Hello, thank you for your interest in the course, however, we are not offering it at this time.

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Course Description

An intensive 4-day study of the anatomical and psycho-physiological principles essential for the development of effective treatment programs.

This course fulfills the didactic training and practicum components for the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) certification in Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction (PMDB) Biofeedback.

A benefit for the PT Faculty Student Scholarship Fund to assist graduate students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.

This course is designed for licensed medical and health care professionals who would like to expand and integrate their knowledge of the scientific basis for the treatment of bowel, bladder and pelvic floor disorders. The course is limited to, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and physician assistants who are either working in, or preparing for practice in this area.

Course Objectives

Participants will learn:

• Anatomical, physiological and psychological mechanisms that contribute to various bowel, bladder and pelvic pain disorders.
• To describe the types and etiologies of various bowel, bladder and pelvic pain disorders.
• Basic principles of surface electromyography (sEMG) related to behavioral treatment for bowel, bladder and pelvic pain disorders.
• Functional and physiological assessment protocols for disorders of the bowel, bladder and the pelvic floor.
• Biofeedback and behavioral strategies used to treat the various bowel, bladder and pelvic floor disorders for men and women and across various age groups ranging from pediatric to geriatric.

Faculty

Jeannette Tries Ph.D., OTR, BCB-PMD, received a BS in Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 1978, a MS in clinical psychology in 1989 and a PhD in Educational Psychology in 2000 from Marquette University. She has worked in the field of incontinence and pelvic floor disorders since 1986 and has published in numerous scientific journals and medical textbooks. She has consulted on national and international policy boards interested in the problems of incontinence and pelvic floor disorders and contributed to the Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research Clinical Practice Guideline on Urinary Incontinence. She currently sits on the NIH funded Advisory Board for the Pelvic Floor Disorders Network. As Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Dr. Tries established and directed therapy services for 15 years within the Colon-Rectal Surgery Department in the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago. There she worked with Eugene Eisman, PhD developing measurement methods to assess pelvic floor muscle function in pediatrics and adults. For 14 years Dr. Tries directed rehabilitation treatment at The Aurora Women’s Pavilion’s Center for Continence and Pelvic Floor Disorders in Milwaukee, WI. She is a senior fellow of the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance and is certified in pelvic muscle dysfunction biofeedback.

Michael A. Schellpfeffer, MD, MS, will provide the anatomy lecture for the course. Dr. Schellpfeffer is a graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin after completing undergraduate studies at Marquette University. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Florida and currently practices OB/GYN in Kenosha, WI. Dr. Schellpfeffer returned to the Medical College of Wisconsin to obtain a Master’s Degree in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy. He continues to teach at the Medical College of Wisconsin as a Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy as well as doing basic research exploring the mechanisms of intrauterine growth restriction using ultrasound imaging in the chick embryo model.

Andrew Starsky BSEE, MPT, Ph.D., will provide the sEMG instrumentation lecture for the course. Andy obtained his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Marquette University in 1992. He completed his Masters in Physical Therapy degree in 1998, and PhD in Biomedical Engineering in 2007. Andy is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at Marquette University, teaching courses in Electrotherapy, physical modalities, evidence based practice, and biomechanics. He has been teaching electrotherapy for 11 years and has traveled extensively to lecture on this topic. Andy's energetic approach to teaching and research have garnered him grants from the National Institute of Health, the American Heart Association, and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Diane Novotny, B.S., will co-direct the anatomy lab component of the course. Ms. Novotny received her bachelors of science from Marquette University in 2004. She is currently a program coordinator and instructor for the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Ms. Novotny teaches anatomy to professional and undergraduate students and coordinates the anatomy programming for the department.

Brenda Neumann, OTR, BCB-PMD, will serve as course facilitator and assist with the biofeedback practicum. Ms. Neumann received a BS in Occupational Therapy and Biology from Mount Mary College in 1990. Brenda has been instrumental in the development of several programs to treat incontinence and pelvic floor disorders and she currently provides treatment at ProHealth Care, Inc. in Waukesha, WI. Ms. Neumann has been active in professional associations that promote continence and is past president of the Biofeedback Society of Wisconsin. She lectures and publishes material relative to the practice of occupational therapy and urinary incontinence. Ms. Neumann is a fellow of the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance and is certified in pelvic muscle dysfunction biofeedback.

Mary Plummer, OTR, BCB-PMD, will assist with the biofeedback practicum. Ms. Plummer received a BS in Occupational Therapy from the U of WI in 1976 and has 28 years of experience in the specialties of biofeedback, incontinence and pelvic floor disorders. She has participated in the development of several continence programs in the Chicago and Milwaukee Areas and has written papers and developed treatment procedures and resource materials specific to the pediatric population. Her most recent position was at the Aurora Women’s Pavilion, Center for Continence and Pelvic Floor Disorders in West Allis, WI. She is a senior fellow of the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance and is certified in pelvic muscle dysfunction biofeedback.

Lisa Fischer, OTR, CLT, will assist with the biofeedback practicum. Ms. Fischer is an Occupational Therapist with over 31 years of experience inrehabilitative medicine, working in a variety of settings, including community mental health, skilled nursing facility, acute care hospital, and outpatient services. She is certified in Lymphedema Therapy. She has treated incontinence and pelvic floor disorders using biofeedback and other manual strategies for the past 13 years, most recently at the Aurora Women's Pavilion Center for Continence and Pelvic Floor Disorders in West Allis, Wisconsin. She and her husband just recently moved to Arizona.