APTA Montana Primary Care Conference: Full Schedule

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8:00am MDT

Updating Ethics for the Role & Responsibilities of Primary Care PT

Sunday October 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am MDT

As we step into a new professional role, we also take on new responsibilities and develop different relationships with patients, families, employers, and the health care system. Join us for breakfast and an interactive discussion where we will examine the ethics of our changing profession together. Thought-provoking questions from the field of health care ethics will guide our conversation as we share perspectives and deepen our reflection on the professional work we do.

Speakers

Debra Gorman-Badar, PT, PhD(Bioethics)

Debra Gorman-Badar, PT, PhD is a health care ethics consultant. She practiced 37 years as a clinician, first in hosptials f/b 27 years as a private practice owner/clinican.
Debra’s professional goal as a health care ethicist is to promote, facilitate, and support ethics discourse and competency in healthcare, especially the physical therapy profession. She holds an MA in Philosophy with a Teaching Ethics Emphasis from the University of Montana and... Read More →

Sunday October 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am MDT

Keynote/Roundtables

9:00am MDT

Dynamic Duos Defying Doubt: PT-PTA Teams Prove Their Power

Sunday October 11, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Collaboration between physical therapists and physical therapist assistants is vital to achieving exceptional, patient-centered care in today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, particularly as the profession embraces primary care practice. This session explores the key principles that underpin successful teamwork within the PTPTA partnership, highlighting communication, delegation, and the purposeful integration of the PTA's expertise. Attendees will gain practical tools to enhance team performance, improve care efficiency, and boost patient outcomes in a wide range of practice settings.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the principles of effective intraprofessional collaboration between physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in primary care physical therapy.
2. Explain how clear communication and appropriate delegation support safe, efficient, patient-centered care.
3. Identify strategies for optimizing the PTPTA partnership to improve teamwork and clinical outcomes across practice settings.
4. Recognize common barriers to collaboration within PTPTA teams and discuss approaches to address them.
5. Develop practical methods to promote a culture of respect, trust, and shared professional responsibility in collaborative care.

Speakers

Jennifer Davia, PT, DPT, DHSc

Associate Professor, Director of Admission, Augustana University

Dr. Davia has 30+ years of physical therapy experience with expertise in pelvci health and collaborative practice with PTAs. She is the Director of Admissions for the developing hybrid Augustana University DPT - Colorado Program and was the Physical Therapist Assistant Senior Program... Read More →

Sunday October 11, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Breakout Sessions

9:00am MDT

Pelvic Health for the Primary Care PT

Sunday October 11, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

This course provides physical therapists with foundational knowledge in pelvic health, empowering them to confidently integrate pelvic considerations into their practice. Designed for PTs in primary care settings, the course covers key topics such as pregnancy and postpartum care, prehab and rehab for cesarean delivery, and acute postpartum treatment. Participants will also explore the role of pelvic health in managing conditions like low back pain, hip dysfunction, constipation, and gastrointestinal issues. Through hands-on labs, case studies, and practical tools, attendees will leave with essential skills to screen for pelvic floor dysfunction, recognize when to refer to a pelvic health specialist, and deliver targeted interventions within their scope of practice.

Learning Objectives:

Integrate Pelvic Health Concepts into Practice:
- Understand the relevance of pelvic health to common conditions such as low back pain, hip dysfunction, and bowel/bladder complaints and incorporate pelvic considerations into treatment plans for patients across settings.
- Recognize red flags requiring referrals to pelvic health specialists, gynecologists, or urologists.
Pregnancy and Postpartum Care:
- Provide education and prehabilitation strategies for patients preparing for vaginal or cesarean delivery, including strengthening and pelvic floor relaxation techniques.
- Implement postpartum interventions for C-section and vaginal delivery recovery, addressing scar management, diastasis recti, pelvic pain, and incontinence.
Acute and Inpatient Care Post-Birth:
- Identify and treat common postpartum conditions such as urinary retention, constipation, and pelvic pain in the acute care setting.
- Learn safe mobilization techniques and basic exercises to initiate post-birth recovery.
Screen and Manage Pelvic Health in Orthopedic and Neuro Patients:
- Perform screenings for pelvic floor dysfunction and related issues in patients presenting with musculoskeletal complaints, especially chronic low back or hip pain.
- Understand how neurological conditions (e.g., spinal cord injuries, stroke) affect pelvic health and bladder/bowel function, and tailor interventions accordingly.

