Message from the Dean
Welcome to this December 2019 edition of our Alumni newsletter.
Earlier in the month we were delighted to come together to celebrate the presentation of the Inaugural Awards Presentation for the Dr Stanley Paris Research Fellowships and Scholarships. The School is extremely appreciative of this unprecedented generosity to our School and their ability to further enhance our School's national and international profile and leadership role in research and in clinical practice in OMT.
To further celebrate these awards, in this issue of our Alumni Newsletter we are highlighting the School's work in the area of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. Specifically we are highlighting our acting clinic director, Matt Dick, researchers and clinicians Drs Cathy Chapple and Associate Professor Steve Tumilty's respective programmes of research work, and Alumnus Professor Peter O'Sullivan.
I would also like to acknowledge Professor John Sullivan who retires at the end of this year after 23 years. John was the Dean of our School from 1996 – 2005. Thank you John for your significant contribution to the School and all the very best in your retirement.
Further news within our School I would like to draw your attention to are;
A big congratulations to our 4th Year students on their Graduation on Saturday December 8. We wish you all the best for your future and hope that as Alumni you keep in touch with the School. Congratulations also to our Postgraduate students who received their degrees, including our staff Ally Calder (with her PhD) and Claire Hargest (with her MPhty)
Promotions were received by Debra Waters to Professor, and Hilda Mulligan to Associate Professor. Huge congratulations to you both.
Congratulations to Dr Ewan Kennedy (pictured) who received the inaugural teaching prize for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
Finally, thank you to staff, students and alumni for your commitment to the School. I'd like to wish everyone a restful holiday season.
Leigh Hale, Dean, School of PhysiotherapyNews from the School
Stanley Paris fellowships and scholarships awarded
Physiotherapy educator, adventurer, philanthropist and distinguished Otago alumnus Dr Stanley Paris (Jnr) graduated from Dunedin's New Zealand School of Physiotherapy in 1958.
Dr Stanley Paris (Jnr)He would go on to found the Institute for Physical Therapy in the United States, later renamed the Institute of Graduate Health Sciences which in 1997 became the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.
These new awards, made available through the Stanley Paris Musculoskeletal and Manual Therapy Fund, seek to further enhance the School's international and national profile as leaders in research and clinical practice.
Full details about the fellowships, scholarships and first recipients are here
News from the Clinics
The new acting director of our Dunedin clinics Matt Dick applies expertise gained from his work with Otago athletes into his team's treatment of each patient.
As a young Otago graduate, Matt enjoyed the active practical problem-solving aspects of physiotherapy but wanted to better understand the science of load and the kinetics of movement.
Read more about Matt's career and his clinical work here
Meet the staff
Research by Steve Tumilty looks at how manual therapy approaches can utilise non-biomechanical effects to complement the body's complex healing processes.
Steve Tumilty's research derives from his strong background in hands-on physiotherapy
Ex-Londoner Cathy Chapple arrived in New Zealand in 1992. Now the proud recipient of the inaugural Stanley Paris 2020 Research Fellowship, her research enables healthcare teams to deliver more consistent and accurate health outputs.
Cathy Chapple's research prompts better quality health services for more in our communities
Student stories
Family of physios celebrates latest Otago graduate
Ala Dysart graduated from the School of Physiotherapy in Dunedin recently.
Physiotherapy is very much a family affair for the Dysarts, and you can read more about Ala and her family at this link
2019 Undergraduate Prizes and winners
Congratulations to the recipients of our 2019 undergraduate prizes. These prizes have been supported by many School alumni and are awarded to Year 2, 3, and 4 undergraduate students.
Here is the complete list of prize winners for 2019
Research highlights
The awarding of the inaugural Dr Stanley Paris fellowships and scholarships in December of 2019 will do much to further enhance the School's international and national profile as leaders in research and clinical practice.
Here is a quick rundown of recent student and staff achievements, and ongoing research at the School
Alumni stories
We were delighted to receive a visit in November this year from alumnus Professor Peter O'Sullivan. His work with Cognitive Functional Therapy promotes bold new non-invasive approaches to the treatment of back pain and related health conditions.
Peter believes that evidence-based research is essential in creating and sustaining systems which deliver better understandings of the phenomena of pain.
We outline Peter's contemporary investigations into where back pain begins, and why it begins
History notes
A recent survey in the UK set out to identify those individuals who have had the most enduring influence on the profession of physiotherapy.
We note the inclusion of Otago educated Dr Robin McKenzie in a select band of luminaries. Drs Stanley Paris and Brian Mulligan were also short listed.
Tributes
As a community of New Zealand physiotherapists we mark the passing of our respected colleague Marjorie Ashworth.
Marjorie Ashworth (née Goldsmith) graduated from the New Zealand School of Physiotherapy in 1951 and was for many years a well loved physiotherapist in Outpatients at Dunedin Hospital.
She worked tirelessly for those living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Marjorie passed away on November 27th 2019 in Dunedin, and in lieu of flowers at her funeral the family asked that donations be made to the New Zealand Arthritis Foundation.
Keep in touch
As University of Otago and School of Physiotherapy alumni – you belong to a rich and diverse world wide community.
Stay connected to continue a rewarding relationship with your University, your fellow Otago alumni and the School.
Planning an event or organising a class reunion? We can offer help, and encouragement with logistics and planning.
If you would like to receive regular news from Otago alumni, ensure your contact details are up to date by contacting the alumni office at this address
You can follow the School of Physiotherapy on Twitter here: @physiOtago
Follow research activity at the School on Twitter here: @OtagoCHARR
Please do keep in touch.
Publications
Lawrence, R. (2005). Branding terroir in the ′New World′: Modes of representation in the wine industry. In P. Sorrell, C. Ozcan, E. Kocabiyik & Z. T. Ultav (Eds.), Proceedings of the IST Product and Service Design Symposium and Exhibition on Agricultural Industries. Izmir, Turkey: Izmir University of Economics. [Full Paper] Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper