The PT Lens

Episode 13 | The PCE Clinical Component Cancellations And Their Impact

Join us for this very important episode where 5 special guests discuss how the recent repeated cancellations of the clinical component of the Physiotherapy Competence Exam (PCE) have been negatively impacting the PT profession as well as the lives of PT residents currently waiting to become fully licensed. TIMELINE: [0:00] Intro. [2:05] Laurin Black - gives context on what’s going on in the physiotherapy profession after the recent cancellation of the clinical component of the Practical Clinical Exam (PCE), how folks are affected, and potential next steps forward. [11:38] Cory Schneider - shares his thoughts on how we can use this opportunity for growth within the field of Physiotherapy. [17:26] Sameena Shaikh - internationally educated physiotherapist shares her thoughts on the recent cancelation of the clinical component of the PCE. [23:20] Rehginald Ragos - PT resident from UofT shares how the uncertainty of the PCE clinical component affects his life and his practice [25:57] Jyoti Mann - shares her thoughts on how the physiotherapy profession can make changes to how we are evaluated to become fully registered physiotherapists. THANK YOU to everyone for submitting your testimonies and telling us your thoughts.

Episode 12 | Transitioning to Life as a Working Professional

In this episode, we have a conversation with our special guests Jyoti Mann and Laurin Black, two recent UofT Physiotherapy graduates, about life as a new grad and the transition to life as a working professional in the healthcare field! TIMELINE: [0:00]: intro. [1:56]: how did you know what to do when you graduated? [4:20]: what are some ways you deal with some of those uncomfortable situations as a new grad? [8:26]: what kinds of factors did you guys consider when deciding on what courses to take outside of PT school? [13:16]: what types of things did you look look in an employer/culture when applying for jobs? [16:48]: what made you decide between a contractor vs. employee? What's the difference between the two? [23:24]: what did you guys do to land your first job? [29:08]: do you guys recommend trying out multiple opportunities when you start practicing (I.e. hospital and private practice) or seek for a perfect fit only? [31:22]: what does growth mean to you specifically? [37:07] if can put up a billboard of your choice, what would it say?

Episode 11 | All About Olympic Lifting (With Tina Homayouni)

Join us for a discussion with resident physiotherapist Tina Homayouni where she explains the difference between Olympic lifting and other strength sports such as powerlifting, her own experience with the sport and how it made her a better physio, pain science, as well as some helpful tips to students about to graduate and enter the work life. TIME STAMPS: [0:00]: intro. [2:42]: what is Olympic weightlifting? Review of all the lifts and the differences between Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting and body building. [7:30]: what kind of preparation goes into the sport for a beginner? [11:25] : what are some ways that you would suggest that can help increase mobility? [14:04]: what are some ways of dealing with plateaus in this sport? [16:55]: who are some of the Olympic weight lifters you look up to? [18:35]: how has your passion as an Olympic weightlifter translate to your practice as a physio? [23:08]:how have you modified your practice based on some of the injuries you've experienced? [32:08] : what's your advice for second year PT students who are about to transition to the professional world? [37:45] : would you create a webinar for Olympic weightlifting for beginners? [40:26] : is there anything else that you would like to share with our audience?

Episode 10 | Placement #2

Join us as we talk about our second clinical internship of the UofT MScPT program. In this episode, we also learn about how Michael did such a great job on his placement that they named St. Michael's Hospital after him! A rough timeline for you all: [2:00]: Tell us about where your placement was and your experience on placement. [10:30]: What’re some skills learned during your placement and your biggest challenge on placement? [31:25]: If there was one thing you wish you know before the placement what would that be?

Episode 9 | All About Nutrition (With Kavita Dave)

In this episode we discuss all things nutrition with Kavita, a holistic nutritionist who teaches us about the importance of a balanced diet, breaks down some common nutrition myths, and gives some amazing tips on how we can all start making nutritional changes that can help us live a healthier lifestyle!

ROUGH TIMELINE: [2:05]: Tell us about your personal journey with fitness and nutrition. What made you embark on the career path of being a holistic nutritionist? [10:11]: What is eating psychology? [14:52]: What does orthorexia mean? [16:44]: Kavita gives her stamp of approval for eating that Krispy Kreme donut (80/20 rule). [21:13]: What does a healthy diet mean? [28:02]: What are some common nutrition myths you have encountered throughout your career that you wanted to clear up? [30:10]: What are the different types of fats? [34:40]: Would you recommend eating animal protein? [38:30]: What would you say about all the diets that are out there (keto, paleo, etc.). [41:36]: What are some key points you would tell people to look out for to make some changes in their life and diet?

Episode 8 | Catching Up - Clinical Internship 1

Join your hosts Prab, Waleed and Michael as we catch up on our experiences and lessons we've learned through our first clinical internships of the physiotherapy program at UofT. ROUGH TIMELINE: [1:46]: Where did we do our first placement? [4:37]: Based off your experience on your placement, what was the biggest challenge for you? [15:05]: Biggest lesson learned. [31:50]: Tips for students or advice for students who will be going on placement and how to make the most out of your placements.

