Geoff Schneider

What were your reasons for applying to the program?

I applied for the program as it provided a platform to formally evaluate my professional practice. To be considered a specialist in your area of practice is an honour and a great professional accomplishment. 

Where do you hope to see the profession in 25 years?

I hope to see the profession fully engaged in all areas of musculoskeletal pain management, from prevention to key leadership roles within interdisciplinary teams. 

What impact do you think specialization will have on your specialty area?

I believe that specialization will assist physiotherapists and physiotherapy as a profession gain recognition within the healthcare systems on a macro level. It will educate other healthcare disciplines that physiotherapists have a wide scope of practice and they can be key healthcare providers for a wide range of conditions. 

What is the value of the specialty program to candidates?

The speciality program provides candidates with a challenging, organized, well-researched platform to evaluate your knowledge, skills, and thought processes as a clinician in your area of expertise. 

Have you used your specialist network and if so how?

I have used my specialist network as a medium to discuss complex patient cases. This has shown to be extremely helpful in allowing me to continually provide optimal care for my patients. 

What are important things to consider for those who are interested in pursuing their clinical specialty?

It is important for those pursuing clinical specialty to evaluate their current practice from the wide spectrum ranging from their knowledge and application of research in their area of expertise to their clinical management and measurement of patient-related outcomes. 

What new skills or enhanced skills did you obtain going through the specialty process?

One of the most important things that I have learned throughout the specialty process is that clinical reasoning and processing case management is very similar across disciplines. The components of this complex process are consistent whether you are a neuro specialist or an MSK specialist. 

What advice would you give to applicants going through the specialty process?

Do your homework! You can never to be to well-read or well-organized. The process involves many components that require you to have documented many aspects and experiences in your career. Stay on top of all of your experiences and update them periodically throughout the year so that you don’t forget all of the excellent things you have done!

What impact has the specialization designation had on you and your career?

Specialization has fostered ongoing accountability to my career, profession, and most importantly, to my patients. It has solidified my beliefs that ongoing education and professional development is a process…it doesn’t happen overnight.

Biography 

Dr. Schneider is a Clinical Specialist in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. He is a partner at Evidence Sport and Spine in Calgary, Alberta. Geoff is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, at the University of Calgary. He also holds adjunct faculty appointments at Andrews University and McMaster University in their respective Departments of Physical Therapy.

Following completion of his Bachelor of Health Science in Physiotherapy from McMaster University, Geoff completed his Fellowship in Manual and Manipulative Therapy (FCAMPT) in 2002. He also became certified in GunnIMS in the same year. Geoff completed his doctoral studies (DSc) from Andrews University. His research involved cervical spine facet joint mediated pain and its effect on sensory hypersensitivity in chronic whiplash patients. He has presented at numerous conferences and clinical rounds and has taught post-graduate courses across the globe.

Geoff has a strong in diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests, particularly in cervical spine disorders. As a result, he is pursued further doctoral studies, a PhD specializing in clinical epidemiology, at the University of Calgary in the Cumming School of Medicine. He completed his PhD in May 2013 and his research involved the derivation of a clinical prediction guide in the diagnosis of facet joint mediated pain in the cervical spine. Geoff was awarded a CIHR doctoral research award Canada Graduate Scholarship. Geoff has published numerous peer-reviewed papers in the area of musculoskeletal pain. He completed a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta. His postdoctoral research is in the area of advanced physiotherapy practice and spine care management. Dr. Schneider has worked with and continues collaboration with various provincial committees to optimize the management of musculoskeletal disorders for Albertans living with musculoskeletal pain.

Through his passion for life-long education, and through his involvement as Dr. Schneider is the Chair of the board of the Alberta Association of Physiotherapy, his vision is to see physiotherapists continue to advance their involvement and expertise in multidisciplinary environments for the betterment of patient outcomes world-wide.

Additionally, Geoff is involved in community sport having served as a board member of Hockey Calgary for ten years. Ranging from his days playing hockey in the OHL and USport to coaching hockey for decades, his passion for life-long involvement in sport and physical activity is echoed as he and his wife, Kathryn, enjoy watching their children engage in their sporting activities in the NCAA and OHL.

geoff.schneider@ucalgary.ca

https://momentumhealth.ca/evidence-sport-and-spinal/