Scotland’s first Student Physiotherapy Conference held at QMU in Edinburgh on 25th October attracted over two hundred delegates to this first ever conference organised by students for students.
Last weekend’s event brought together those interested in enhancing knowledge, encouraging collaboration and inspiring innovation in the world of physiotherapy. The event also provided an excellent networking opportunity and supportive environment for students and newly-qualified physiotherapist to present their work.
Highlights of the day included a keynote speech by Dr Elizabeth Dean, professor of physical therapy at the University of British Columbia, Canada, and a talk by Scottish racing cyclist, James McCallum. There were 8 workshops in total ranging in topic and theme from cognitive behaviour therapy, starting a physiotherapy-related business, soft tissue release techniques and many more.
Research project presentations from students, recent graduates and newly-qualified physiotherapists were on offer, as well as an exhibition promoting resources and skills for students and clinicians. The conference also raised a total of £62.47 for our three charities, Riding for the Disabled Association, Parkinson’s UK – Scotland and Alzheimer Scotland.
“It was amazing to have the participation of so many of our peers from Queen Margaret University (QMU) in addition to welcoming students from Robert Gordon, Glasgow Caledonian and a student each from Cumbria and Bangor Universities. We are extremely proud of the number of physiotherapy students seizing this opportunity to come together and share in this experience” said the student organisers Katie McGregor, Florence Cook, Jason Chang and Andrea Christoforou, “we are truly humbled to have witnessed so many students and clinicians travelling from all over Scotland and up from England and Wales to take part. We feel privileged to have had this opportunity to share this exceptional experience with you and to further promote our profession.”
The hope from the conference is that the experience has given students and clinicians greater insight into our chosen vocation, knowing that the greatest impact and responsibility of the future development of physiotherapy lies with us. The conference was created with the aim of reflecting and improving upon contemporary practice and we hope it has lived up to that.
We would like to express a special congratulations to Emma Mullen for winning the Physiopedia Best Poster prize!
Photography by David Aveyard photography