Episode 7 | Mentorship and Dealing With Uncertainty (With Anthony Pinto De Costa | @cdnphysiostudent)

Anthony aka @cdnphysiostudent is a registered physiotherapist who has been using his social media platform to help students across Canada learn more about physical therapy and how to become a good candidate for admission to professional physiotherapy schools!

He has been a huge inspiration to all 3 of us and we are so excited to have him on the show! We hope you enjoy it :)

 

ROUGH TIMELINE: [0:00]: Introduction. [1:08]: Tell us about yourself. [4:42]: Tell us about the mentorship course you took. [9:35]: What got you interested in this mentorship course? [11:00]: What are some key takeaways that you can apply to your current practice? [14:38]: Was there a moment where you questioned yourself during your practice? [17:10]: Has there been any mentors that you have relied on throughout your journey? [21:44]: What do you think are some things that we, as students, should focus on during our placements? [24:10]: What are some ways to get involved and become mentors? [25:53]: Discussion about the saturation of physiotherapy Instagram accounts. [32:01]: What are some next steps for you as a PT?

 

(LINK TO LEVEL UP INITIATIVE COURSE DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: https://www.thelevelupinitiative.com/)

 

 

Episode 6 | Spotlight Series - Alex Moyes

Alex is a fellow MScPT student and fitness/nutrition enthusiast who was able to make an incredible physical transformation during the lockdown! Alex's journey towards living a healthier lifestyle has been incredibly inspiring to us, and we are so excited to have him on the show! In this episode we discuss training, diet, mindset and all the other small parts of beginning your fitness journey and making long-term changes to live a healthier lifestyle! A rough timeline for you guys: [1:32]: Alex’s intro. [9:32]: What do you mean by cutting calories? [11:15]: What was the caloric deficit for you? [14:10]: What if you spend one day binge eating and go well over your calorie count for the day? Is this okay, not okay, etc.? [17:49]: What are some foods you avoided while dieting, if any? [20:55]: Advice for beginners on where to start. [22:34]: What are some social media experts you follow? [25:08] How to stay disciplined to meet your goal even if you’re not seeing progress everyday? [29:30]: What are some lifestyle changes you had to make to meet your goals? [32:51]: How could someone with a busy schedule find time to work towards their health and fitness goals? [35:07]: What are some essentials to stock your fridge/cupboard with?

Episode 5 | Entrepreneurship in Healthcare (With Gavin Emmanuel)

In this episode, your co-hosts Prabhav, Waleed and Michael discuss the topic of entrepreneurship in the healthcare field with Gavin Emmanuel, co-owner of the forward-thinking physiotherapy/massage therapy clinic Grey Method based in Mississauga! Gavin's energy and mindset have helped him create a brand that strives for excellence in client satisfaction and service, and in this episode he shares some gems about standing out from the pack, branding/marketing, what clinic owners look for in a therapist during the hiring process, and more! We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did!

[0:00]: Intro [1:50]: What is the Grey Method? [4:10]: What was the motivation behind opening a Physiotherapy/Massage Therapy practice? [9:30]: What is Gavin’s specific background and what experiences does he have? [14:03]: What were some of your challenges and failures that you faced when opening this clinic? [20:50]: What are some ways that you make your clinic stand out? [26:00]: What kind of criteria/characteristics are you looking for in a therapist, so it fits with the vision you have for the clinic? [34:09]: What type of advice would you give to anyone who wants to open a clinic? [45:47]: Who can you go to for help when trying to finance a new business? [54:20]: Closing remarks!

 

Episode 4 | Managing Stress and Anxiety (With Isha Sharma)

Join us for this special episode where your co-hosts Prabhav, Waleed and Michael discuss the topic of anxiety and stress management with Isha Sharma, a fellow UofT physiotherapy student! Meditation, spirituality and mindfulness are a big part of Isha's life, and she is actually a certified yoga teacher! We are so excited for you guys to learn from her unique experiences and hear some of her thoughts and insights! (P.S. There is a surprise 5-minute guided meditation at the end of the episode that we know you guys will love! Isha needs her own meditation app ASAP...) 

We also wanted to include links to some resources that were discussed in the podcast. The HeadSpace app is a great way to begin your meditation journey and learn the basics of meditation practise and techniques. You can learn more about this app at www.headspace.com. Also, if you are a post-secondary student in Ontario and are in need of mental support and assistance, feel free to visit the site https://good2talk.ca/. Stay tuned for new episodes every 2 weeks! A rough timeline for you all: [1:30]: Isha's Intro. [4:00]: How have your anxiety and stress levels changed during this quarantine and what new coping mechanisms have you adopted? [6:58] what does it mean to ground yourself? [11:25] Should you meditate only during stressful times or should you develop a daily practice of meditation? [14:35]: Is stress always a negative thing or can you allow stress to push to grow and achieve further self-awareness? [23:04]: One stressful situation that Isha learned something important from. [28:01]: What pushed you to take that step to receive some help? [36:00]: What daily practices do you employ to manage your anxiety and stress? [37:20]: What's a gateway meditation practice that you would recommend? [39:48]: Q&A from the audience. [40:00]: How do you prevent distracting thoughts from coming up during yoga/meditation? [42:35]: What's Isha's favourite yoga pose? [45:10]: 5-minute guided meditation hosted by Isha!