AMTA 2023 Schools Summit Education Sessions

Back by popular demand, Dr. Julie Schell will join us on Thursday morning as our keynote speaker to discuss how to create powerful learning experiences for your students that can complement current strategies and lead to improved outcomes. By integrating peer instruction into your classroom, your students will have a highly interactive and engaging experience while learning technical and soft skills. This student-based education pedagogy has 20 years of research behind it and Julie will show you how to implement peer instruction into your classes. Julie is as an award-winning expert in teaching and learning with over 25 years of experience in higher and postsecondary education. Julie also teaches graduate courses on technology and innovation in higher education, college teaching and learning, design thinking in education, and design pedagogy. Her research focuses on accentuating the intersections that bring design, learning and pedagogy together.

Dr. Julie Schell is the Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Technology at The University of Texas at Austin. She is also the Executive Director for Instructional Continuity, Innovation, and Accreditation in the College of Fine Arts. Appointed as an Assistant Professor of Practice and Associate Chair of the Department of Design and the Program in Higher Education Leadership within the College of Education, Julie completed her doctorate in higher and postsecondary education at Columbia University. She also held a four-year post-doctoral fellowship focused on the science of teaching and learning in the Mazur Group at Harvard University, where she has continued to serve as a research affiliate for the past nine years.

Clinical assessment skills are a crucial tool in the effective and efficient implementation of massage therapy. Yet, conveying the importance of assessment to students and the process of teaching these skills can be quite challenging. In this session, Doug will explore these challenges in a unique and refreshing way, with his perspective as a long-time clinician, clinic owner, and educator. He will share multiple strategies for using assessment approaches that can be immediately implemented in a relevant and meaningful way.

Douglas Nelson, LMT, BCTMB has over 40 years of experience in the massage therapy industry and is a past president of the Massage Therapy Foundation. He is also the president of BodyWork Associates, a massage therapy clinic in Champaign, IL. Doug leads a teaching institute, NMT MidWest, Inc., which provides nearly 100 trainings annually in Precision Neuromuscular Therapy™ across the country. He has written several books and his interests are focused on the role of soft tissue in performance, serving as a neuromuscular consultant to teams in the NBA and NFL, dance companies, and high-level musicians.

In this session, learn how to best design oral and practical exams to accurately assess if students have grasped the necessary knowledge in a course. Find out how to use exams to better understand your students’ skills and abilities. Glean additional tips on how to identify and correct areas that need improvement in your existing courses.

Kathy Paholsky, BCTMB, LMT is a licensed massage therapist who has spent much of her work and volunteer time in curriculum design and development. She believes it’s important for every massage therapist to identify and build upon their strengths in a supportive environment.

Hear our panel of top educators discuss the importance of teaching soft skills to students. From communication, adaptability, and critical thinking to time management, explore how these invaluable skills can elevate your students’ professionalism and increase their marketability to employers as they enter the workplace.

Douglas Nelson, LMT, BCTMB has over 40 years of experience in the massage therapy industry and is a past president of the Massage Therapy Foundation. He is also the president of BodyWork Associates, a massage therapy clinic in Champaign, IL. Doug leads a teaching institute, NMT MidWest, Inc., which provides about 100 trainings annually in Precision Neuromuscular Therapy™ across the USA. He has written several books and his interests are focused on the role of soft tissue in performance, serving as a neuromuscular consultant to teams in the NBA and NFL, dance companies, and high-level musicians.

Kathy Paholsky, BCTMB, LMT is a licensed massage therapist who has spent much of her work and volunteer time in curriculum design and development. She believes it’s important for every massage therapist to identify and build upon their strengths in a supportive environment.

Susan Salvo, EdD, BCTMB, LMT has over 40 years of experience in the massage profession and holds a doctorate in education. She teaches at the LA Institute of Massage Therapy and the New Mexico School of Massage. Susan is an internationally known author and speaker, and has written several massage textbooks and online courses.

