For the past few months, I have been doing a deep dive with doulas and therapists who are finding ways around hospital red tape and “lack of research” that justifies a decision to not offer rehab within the first few days of physical trauma after birth, including a major open abdominal surgery. These professionals span acute care, private practice, and virtual health and they are inspiring me towards possibilities I didn’t consider before. Today, I’m speaking with Dr. Sabina Khan, PhD, OTD, OTR/L about her research, her why, the house visits she does for her patients, including teen moms - all of it. WATCH THE REPLAY

Princess Castleberry is a TEDxDetroit featured Global Speaker who helps organizations protect their people, purpose, and profits. We will discuss the maternal health landscape and her own birth experience that contributed to her focus on wellness and risk. Join LIVE or view later: Tuesday, April 9th at 11:30 AM ET

Dr. Aakriti Agrawal is a physical therapist and the founder of No Pelvis Left Behind. She provides virtual and in-person healthcare to women who want to improve their pelvic health, relationships, and fitness. She's an outdoor enthusiast who believes anyone can use what brings them joy to improve their lives. VIEW HERE

Dr. Abby Bales is the founder of Reform Physical Therapy that provides personalized services during pregnancy and after birth. She discusses the current state of postpartum care and the lifesaving potential of virtual health services. VIEW HERE

Elle Russell, MSOT, OTR/L is the owner of Occupational Transitions who is passionate about running, pelvic health, and postpartum recovery. She discusses how she grew her women's health business and how occupational therapists are transforming maternal health. VIEW HERE

Dr. Lashonda Jones, PT, DPT is a virtual physical therapist and social media influencer that teaches moms how to recover earlier after c-section. She shares how her own c-section recovery shaped her physical therapy practice and the information she now equips mothers with, as early as 24 hours after birth. We'll discuss what she believes will be the future of cesarean rehab and how professionals can take advantage of opportunities to reach women sooner who want to thrive after their major abdominal surgery. VIEW LIVE

Dr. Katherine Sylvester, PT, DPT is the founder of Operation M.I.S.T., an organization that provides remote health monitoring for women during pregnancy and immediately after birth. She shares what she wants physical therapy students to know about maternal health everywhere she lectures. VIEW HERE

The 2024 Origin Pelvic Health Study revealed that women who have given birth within the past 5 years report that they received no guidance on 1) healing their pelvic floor after childbirth (86%), 2) reducing their risk of tearing during childbirth (85%), 3) healing their abdominals after pregnancy and birth (83%), or 4) exercising safely before or after delivery (71%). Carine Carmy, Co-Founder and CEO at Origin discusses the factors contributing to these gaps in pregnancy and postpartum health education and the innovative solutions that are quickly making pelvic health therapy more accessible than ever Origin is one of the fastest growing pelvic health therapy companies in the U.S. offering virtual rehab in all 50 states. Join live or view the recording, May 16, 2024 at 1:30 PM ET: https://www.linkedin.com/events/100-ofobgynsrecommendpelvicfloo7194205569442844672/theater/

  "We need more pelvic health providers" Limited access to services remains a huge barrier for individuals who experience pelvic health dysfunction. This live panel discussion invites leaders across mental health, nutrition, fitness, rehab, and medicine to a dynamic discussion on how to collaborate and expand the network of services accessible to the public. Wednesday, July 17th: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM ET CLICK HERE to Join LIVE or View Later

Dr. Katherine Sylvester, Founder of Operation M.I.S.T. Background: In 2022, we found an acute care physical therapist who started a remote vital sign monitoring company that monitors: perinatal blood pressure heart rate SPO2 temperature heart rate variability glucose sleep quality   Dr. Katherine Sylvester, PT, DPT is the Founder of Operation M.I.S.T. and is presenting her annual lecture on the strongest evidence that OTs and PTs can use to determine when to offer a rehab evaluation in the hospital and home after birth. Therapists will learn how to consults directly with families on: healthcare providers and community partners to add to their team based on their data and social determinants of health work/maternity leave requests lifestyle modifications to keep their vital signs in optimal range during pregnancy and throughout the first 12 months postpartum Join us on Tuesday, September 10th at 7 PM ET! REGISTER HERE

Jena Roeber, OTR/L, PHS This course covers how to collaborate with maternal health professionals in your hospital and community to expand access to rehab services for families who benefit the most during high-risk pregnancy and immediately after birth prior to returning home.  Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET REGISTER HERE!

Pelvic health is not about OT vs PT qualifications, insurance reimbursement, or physician preference. It's about Race. As the largest recipients of c-section and hysterectomy worldwide, Black women are becoming more aware that their surgical recovery is considered Low Priority by surgeons and rehab professionals alike. On Wednesday, November 6th, join acute care therapists who publicly discuss how they challenged the status quo in order to expand access to rehab after birth across 12 hospitals in their health system to include the largest recipients of cesarean section surgery: Black women. Special guests: Jasmine Dockett, OTR/L and Rachel Lewis, OTR/L, Acute Care Occupational Therapists from Sentara Health, Virginia. VIEW HERE

  World Health Organization: Women account for 67% of the global health and social care workforce. Deloitte: Women pay $15.4 billion more than men for annual out-of-pocket expenses. U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics: Women make up 75% of total employment in hospitals. The New England Journal of Medicine: Female primary care physicians spend 15.7% more time with their patients yet earn 8 to 29% less than male counterparts. BMC Primary Care: Women are more likely to visit their primary care physician for physical and mental health concerns than men. Is rehab education staying current with academic medicine and including the largest healthcare consumers in the world: Women? If so, where are the rehab and early recovery protocols after the most commonly performed major surgeries in the world including cesarean section, hysterectomy, and mastectomy? In this 1-hour workshop with Rebeca Segraves, you will learn how to develop early recovery care plans called rehab protocols, that prioritize the mental and physical function of patients who currently lack early access to occupational and physical therapy to enhance their recovery after major procedures. Open to women's health advocates, occupational therapy practitioners, physical therapy practitioners, nurse practitioners, physicians, midwives, doulas, fitness/wellness professionals, and more! ACCESS HERE

Were you ever frustrated with how many people struggled with pelvic floor symptoms before they received help? Have you ever heard someone say, "Why didn't anyone tell me about pelvic floor therapy sooner?" OR "I had to wait several months to get an appointment with you?!" How did it make you feel? After years of practice, Dr. Janelle Howell, PT, DPT, WCS, a pelvic health therapist, discovered how to help more people than she ever could in her 1:1 visits with one of the most intimate conditions that people deal with for years before receiving proper care. As a women's health clinical specialist in physical therapy and expert on vaginismus, she grew her social media following to an audience of more than 300K across Instagram and Tik Tok in less than 2 years. Her channel, @vaginarehabdoctor is one of the most sought-after resources on relieving pain with intimacy. In her annual workshop, Raising Your Value as a Pelvic Health Provider, she teaches professionals how to use their most valuable asset to reach the people who benefit the most from their services sooner rather than later. REGISTER HERE to join her workshop live or to access the recording! See you soon!