An integral person in the inner workings of the physiotherapy profession in Nova Scotia and beyond, we are pleased to feature Class of 1980, BSCPT graduate, Joan Ross (Blakeney) in this issue of Physiotherapy Matters.

Joan shared that her first exposure to physiotherapy came in High School, when she was recovering from a sports injury which required knee surgery. It was this initial interaction that elevated physiotherapy as a contender to engineering in Joan’s career choice. Influenced by her volunteer-oriented family and a giving-back community, Joan’s heart for helping people tipped the balance in favor of the former.

The physiotherapy program at Dalhousie proved to be a perfect fit for Joan. As she describes, “I had wonderful mentors such as Ken Hill, Hazel Lloyd, George Turnbull and Lydia Makrides who were immersed in their profession and helped me evolve both personally and professionally. They taught the true foundations of caring first, and then applying the knowledge and skills.”

Joan started her career at Dartmouth General Hospital and after two years moved to Yellowknife to experience a different culture and practice setting. Circumstances brought Joan back to Nova Scotia, where she worked in various roles in the public and private sectors before being recruited to the nominations committee for the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapy (NSCP) Board in the mid-nineties. Joan was intrigued by the workings of the “whole self-regulation model” and discovered that improving public service, and ensuring professional and safe practice, was more meaningful (and challenging) to her than professional advocacy. For this reason, Joan became involved in the drafting of the Physiotherapy Act, first as a NSCP Board member, and then as Chair. When the NSCP Executive Director/Registrar position opened up, Joan applied and has never looked back.

Being involved with the NSCP meant that Joan was able to participate in the inaugural meetings for the International Network of Physiotherapy Regulatory Authorities (INPTRA) in 2004 and 2007. This involvement enriched Joan’s overall understanding of the regulatory guidelines of Physiotherapy. As she interacts with INPTRA now, in the role of NSCP’s Registrar/Director, Joan appreciates the opportunities to network both nationally and internationally which in Joan’s words, “allow her to ascertain a more comprehensive picture of physiotherapy practice around the world.”

Given the nature of her work, Joan often hears grievances from physiotherapist’s patients. Motivated by the value of Physiotherapy as a whole, Joan works tirelessly with the NSPC Board, to replace patient grievances with positive experiences.

When not working at the NSCP, Joan can be found collaborating with educators, accreditors and regulators both nationally and internationally as Board of Directors President for the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR). The CAPR Board directs the projects and undertakings of the Alliance and decides which projects it will fund on behalf of the provincial regulators.

As aspiring physiotherapists know, a Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) must be successfully completed before they can become licensed to practice in Canada (with the exception of Quebec). CAPR plays a large role in the undertaking of the Essential Competencies review which informs the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) blueprint.

Fully involved, Joan says, “I appreciate the evaluation services CAPR provides with respect to internationally educated credentialing and to the execution of both the written and clinical portions of the national exam.” Drawing inspiration from being part of a larger world of Physiotherapy, Joan explains, “understanding how regulation looks in other countries allows us to work together to achieve/recognize commonality within the profession both nationally and internationally.”

What would be the one thing Joan would change in the advancement of Physiotherapy? That we learn to appreciate the knowledge and skills of each independent practitioner and that we collaborate as well within the profession as we do outside. Joan expands the thought, “We are not limited by scope, but rather by the ability to think outside the box. It is hard to talk about advanced practice and extended scope when many do not yet work to full scope or utilize their own peers and existing specialists. We need to be better at documenting our successes and “blowing our own horn”. We need to step up and be the answer to the healthcare crisis and show our value as primary care professionals.”

Joan has seen many changes in the physiotherapy profession over the years. Most notably; the way healthcare is provided and funded, advancing technologies, new research findings, and evolving best practices. For these reasons, along with many others, continual learning is essential. As Joan puts it, “If we do not continue to learn and stay competent in our own area of practice, we cannot properly carry out our professional obligation to provide superb care to the NS public.“

Joan offers the following advice to those who are looking for a career in Physiotherapy.
 “Get involved and evolve with it! We need researchers who can do applied research and validate treatment protocols and modalities. We need clinicians who care and take time to listen to patients in a world that has become very confusing to navigate for some.  It is really through your interaction with others in the profession that you gain a broader knowledge of who physiotherapists really are. Ask yourself; Is this just a job to me? Am I a true health professional with empathy and an inquiring mind? Do I have a desire to find a better way to improve life for my patients?” And finally, embrace change and run with it…better still, be part of it and help direct the path it takes!”

Wise words from someone with a wealth of experience in active listening and genuine caring. Thank you Joan, for your contribution to the Physiotherapy community, locally, nationally and internationally. Looking forward, your advice will help shape the future into a better place for physiotherapy and the health of Canadians.                                         ~Interim Director, Dr. Derek Rutherford