. Read about this and other student news here.
- Farewell to our Year 4 students and new Alumni
As we send this newsletter out our current students are completed exams. To our Year 4's we wish you best of luck in your future careers and welcome you as Alumni of the School of Physiotherapy. The School will be celebrating with graduating students on Saturday 10th December.
Meet the School's staff
- Dr Margot Skinner
The Vision for the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) is 'To move physical therapy forward so the profession is recognised globally for its significant role in improving health and well being'. This fits well with Margot's own vision for herself in her professional role as she has always had a passion about doing her bit to move the profession forward. Read more about Margot's work advancing the profession of physiotherapy.
- Trish Didham, Operations Manager
Many of you will know Trish, our Operations Manager. Trish starting working at the School in the early 1990s when it was based at the Polytechnic. When the School moved to the University she was 
involved in the integration of the programme and set up all the administrative structures for the School.
Trish is the key point of contact for our Alumni. If you have any feedback or exciting ideas for our Alumni Newsletter please contact Trish: trish.didham@otago.ac.nz
Other news and events
- Leading human-canine interaction researchers visit the School of Physiotherapy Read more about them here.
- New promotional video for the School. Take a look at our latest clip for undergraduate recruitment. See it here.
- Our School of Physiotherapy Clinic has recently recertified as HDANZ (Health and Disability Auditing New Zealand Ltd). This demonstrates our clinics commitment to quality of care and gives the patient confidence that there are effective management systems in place. Read more about our Clinics and their work in our communities.
Tributes
Barbara Hetherington (née Pryde). Barbara attended the New Zealand School of Physiotherapy, graduating in 1962.
Virginia Ogle (née Butchers). Virginia graduated from the New Zealand School of Physiotherapy in 1957.
Read more about Barbara and Virginia and their careers.