Midwest Student Conclave
March 26-28, 2021
Conference Schedule
Friday: March 26th 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Donny Dequine PT, DPT - Private Practice Freedom PTTC Owner
Donny (Don) was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area where he developed his passion for all sports, but found a unique love for the game of soccer. At the age of 17, he had a snowboarding accident that left him nearly paralyzed. Due to emergency surgery, relentless rehab, his amazing family, and God’s grace, Donny was not only able to return to soccer, but received a scholarship to Azusa Pacific University. There he found success on and off the field boasting backto-back NAIA National Championship Final appearances while graduating cum-laude in 3 years with a degree in Psychology. His love for sports followed him after graduation as he began training athletes at Performax Training Center while also running the Sports Ministry at his church. During this time, Donny’s passion for helping people greatly surpassed his educational ability to do so and that kept him up at night. This deep longing to know more birthed his 5 year journey of obtaining his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Since, he has spent time in the Kaiser system in Southern California learning Movement Systems Impairments as well as in Northern California at Results Physical Therapy. At Results, he had the luxury of learning from some of the nation's brightest physical therapists while treating collegiate and professional athletes from the MLB, MLS, and NFL. Donny and his wife, Bethany, have recently moved to Kansas City to start Freedom PTTC and bring their experiences and education to a rapidly growing/active community. They also love the idea of raising their growing family in the Midwest.
Contact:
Video Link: https://youtu.be/6xms5YPqABs
Friday: March 26th 8:15 PM - 9:15 PM
Jared PT, DPT, ATC and Whitney PT, DPT - Owners of Travel Therapy Mentor and traveling therapists
Whitney and Jared are Doctors of Physical Therapy who have been working as Travel PTs for over 5 years since they were new grads in 2015. During their time as travelers, they’ve worked in 3 different states, and in their time off between work contracts, they’ve been able to take road trips to 45 of the US states and travel for fun to over 30 countries internationally! They mentor and educate current and aspiring travel therapists via their online business, Travel Therapy Mentor.
Contact:
Video Link: https://youtu.be/6xms5YPqABs?t=2958
(Second half of video)
Saturday: March 27th 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Anthony (AJ) Thomas PT, DPT, MS - KS Chief Delegate Ryan Duncan PT, DPT - MO Chief Delegate
AJ Thomas currently serves as the CEO at Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, Kansas. AJ earned his Bachelors of Science in Psychology and Masters of Biology both from Fort Hays State University. He went on to complete his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Rockhurst University. AJ has most recently served as the Rehabilitation Director at Rooks County health Center, overseeing Physical Therapy, Occupation Therapy, Speech Therapy, Cardiac Rehab, and Sports medicine outreach services. AJ is an adjunct instructor at Fort Hays State University in the Biology and Athletic Training departments where he helps mentor students and promote the benefits of serving rural citizens at the highest professional level. He is Board Certified as a Sports Clinical Specialist and serves as team Physical Therapist for Fort Hays State Athletics and on the United States Olympic Committee’s Volunteer Medical Team. AJ is on the Board of Directors of the Kansas Physical Therapy Association and the Chief Delegate of Kansas for the American Physical Therapy Association.
Dr. Ryan Duncan is Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his Bachelor’s of Health Science and Master’s degree in Physical Therapy at Maryville University in St. Louis in 2008. He completed his postprofessional Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2012 and Master’s of Science in Clinical Investigation in 2019 at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Duncan is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). He has served as co-chair of the Programming Committee of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, a member of the Honors & Awards Committee of the APTA, and many roles within the APTA of Missouri. He currently serves as Chief Delegate of the APTA of Missouri.
Contact:
Video Link: https://youtu.be/zL2f0JTr0Tw
Saturday: March 27th 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Jake McFarland PT, DPT Title of Presentation: Cash Physical Therapy, Utilizing Technology in Baseball Physical Therapy Performance, Marketing Techniques for Partnerships
Jake McFarland graduated with his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Saint Mary in 2019. Following graduation, he relocated to Seattle, Washington to work as a physical therapist at Driveline Baseball. While at Driveline, he was able to assess and treat baseball players from youth, high school, college, and professional ranks. His role was to collaborate with other departments including research and development, biomechanics, strength and conditioning, and coaches, assisting them in designing specific player development plans. He returned to the Kansas City metro in 2020 where he started Adapt Physical Therapy & Player Development located in Lenexa, Kansas. His interests in physical therapy include player development, research, manual therapy, pain neuroscience, dry needling, blood flow restriction training, biomechanics, and interventions specific to McFarland returning to functional activities.
