- May 2000- I attended a 2 day workshop on Vestibular Rehabilitation. This was taught by Professor Susan Herdman (a Physiotherapist who is a world leader in developing individualised exercises for people suffering from vertigo and dizziness from a number of causes) and Ronald Tusa (Neurologist). This was the first time I was introduced to this work and I was fascinated and excited that I could finally offer something to patients who suffered from these conditions.
- March 2004- I completed and passed a 4.5 day course titled “Vestibular Rehabilitation: A Competency-Based Course”. This was run and taught by Professor Herdman and her faculty at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. It involved practical exams each night with a written and video exam at the end.
- August 2007- I went back to Atlanta to complete and pass “Advances in Vestibular-Rehabilitation: A Competency-Based Course”. This was 3 days with a similar format of exams and taught by the same group.
- 2005 to 2006- I completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Rehabilitation through the University of Otago.
- 2007 to 2009- I continued Postgraduate study to gain my Masters in Health Sciences degree endorsed in Rehabilitation. My research thesis was on BPPV (see under research)
- NOTSA (Neuro-Otological Society of Australasia) Scientific meetings held in Australia. These are 1.5 to 2 day meetings for Neurologists, ENT and Neuro-otologists, Neuro-Surgeons, Physiotherapists, Audiologists, Psychologists, Clinical Nurse Specialists and anyone else involved in assessing and treating people with dizziness. They have guest speakers from around the world who are highly respected in this field. There is often a training day attached as well. I have attended most years since 2003.
- May 2014- I attended the International Barany conference in Buenos Aires. This was a 5 day conference of people from all around the world. It was a fantastic conference and a way to meet with some of the top researchers in the world and hear the latest research on the vestibular system and conditions from cellular level up to the latest technological treatment ideas such as virtual reality.
- May 2014- A meeting was held in Wellington of interested clinicians in NZ to set up a multi-disciplinary society in NZ along the same lines as NOTSA. We had some guest speakers from Australia and NZ. We agreed to set up the NZ Society of Balance, Dizziness and Vertigo Inc (NZSBDV). I was voted in as the Physiotherapy representative on the committee.
- May 2015- NZSBDV had our first scientific meeting held in Wellington for 1 day with speakers from NZ.
- July 2014- I attended a 3 day Stroke Conference on Hamilton Island, Queensland, Australia.
- October 2015- NZSBDV arranged for a 2 day course held in Wellington; “Advances in the diagnosis and management of persons with central and peripheral vestibular dysfunction” taught by Dr Susan Whitney. Susan is a Physiotherapist from the University of Pittsburgh. She has published over 100 papers and written 25 book chapters primarily to do with balance and vestibular rehabilitation.
- Over the years I have attended many Physiotherapy conferences, (Neuro Symposiums, Community Conferences and general Physiotherapy Conferences), plus training days on Parkinson’s disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Stroke, inservices within CCDHB and other learning opportunities too numerous to list.
Training:
I am committed to life-long learning and the amount of research being done on the vestibular system is growing all the time. It is a fascinating area to work in.