Speakers

Stephanie Weyrauch, PT, DPT, MS

Dr. Stephanie Weyrauch is a pelvic health and orthopedic physical therapist at MovementX in Billings, MT. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy and Master of Science in Clinical Investigation from Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Weyrauch is a highly sought-after speaker... Read More →

Sunday October 11, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Breakout Sessions

9:00am MDT

Direct Access and the Dizzy Patient: A Tiered Approach to Differential Diagnosis and Management (Lab included)

Sunday October 11, 2026 9:00am - 11:15am MDT

Provides physical therapists with a practical, tiered framework for evaluating and managing the dizzy patient in direct access practice. Through key subjective questions and indicators, special tests, red flag identification, reference resources and a case study attendees will build confidence in bedside screening for emergent conditions, differential diagnosis, and knowing when and how to refer dizzy patients

Learning Objectives:

Identify subjective red flags and orange flags in patients presenting with dizziness or vertigo.
Recognize clinical indicators of emergent and urgent conditions -- including brainstem and cerebellar pathology, cervical instability, and hemodynamic compromise -- and determine appropriate referral pathways.
Apply foundational peripheral vestibular assessment skills including the Dix-Hallpike and supine roll test, and identify patients appropriate for in-clinic management versus specialist referral.
Utilize a practical referral decision framework tailored to the rural Montana primary care setting, including telemedicine neurology access, ER criteria, and in-clinic vestibular intervention options.

Speakers

Tim Gibbs, PT

Tim Gibbs, PT, OCS, Cert. MDT, CCTT, CMTPT, AVPT... Read More →

Katherine Clute-Reinig, PT, DPT

Katherine Clute-Reinig, DPT, is a physical therapist who specializes in vestibular rehabilitation and neurorehabilitation in Missoula, Montana. She holds a Certificate of Competency in Vestibular Rehabilitation (CCVR) from 360 Neuro Health and has three years of dedicated clinical... Read More →

Holly Carlsmith, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist, Element Physical Therapy

Holly Carlsmith is a Physical Therapist with specialized expertise in vestibular and balance rehabilitation. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Integrative Physiology from the University of Montana and her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh, graduating... Read More →

Sunday October 11, 2026 9:00am - 11:15am MDT

Lecture+LAB

10:15am MDT

But What About New Grads? Mentoring Entry-Level Providers for Primary Care

Sunday October 11, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am MDT

We all want our new colleagues to be able to effectively evaluate and treat our patients in rural (and thus primary) care environments on day one, which requires effective mentorship both in clinical experiences and as they begin their first jobs. This session will be moderated by Dr. Audrey Elias, featuring the insights of a seasoned director of clinical education and of curriculum (Dr. Jennifer Bell), a currently practicing clinician with significant experience mentoring both students and new graduates (Dr. Christy Heidema), and a member of the class of 2026 with very recent experience in a variety of settings as a student and as a new graduate (Dr. Allison Smith). Attendees will gain an appreciation of what DPT students are learning about primary care, and how best to foster and expand these skills as a clinical instructor and as a mentor to new colleagues.* Understand current CAPTE requirements for primary care content in DPT programs

Speakers

Audrey Elias, PT, DPT, PhD

Audrey Elias is an assistant professor at Tufts University DPT-Boston. She graduated from the University of Montana with her DPT in 2009, completed an orthopedic residency in 2011, passed her board certification as an orthopedic clinical specialist in 2012, and earned her PhD in 2015... Read More →

Jennifer Bell, PT, ScD

Jennifer Bell is an assistant professor and Director of Curriculum at Tufts University DPT-Boston. She graduated from the University of Texas-Southwestern with her MPT in 2006, practiced in multiple settings in rural Alaska while completing her ScD through Texas Tech in 2013, and... Read More →

Sunday October 11, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am MDT

Breakout Sessions

11:15am MDT

From Conference to Clinic: Key Takeaways & Next Steps

Sunday October 11, 2026 11:15am - 11:30am MDT

Keynote/Roundtables

8:00am MDT

9:00am MDT

9:00am MDT

9:00am MDT

10:15am MDT

11:15am MDT

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