Physical therapy’s Suarez keynotes, faculty and students present papers in annual convention

Faculty members of the Department of Physical Therapy of CRS actively participated in the 2015 National Convention of the Philippine Physical Therapy Association (PPTA) last December 5-6, 2015 at the Pan Pacific Manila.  The theme of the convention was “Empowering Filipino Physical Therapist towards Quality Service.”  The convention was a meeting of leaders, coordinators, heads, practicing clinicians, and officers of physical therapy clinical training institutions and schools in the Philippines.

Prof. Consuelo G. Suarez, MD, PhD, incumbent Research Supervisor of the Center for Health Research and Movement Science and former Dean of CRS, served as the Keynote Speaker, emphasizing the importance of research in advancing the practice.  Other faculty members who served as resource speakers included Assoc. Prof. Cheryl Peralta, DrPH (Dean of CRS) who spoke about building research potential and capacity and presented a research paper on developing attitudes towards lifelong learning; Asst. Prof. Valentin Dones III, PhD (PT Department Chair) who spoke about the role of research in assessment and evaluation; Mr. Christian Rey Rimando, MSPT (Internship Supervisor for PT) who spoke on giving effective oral presentations and presented his research on effectiveness of plyometrics; Ms. Catherine Joy Escuadra who rendered a presentation on the what and how of teaching research; Ms. Arlene Chua-Chiong Maya, MSPT who was part of a panel discussion on debunking the myths of conventional treatment.  Mr. Rimando and Ms. Escuadra likewise served as members of the Organizing Committee, together with Ms. Ma. Roxanne Fernandez, MSPT (CRS Library Coordinator) who also sits as Secretary of the PPTA.  Two other faculty members also sit in the Board of Officers and Board of Directors of the PPTA:  Mr. Kenneth Adivino, MSHMS (Public Relations Officer of PPTA) and Assoc. Prof. Michael Jorge Peralta, MSPT, MSPhysio (Member of Board of Directors, PPTA).  The rest of the members of the department were also in attendance.

Dr. Suarez receives her certificate after delivering the keynote speech.

Dean Peralta talks about research productivity.

Dr. Dones talks about research’s role in the realm of assessment and evaluation.

Mr. Rimando receives a certificate of appreciation

Ms. Chua-Chiong Maya debunks myths about conventional treatment.

A PT student, Patrick Ansel Leung, also presented his research on association of falls with physical activity and cognitive status. There were likewise UST-PT alumni who served as organizing committee members, speakers and attendees. The convention was attended by more than 400 participants, one of the biggest delegations in the history of the association.