Demara Stamler, LMT, CDBC, CCLC became a certified massage therapist in 1989 and had a thriving practice until 2008 when she shifted gears and became a Director of Accreditation for a national accreditor. She was also previously the Executive Director at the Potomac Massage Training Institute where she taught business classes. Demara continues her passion for the massage therapy field through her work as a certified Transformational Results Coach, speaker and teacher.

Get an overview of this insightful AMTA resource designed to give you the information you need to improve your school, address the needs of your students and respond to changes within the profession. Take advantage of this opportunity to engage in discussions with fellow attendees about how to use this report as soon as you return home! All summit attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the resource.

Winona Bontrager, LPN, BCTMB, LMT has been a massage therapist since 1986. She founded the Lancaster School of Massage in Pennsylvania in 1991 and is an AMTA Past President, serving on the board for over 15 years. Winona is currently a Partner for Health on the Integrative Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC) and continues to be active on national committees that involve massage and healthcare.

Cynthia Ribeiro, LMT is the advanced program developer and an instructor at the National Holistic Institute (NHI). She founded the Western Institute of Neuromuscular Massage Therapy, and was an honorary professor at the University of California-Irvine Medical School. Cynthia is an AMTA Past President.

Once you get potential students in the door for a tour, how do you keep them engaged and excited? In this session, learn about the best practices for designing your school tour, the orientation and the pre-enrollment process. Discover how to effectively inspire students to take the bold step to becoming a massage practitioner while also clearly explaining the necessary requirements they need to know. Find out how taking a heart-centered, service-oriented approach can help convert leads and enroll more students in your school.

Demara Stamler, LMT, CDBC, CCLC became a certified massage therapist in 1989 and had a thriving practice until 2008 when she shifted gears and became a Director of Accreditation for a national accreditor. She was also previously the Executive Director at the Potomac Massage Training Institute where she taught business classes. Demara continues her passion for the massage therapy field through her work as a certified Transformational Results Coach, speaker and teacher.

Self-care is vital to all of us in the massage profession. As we serve members in our communities, it can take its toll on us both mentally and physically. In this session, we will explore the science of self-care together and discuss the best ways to support our well-being. We’ll take a close look at the latest body mechanics principles and tools for preventing professional burnout. Come get reenergized and leave with a self-care plan that fits your needs and aspirations.

Susan Salvo, EdD, BCTMB, LMT has over 40 years of experience in the massage profession and holds a doctorate in education. She teaches at the LA Institute of Massage Therapy and the New Mexico School of Massage. Susan is an internationally known author and speaker, and has written several massage textbooks and online courses.

Close out Schools Summit with our panel of thought leaders who will discuss current issues that impact students, educators and schools. Listen as our panelists discuss how to solve important issues your school may be experiencing too. Bring back ideas and plans that you can easily implement in your school environment.

Nikki Alvaran, LMT, has over 10 years of experience in the massage profession. After graduating from the Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy, she began working in their Education Department and is now the Owner and Director. Nikki is certified in neuromuscular massage therapy and has completed trainings for multiple modalities including myofascial release, reflexology and sports massage.

Eric Hart, CMT, LMT has been a massage therapist for over 10 years and is the owner of Lima Hana Massage Education Center. He volunteers on the state and national levels and currently serves as the Montana chapter Financial Advisor and as a member of the AMTA Volunteer Engagement committee.

Emily Johns, LMT has been a massage educator for over 20 years. She graduated from the Lancaster School of Massage with a foundation in Swedish massage, neuromuscular massage therapy, myofascial release and connective tissue massage. In addition to seeing clients, Emily is also a supervisor at the student clinic at the Lancaster School of Massage Therapy.

Kirk Jorgensen, LMT is the Director of Education at Myotherapy Massage College in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has been practicing massage therapy in private practice for over 20 years and has been teaching massage therapy since 2005.