Jodi works with postpartum women in a multidisciplinary pelvic medicine program in Calgary, Alberta. Since graduating from the University of Alberta physiotherapy program in 1996, she was intent on completing a Masters, but required a program that would allow an essential balance – the ability to fulfill her educational aspirations while working part time in her pelvic health practice and enjoying parenting her 3 young children.
An evidence-based approach to practice has always been important to Jodi. In the MRSc she expanded her skills in searching and applying evidence as well as developing clinically relevant research. She found the program highly applicable and targeted her learning activities to projects that yielded tangible outcomes for her clients and workplace. For instance, over a 5-year period, Jodi developed a postpartum pelvic health initiative and says “many of the necessary pieces required in the development of this program such as developing a program proposal, doing a needs assessment and writing educational materials I learned in the MRSc program”. In the RHSC 509, Facilitating Learning in Rehabilitation Contexts course, Jodi designed a ‘Your Body After Baby’ class that led to a February 2013 interview on Calgary Breakfast Television (minute 3:24). She received the 2013 Physiotherapy Alberta ‘Excellence in Innovation’ award in recognition of her creativity in developing this educational resource. Two further television interviews resulting from Jodi’s MRSc projects were featured on Calgary breakfast television and Global Morning News. In these interviews Jodi explained physiotherapy solutions for stress urinary incontinence, a problem impacting 1 in 3 postpartum women.
With a strong foundation of success Jodi is now looking forward and plans to continue developing her roles as a research clinician and educator.” I love to teach and hope to expand this role in educating both the general public and health care providers,” she says.
By Theresa McElroy