In the United Kingdom it’s Facial Palsy Awareness Week.
On November 3, 2017, amid swirling snow and minus temperatures, the Facial Neuromuscular Retraining Foundation course took place in Calgary. 9 therapists from Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer were in attendance with a variety of professional backgrounds: speech language pathologists, physical therapists and an occupational therapist.
(L to R) Kristin Bell, Karrie Page, Pauline Dueck, Nathan Doerksen, Karen Schultz, Jackie Diels, Tania Buchanan, Sarah Cote-Lechelt, Jana Rieger, Jay Cooling, Heather Brickwell
On the following two days, November 4 and 5, six therapists continued on to do the Facial Neuromuscular Retraining Practical workshop. This involved seeing a wonderful group of facial patients who gave up their time to be models for the learning therapists. The participants practiced assessment, education and treatment with support of experienced therapists: Susan Rankin, Pauline Dueck, Kristin Bell, Heather Brickwell, Jay Cooling, and our special guest, Jackie Diels. There was a lot of learning happening for everyone as the experienced therapists also picked up tips from each other.
The newly trained Alberta facial therapists are: Karrie Page, Karen Schultz and Nathan Doerksen from Red Deer. Sarah Cote-Lechelt, Tania Buchanan and Jana Rieger are from Edmonton.
(L to R) Nathan Doerksen, Karrie Page, Karen Schultz, Tania Buchanan, Sarah Cote-Lechelt, Jana Rieger
Contact Information:
Nathan Doerksen, Physical Therapist
Red Deer Hospital, Out Patient Physiotherapy Department
tel: 403-406-5538
nathan.doerksen@albertahealthservices.ca
Karrie Page, Registered Speech Language Pathologist
Red Deer Hospital, Red Deer Alberta
tel: 403-342-8678
Karrie.page@ahs.ca
Karen Schultz, Physical Therapist
Red Deer Hospital, Out Patient Physiotherapy Department
tel: 1-403-406-5538
karen.schultz2@albertahealthservices.ca
Tania Buchanan, Occupational Therapist
Edmonton, Alberta (sees adults and paediatric patients in Edmonton)
taniabuchanan24@gmail.com
Sarah Cote-Lechelt, Physical Therapist
Blue Quill Physical Therapy, Edmonton, Alberta
tel: (780)988-2222
Sardave@shaw.ca
Jana Rieger, Speech Language Pathologist
University of Alberta
jana.rieger@ualberta.ca
The 13th International Facial Nerve Symposium (IFNS) was held August 3 to August 6, 2017 in Los Angeles.
The IFNS is held every 4 years and brings together Facial Plastic Surgeons, Ear Nose and Throat Surgeons, Head and Neck surgeons as well as Facial Therapists. There were 500 people from all over the world in attendance.
I had the opportunity to meet therapists from Belgium, Brazil, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Spain and of course the US, among other places. As a facial therapist these Symposia allow me to share ideas about how we treat the face with others who share a similar passion for their work.
The next International Facial Nerve Symposium will be held in Seoul, Korea in 2022.
From l to r, Kirsty Nicol, Susan Rankin, Sarah Kennedy and Christina Wong
This past week-end was an incredible time of learning and sharing. Three new Physiotherapists came to learn their Advanced Techniques in Facial Neuromuscular Retraining. We spent time discussing, assessing, and treating a variety of facial palsy patients.
Thank you to all my patients who so generously offered their time while allowing us to scrutinize their faces. Thanks also to Maria Zerjav who kindly gave us access to her clinic and provided valuable assistance.
The three new Physiotherapists are:
Kirsty Nicol who works at Neuromotion Physiotherapy, 303-531 Yates St., Victoria, (250-590-7878). I am very pleased to have someone in Victoria who can see island patients.
Sarah Kennedy who works from Westside Physiotherapy and Hand Clinic, 230-1245 West Broadway, Vancouver (604-731-6225). Sarah joins Maria Zerjav who owns and works at the same clinic and was advanced trained in February.
Christina Wong works at Electra Health Floor, 970 Burrard St. and 535 Hornby St., Vancouver, (604-685-4325). Christina’s practice is conveniently located in downtown Vancouver near St Paul’s Hospital.