Contact:
Video Link: https://youtu.be/7LuZ91nA6_8
Saturday: March 27th 4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Bryan Barker PT, DPT, OCS Owner of Grindtime PT Mentorship Title of Presentation: Thoughts, Ideas, and Opinions that Make you a Competent Clinician
Bryan graduated physical therapy school from Angelo State University. Bryan is currently working at Accelacare Physical Therapy in Garden City, Kansas. Bryan completed an orthopedic residency through the Benchmark Rehab Institute in Kansas City before moving to Western Kansas. In 2017 Bryan earned the title orthopedic certified clinical specialist through the American Physical Therapy Association. Bryan recently completed his Fellowship training through the Manual Therapy Institute. Bryan has had the pleasure of being a clinical instructor for physical therapy students regularly and has guest presented at multiple physical therapy schools. During the pandemic, Bryan invested his efforts into making a COVID19 proof mentorship program Grind Time PT Mentorship. Bryan’s purpose in life is helping others achieve their clinical goals.
Contact:
Video Link: https://youtu.be/k--1kiz50Ww
https://youtu.be/MfUu6n4H1gQ
(Interventions then OP Clinical Excellence)
Saturday: March 27th 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Veronica Velasquez - Acute Care PT/ Acute COVID Response/ ThisisPTlife
"Dr. Veronica Velasquez, PT, DPT is a new graduate physical therapist, who graduated from Western University of Health Sciences in Summer 2019. She currently works as an acute care physical therapist in a small community hospital in South Los Angeles, a medically underserved community of Compton. She works in all departments of the hospital including: MedSurg, Telemetry, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Post-anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), Emergency Department (ED), and even Labor and Delivery (L & D). Since the pandemic started, Veronica has also been treating COVID patients within the hospital setting. Veronica here is an undocumented immigrant; she is very involved in the undocumented community and in immigration advocacy. Veronica also enjoys mentorship to pre-physical therapy students, especially for immigrant students making their way through their own professional journeys."
Contact:
Video Link: https://youtu.be/WbRoy97GFog
Saturday: March 27th 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Dr. Jennifer Celso, PT, Board Certified Women’s Health Specialist
Dr. Celso is a Kansas Licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy with 20 years of experience and is a Board Certified Women’s Health Specialist through the American Physical Therapy Association’s Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She is the Assistant Program Director and Associate Teaching Professor for the Department of Physical Therapy at Wichita State University and practices at Summit Physical Therapy in Wichita, Kansas. Jennifer is dedicated to treating women and men for urologic, colorectal, and pelvic pain conditions as well as women for pregnancy related musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. Jennifer earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Health Service, Organization, and Policy in 1999 followed by a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy in 2001 from Wichita State University. She completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 2009 and is working on her PhD Dissertation titled, “A comparison of overall function between postpartum women with and without diastasis rectus abdominis,” at Texas Women’s University in Dallas, Texas.
Contact:
Video Link: https://youtu.be/IhtC-xv-s48
Sunday: March 28th 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Todd Norwood, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS - Owner of telehealth Physical Therapy business: Physera
Todd is currently Director of Clinical Services at Physera where he leads a nationwide team of exclusively telehealth physical therapists. He first became involved in telehealth in 2016 and has practiced almost exclusively telehealth-based PT since 2017. He completed an orthopedic physical therapy residency in 2012 and has been a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy since 2013. He became a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy in 2015. His outpatient practice focused on orthopedics and sports including sports specific injury prevention programs and bike fitting in addition to traditional clinic-based practice and sideline sports coverage. Todd received his B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University where he was twice the captain of the cycling team and received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Southern California in 2011. He has been invited to present on telehealth by the North American Spine Society, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and American Physical Therapy Association and various international associations.
