AMTA 2026 Schools Summit Education Sessions

Kick off Schools Summit with this engageing workshop that examines the science and strategy of friendship and social connection—one of the most powerful, yet often untapped, drivers of personal and professional wellbeing, collaboration, and success. Blending practical teaching, relatable storytelling, guided discussion, small-group exercises, and a research-backed framework, Dr. Miriam Kirmayer will equip attendees with the tools to foster stronger, more authentic connections—with their teams, students, and community partners. Participans will learn how to initiate conversations with intention, navigate moments of difference with confidence, and incorporate simple yet powerful rituals, routines, and traditions that make connections in and out of the classroom more sustainable and impactful.

Dr. Miriam Kirmayer is a clinical psychologist, leading friendship expert, and internationally recognized speaker on human connection and social support. With over a decade of research on the science of friendship, she empowers individuals, teams, and organizations to build resilient relationships, supportive workplaces, and cultures of belonging. Through her keynotes, courses, writing, and online community, Dr. Kirmayer inspires people worldwide to get Confidently Connected™ and create more fulfilling lives. She also serves on the Mental Health Advisory Board of Wondermind, consults with The Foundation for Social Connection, and contributes regularly to outlets including The Atlantic, BBC, Forbes, The New York Times, and Time.

Explore how to empower your students to thrive in today's diverse healthcare environments! Interprofessional Education (IPE) is shaping the way massage educators prepare the next generation of therapists. In this dynamic session, you'll discover how to help your students collaborate seamlessly with other healthcare professionals, boost their communication skills, and play a vital role in improving patient outcomes. Walk away with practical, ready-to-use strategies—like team-based learning, case studies, and real-world scenarios—that bring your curriculum to life.

Jodi Wiley has been a massage therapist since 2006 and hold a master's degree in Kinesiology from A.T. Still University. She began teaching part-time in 2013 and transitioned to a full-time educator role in 2021. Over the years, her massage practice has focused on areas such as maternal massage and evidence-based orthopedic treatments. Jodi has also contributed to the profession by serving on committees with AMTA, COMTA, AFMTE, FSMTB, and the Michigan Board of Massage Therapy.

This session is designed to help massage educators bring the realities of working in healthcare into the classrom. Through an engaging and insightful "Top 10 Countdown," you'll discover the must-know lessons that prepare students for success in medical settings. From adapting techniques for medically complex patients to navigating documentation, ethics, and professional boundaries, this session delivers real-world wisdom and practical tools you can immediately apply in your teaching. Perfect for educators, practicioners, and students alike, this session will inspire you with new strategies and the confidence to prepare future massage therapists for meaningful careers in healthcare.

Xerlan Deery is a licensed and board-certified massage therapist and educator, dedicated to integrating massage therapy into diverse healthcare settings. For over three decades, she has developed and implemented innovative massage programs in hospitals, competitive sports, and the entertainment industry. Always striving for evidence-informed, safe, and effective care, Xerlan specializes in supporting individuals with medical need and work closely with healthcare teams to optimize patient outcomes.

The landscape of massage therapy education is changing fast, with schools facing enrollment challenges, shifting regulations, and increasing demand for modern, flexible learning experiences. In this dynamic session geared towards massage educators and administrators, discover practical, ethical, and accessible ways to bring the power of AI into your programs. Gain clear strategies for using AI to enhance education, boost enrollment, support graduate success—and most importantly, give your staff more time to focus on the human connections that make our profession thrive. 

Celebrating 30 years as an educator, Ariel F. Hubbard has been a practitioner in the holistic health field since 1988 and an AMTA member since 1997. She has authored over 100 courses, two books, and numerous articals in Massage Magazine and Massage Today. An NCBTMB-approved CE instructor, Ariel has shared her expertise with clients, students, and medical professionals in clinical, academic, and corporate settings. She is also a Licensed and Certified Massage Therapist, Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master Teacher, and Certified Yoga Instructor.

Clear, respectful boundaries are the foundation of every ethical massage practice. In this interactive session, Christine and Eric will share their expertise on recognizing and upholding client and therapist boundaries to build stronger therapeutic relationships while avoiding ethical or legal missteps. Best known for their motto, "There is no right way to do the wrong thing," this duo will bring humor, insight, and real-world experience while exploring the ethics behind what we do, the values that shape our profession, and the statues that guide responsible practice.

Christine Bailor-Goodlander is a Registered Professional Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in New York and Pennsylvania. She is also an NCBTMB-approved provider, Certified Transformational Life Coach, and End-of-Life Doula. Holding a BA in Health Sciences with a focus on massage therapy, Christine has dedicated many years of service to AMTA, including as a past National President. She currently serves on the Ethics and Standards Committee for NCBTMB.

Eric E. Goodlander, JD, has more than three decades of experience as a senior litigation analyst for major insurance companies. His work focuses on analysing complex legal, injury, coverage, and ethical issues. With the insurance industry often facing challenges such as bad faith claims and questions of duty and professional standards, Eric brings a valuable legal perspective to navigating and resolving these ethical concerns.

Join us for an energizing overview of AMTA's newly released Massage Profession Report—your go-to resource for staying ahead in an evolving profession. Discover how this essential report can help you strengthen your school, support your students' success, and navigate changes shaping massage therapy. This interactive session goes beyond the data—you'll have the chance to connect with peers, share ideas, and explore practical ways to put this resource tow ork the moment you return home. Every attendee will receive a complimentary copy of this brand new Massage Profession Report to take with them.

Dave French is the Vice President of Market Research and Insurance for AMTA and has been conducting and overseeing research on the massage profession for over 20 years. He and his team have also developed and managed many of the benefits schools and students receive through AMTA such as the anatomy app, the MBLEx test prep app, and the school insurance program. Previously, Dave led research efforts in the occupational safety and health industry and conducted research projects for Fortune 500 companies.

Alyssa Jaska is the Market Research Manager at AMTA and has been conducting research on the massage therapy industry for over 10 years. She has previous experience working in market research for the airline and consumer packaged goods industries as well as performing arts and theatre companies in Chicago.

Dolly Wallace pursued massage therapy as a complement to her husband's work in chiropractic care and has since built a successful career in the profession. She has held numerous leadership roles, including serving as AMTA National President, on the Massage Therapy Foundation Board of Trustees, and as President of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Her commitment to enducation, volunteering, and advancing the massage profession earned her the 2022 Humanitarian of the Year award from the Massage Therapy Foundation.

Massage therapy education is at a pivotal moment: how do we preserve the transformative, human-centered essence of bodywork while also building strong scientific foundations? In this session, Cal will challenge the false choice between scientific legitimacy and the profound, intangible aspects of therapeutic interaction, showing how both can thrive together. Drawing inspiration from fields like psychotherapy and social work, Cal will reveal ways massage education can balance rigorous research literacy with respect for the mystery and complexity of healing. Cal will inspire you to envision an educational model that graduates practitioners who are both scientifically grounded and deply connected to the art of massage therapy.

Cal Cates is the Executive Director of Healwell, a Virginia-based non-profit dedicated to massage therapy research and training as well as the employment of massage therapists in serious illness care. For the past twenty years, they worked as a massage therapist, while also becoming an award-winning writer, published researcher, and international speaker. Cal has also trained thousands of healthcare providers worldwide in ethics, resilience, self-awareness, advanced communication, and the practice of forgiveness.