Meet a Clinician - Pain Science

Overview:

This webinar is geared toward and new graduates looking to learn more about working within the field of pain science physiotherapy. 

Join our panel of physios from across the country, working in various pain science settings, to find out what a day in their work-life is like!

Panelists:

David Locke, BScPT (Hons.) Dip RMT, RYT200

David Locke is a graduate of Curtin University in Perth, Australia. He completed an honours research degree and published an article on conditioned pain modulation. Previous to physiotherapy, he worked as a registered massage therapist and has completed a 200hr yoga teacher training.

David has a special interest in persistent pain and pain sensitization and currently actively works in this area. In terms of pain management, he takes a multimodal approach including movement, breathwork, pain education, mindfulness, and hands-on techniques. With pain patients, David works closely with a social worker/counsellor at his clinic. They have both recently been working on a collaborative pain project for patient-centred care, together with a local pain doctor. David is a UBC clinical instructor and is a pain science division mentor. He is also an active member of Shuswap Volunteer Search and Rescue.

Dominique Gilbert, PT

Dominique Gilbert has been working as a physiotherapist for more than 30 years.  In private practice since 1996, her innovative approach emphasizes proper education for patients, as well as focusing on active treatment for pain management and returning to function. In fact, she believes that encouraging her patients to adopt active lifestyles during treatment encourages a more realistic self-evaluation of the patient's own physical capabilities. 

Due to her interest in the biophysical model and its implications for the clinical treatment of patients suffering from chronic pain, she collaborates with psychologists to produce integrated reports, which combine both the physical and psychological evaluations of a patient, to determine his or her capacities. She obtained a post-graduate diploma in Insurance Medicine and Forensics from the University of Montreal in 2009. 

Following her graduation, she became a member of the Quebec Society of Forensic Experts (SEEMLQ) in 2013, as well as became a member of the Canadian Society of Medical Evaluators in 2014.  In 2011, she was recognized as a specialist in Pain Science by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, and is now on the committee for evaluating candidates for the title of specialist.  Her dissertation allowed her to obtain a Masters in Biomedical Science from the University of Montreal in 2015.  She has been invited to teach courses on pain in the Physiotherapy curriculum of McGill University and University of Montreal.  Since 2019, she works with an older population (60 to 85-year-old) in the Pain Management Program offered through the West Island CLSC.  

Sebastian ("Bas") Asselbergs

Sebastian ("Bas") Asselbergs graduated in the dark ages of 1983 in the Netherlands. In 1984 after a short stint in the Toronto General Hospital, he started as a sole-charge physiotherapist in the now defunct - St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital.  Doug Freer, PT, needed another physiotherapist for his private Barrie clinic in 1986, and Bas has lived and worked in Barrie ever since. He has been a Mentor for the PSD, and serves as Clinical Expert in contract with WSIB. 

Bas was President of the Georgian Bay District of the OPA, served on the WCB (now WSIB) Advisory Board, served on the Education Committee of the CAFCI, and was on the steering committee for the PSD and served as Secretary for the Division.  Professionally, he specialized early in all orthopaedic levels, acupuncture and osteopathic techniques, and started with the levels for Sport Physiotherapy.  He enjoyed being National Physiotherapist for the Olympic and National Cross-Country Ski Team and Figure Skating Team and being head Therapist for the Medical Team at the World Championship Triathlon in Huntsville. 

This typical manual ortho-and sports oriented career path took a big turn after taking Butler's Sensitive Nervous System workshop in 1996, and he was lost in the Cognitive and Neurosciences.  His practice changed from being a "doer", an "operator", to an "interactor" with the person with pain in front of him. Bas is passionate about what our profession CAN be, and will always promote physiotherapy. 

Suzanne Thorson

Suzanne Thorson graduated from McGill University in 1985.  Over her career, she has worked in virtually all sectors of physiotherapy.  In the last 15 years, she has begun to question the orthodoxy of manual therapy and started her journey into greater understanding of persistent pain. 

As she heads into the end game of her career, she hopes to help newer clinicians find the confidence and understanding to continue to provide patients with the best care possible.

This online course is brought to you by the National Student Assembly of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association

Note: You can find the full Virtual Summit Webinar Series Schedule here and all the past CPA virtual summit webinar recordings here.