Contact:
Video Link: https://youtu.be/8ze_rhBIPmQ
Sunday: March 28th 4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Lisa VanHoose, PhD, MPH, PT - Culturally Responsive Oncology Rehabilitation
Dr. Lisa VanHoose is an Associate Professor and Program Director in the Physical Therapy Department at the University of Louisiana Monroe. Dr. VanHoose received her PhD in Rehabilitation Science and MPH from the University of Kansas Medical Center. She completed fellowships at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute PRIDE Summer Institute with an emphasis in Cardiovascular Genetic Epidemiology. Her Bachelor of Science in Health Science and Master of Science in Physical Therapy were completed at the University of Central Arkansas. Dr. VanHoose has practiced oncologic physical therapy since 1996. She is a BoardCertified Clinical Specialist in Oncologic Physical Therapy. As a NIH, PCORI, and industry funded researcher, Dr. VanHoose investigates socioecological models of cancer related side effects with an emphasis on minority and rural cancer survivorship. She has been an advocate for movement of all persons, including the elimination of social policies and practices that are barriers to movement friendly environments. Dr. VanHoose served as the 2012-2016 President of the Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association. She currently provides oncology rehabilitation services through the Ujima Institute, PLLC, as the owner and service provider.
Contact:
Video Link: https://youtu.be/OhMXFuUKYwg
Sunday: March 28th 6:15 PM - 7:15 PM
Yogi Matharu, PT, DPT, OCS, MBA - Marketing the Physical Therapist and Yourself
Dr. Matharu received his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and MBA degrees from the University of Southern California. He completed a residency in Orthopedic Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California. He has been a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist since 2002. He is Director of Physical Therapy Services at USC, Director of Physical Therapy at USC Keck Hospital and Norris Cancer Hospital, Assistant Professor of Clinical Physical Therapy, and is faculty of the Pain Medicine Fellowship program at the Keck School of Medicine. His clinical interests include musculoskeletal disorders, shoulder replacement, spinal dysfunction, pain management, tendon disease, and developmental disabilities. While at USC he has developed and participated in multi-disciplinary innovative delivery models. Dr. Matharu also holds a General Contractor’s license and has an interest in accessible housing and the implications on function.
Contact:
Video Link: https://youtu.be/m_A9ozdkAJU
We are excited to present the following speakers for the
2021 Midwest Student Conclave!
Veronica Velasquez PT, DPT Acute Care PT in South Los Angeles Topic: Treating COVID-19 Patients |
Donny Dequine, DPT Owner of Freedom PTTC Topic: Owning a Private Clinic |
Todd Norwood, DPT Director of Clinical Services as Physera Topic: Telehealth |
Jake McFarland, DPT Owner of Adapt Physical Therapy & Player Development Lenexa, KS Topic: Sports PT |
Whitney Eaking PT, DPT, ATC Jared Casazza, PT, DPT Owners of Travel Therapy Mentor Topic: Travel PT |
Jennifer E. Celso PT, DPT, PhD(c), WCS Assistant Program Director and Associate Teaching Professor for the Department of Physical Therapy and Practices at Summit Physical Therapy in Wichita, KS Topic: Oncology |
MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE SPEAKERS BELOW
Veronica Velasquez, DPT
Dr. Veronica Velasquez, PT, DPT is a new graduate physical therapist, who graduated from Western University of Health Sciences in Summer 2019. She currently works as an acute care physical therapist in a small community hospital in South Los Angeles, a medically underserved community of Compton. She works in all departments of the hospital including: MedSurg, Telemetry, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU), Emergency Department (ED), and even Labor and Delivery (L & D). Since the pandemic started, Veronica has also been treating COVID patients within the hospital setting. Veronica here is an undocumented immigrant; she is very involved in the undocumented community and in immigration advocacy. Veronica also enjoys mentorship to pre-physical therapy students, especially for immigrant students making their way through their own professional journeys.
Donny Dequine, DPT
Donny (Don) was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area where he developed his passion for all sports, but found a unique love for the game of soccer. At the age of 17, he had a snowboarding accident that left him nearly paralyzed. Due to emergency surgery, relentless rehab, his amazing family, and God’s grace, Donny was not only able to return to soccer, but received a scholarship to Azusa Pacific University. There he found success on and off the field boasting back-to-back NAIA National Championship Final appearances while graduating cum-laude in 3 years with a degree in Psychology.
His love for sports followed him after graduation as he began training athletes at Performax Training Center while also running the Sports Ministry at his church. During this time, Donny’s passion for helping people greatly surpassed his educational ability to do so and that kept him up at night. This deep longing to know more birthed his 5 year journey of obtaining his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Since, he has spent time in the Kaiser system in Southern California learning Movement Systems Impairments as well as in Northern California at Results Physical Therapy. At Results, he had the luxury of learning from some of the nations brightest physical therapists while treating collegiate and professional athletes from the MLB, MLS, and NFL.
Donny and his wife, Bethany, have recently moved to Kansas City to start Freedom PTTC and bring their experiences and education to a rapidly growing/active community. They also love the idea of raising their growing family in the Midwest.
His love for sports followed him after graduation as he began training athletes at Performax Training Center while also running the Sports Ministry at his church. During this time, Donny’s passion for helping people greatly surpassed his educational ability to do so and that kept him up at night. This deep longing to know more birthed his 5 year journey of obtaining his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Since, he has spent time in the Kaiser system in Southern California learning Movement Systems Impairments as well as in Northern California at Results Physical Therapy. At Results, he had the luxury of learning from some of the nations brightest physical therapists while treating collegiate and professional athletes from the MLB, MLS, and NFL.
Donny and his wife, Bethany, have recently moved to Kansas City to start Freedom PTTC and bring their experiences and education to a rapidly growing/active community. They also love the idea of raising their growing family in the Midwest.
Todd Norwood, DPT
Todd is currently Director of Clinical Services at Physera where he leads a nationwide team of exclusively telehealth physical therapists. He first became involved in telehealth in 2016 and has practiced almost exclusively telehealth-based PT since 2017. He completed an orthopedic physical therapy residency in 2012 and has been a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy since 2013. He became a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy in 2015. His outpatient practice focused on orthopedics and sports including sports specific injury prevention programs and bike fitting in addition to traditional clinic-based practice and sideline sports coverage. Todd received his B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University where he was twice the captain of the cycling team and received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Southern California in 2011. He has been invited to present on telehealth by the North American Spine Society, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and American Physical Therapy Association and various international associations.
Jake McFarland, DPT
Jake McFarland graduated with his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Saint Mary in 2019. Following graduation, he relocated to Seattle, Washington to work as a physical therapist at Driveline Baseball. While at Driveline, he was able to assess and treat baseball players from youth, high school, college, and professional ranks. His role was to collaborate with other departments including research and development, biomechanics, strength and conditioning, and coaches, assisting them in designing specific player development plans. He returned to the Kansas City metro in 2020 where he started Adapt Physical Therapy & Player Development located in Lenexa, Kansas. His interests in physical therapy include player development, research, manual therapy, pain neuroscience, dry needling, blood flow restriction training, biomechanics, and interventions specific to McFarlandreturning to functional activities.
Whitney Eakin, PT, DPT, ATC and Jared Casazza, PT, DPT
Whitney and Jared are Doctors of Physical Therapy who have been working as Travel PTs for over 5 years since they were new grads in 2015. During their time as travelers, they’ve worked in 3 different states, and in their time off between work contracts, they’ve been able to take road trips to 45 of the US states and travel for fun to over 30 countries internationally! They mentor and educate current and aspiring travel therapists via their online business, Travel Therapy Mentor.
Jennifer E. Celso, PT, DPT, PhD(c), WCS
Dr. Celso is a Kansas Licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy with 20 years of experience and is a Board Certified Women’s Health Specialist through the American Physical Therapy Association’s Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She is the Assistant Program Director and Associate Teaching Professor for the Department of Physical Therapy at Wichita State University and practices at Summit Physical Therapy in Wichita, Kansas. Jennifer is dedicated to treating women and men for urologic, colorectal, and pelvic pain conditions as well as women for pregnancy related musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.
Jennifer earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Health Service, Organization, and Policy in 1999 followed by a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy in 2001 from Wichita State University. She completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 2009 and is working on her PhD Dissertation titled, “A comparison of overall function between postpartum women with and without diastasis rectus abdominis,” at Texas Women’s University in Dallas, Texas.
Jennifer earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Health Service, Organization, and Policy in 1999 followed by a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy in 2001 from Wichita State University. She completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 2009 and is working on her PhD Dissertation titled, “A comparison of overall function between postpartum women with and without diastasis rectus abdominis,” at Texas Women’s University in Dallas, Texas.
If you have any questions, send an email to: [email protected]!
