On April 28th the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario announced that I was the recipient of the 2011 Award of Distinction. The Award recognizes the significant contributions and achievements of a physiotherapist through excellence in practice and the broader community.
This is a great honor for me.
Award of Distinction | MelioGuide Recognized
The College recognized the work that I have done through MelioGuide to promote safe and effective exercise for clients with osteoporosis:
Over her career and in addition to her practice she has developed numerous health related education programs for individuals and groups. Most notably, she has developed MelioGuide, a website and training program dedicated to the prevention and management of osteoporosis through exercise. She is also the author of two complementary books – “Building Better Bones” and “Exercise for Better Bones”.
I believe that I have been able to make MelioGuide what it is because of the efforts and support of my clients and fellow health professionals.
Learning from My Clients
My clients have been my inspiration for creating MelioGuide. Their questioning and search for safe and effective exercise programs fueled the growth of the Exercise for Better Bones Program and my desire to:
- Investigate topics and issues important to them. This motivates me to make the latest research more accessible and applicable for my clients.
- Incorporate the best of online and “offline”learning. The Exercise for Better Bones Program has allowed me to provide the individual coaching that many of my clients expect while also giving them access to a printed and online resource where they can follow their program and learn more about how to improve the health of their bones.
Sharing With Health Professionals
Over the last four years, I have had the privilege of teaching 800 fellow health professionals on the treatment of clients with low bone density, osteopenia and osteoporosis. Physiotherapists, Physical Therapists, PTAs, Kinesiologists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses and other health professionals across the United States and Canada have completed my Building Better Bones course.
These professionals have contributed through feedback and sharing to make the course what it is today. I would like to thank each of you for the support that you have provided. This Award would not of happened without your support.
About The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario
The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario is the not-for-profit regulatory body for physiotherapy in the province of Ontario.
The College protects patients’ rights to safe, competent and ethical care by supporting physiotherapists to maintain the standards of practice of the profession and by also holding them accountable for their conduct and practice.
You can learn about the College and its mission at its website.
Continuing Education for Physical Therapists
Continuing education is key to our success in that role. I started MelioGuide to further continuing education for Physical Therapists in the area of osteoporosis and to offer clients access to safe and affordable osteoporosis exercise programs.
It is a great feeling to be recognized by the College for my work with MelioGuide. I would like to thank the College for the support that it has provided me.
Physiotherapy Professionals
I encourage my fellow Physiotherapists in Ontario, Canada and around the world to find new and innovative ways to deliver value to our clients.
The world population is ageing and the demand for Physiotherapy, Physical Therapy and movement rehabilitation services is growing in tandem with the needs of this population. We have much work to do and we, as a profession, need to find ways to deliver better rehabilitation services to a wider range of people in need.
Several years ago, I decided to leverage internet and web technologies to reach a wide range of clients and fellow professionals to share information and know how, and to increase the dialogue so that we could find and deliver innovative solutions to our clients.
Please join me in this journey and feel free to share your story.
About Me
You can lean more about me on my bio page.
Margaret,
I am so proud of you! You are very deserving and a great role model for physiotherapists across the country as you move the professional into the new age of technology.
Warm regards,
Chantal
Hi Margaret,
Many congratulations on an award that is well-earned! You are an inspiration to us all in going that extra mile for your patients.
Cheers,
Pat Rodrigues
Congrats Margaret!
Your dedication deserves recognition like this!
Jody
Dear Margaret,
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! This doesn’t come as a surprise to me. As a health professional who values evidence-based practice and as a client who values compassionate care – you consistently exceed expectaitons. I am challenged to meet my goals for “active living” and “healthy eating” and you continually nourish and encourage and inspire me. I feel privileged to have you as my “partner in care”; and I am thrilled to see you recognized in this manner.
Congratulations and A HUGE WOO HOO! 🙂 – Jan
Sincere Congrats, Margaret.
You have certinly provided me with both the program, the belief and the will to manage my osteoporosis. You are most deserving of this award.
Congratulations Margaret and very well deserved. It helps your students/fellow PTs to keep shouting out the message loud and clear when your work has been recognised by our professional body. Keep up the good work and we hope to hear more and more from you.
Wow, congratulations!! Certainly nice to be recognized by your peers for your efforts…well done and well deserved!
Pat
Bravo, Margaret, on this richly deserved award!!
As usual, Jan has expressed shared senitments more eloquently than me…
I am so glad the College has drawn attention to your contributions to health promotion and wellness through Melio Guide. It’s a resource that I rely on and recommend to others time and again.
Take a bow!
Joan
Congratulations, Margaret, for this clearly well-deserved award.
Your clients already think that you are most distinguished.
Best,
Aviva
Hi Margaret!
That is fabulous! Congratulations on your award of distinction!
I’m so happy and pleased for you!
All the best!
Crystal Reia
Your Health-Your Choice
Hi Margaret
Congratulations! I am very happy for you. I agree with them. I have been very thankful for your knowledge and your ability to personalize it to my situation and your enthusiasm and encouragement. I would have voted for you too!!
Congrats Margaret! You have developed a really great program and I feel that your program has benefited many of my clients.
Congratulations, Margaret! The award is well deserved.
Congratulations Margaret! From my experience with you, you are a very, very worthy
recipient.
CONGRATULATIONS Margaret!! A wonderful acheivement and well deserved!
Congratulations ………………..you are very deserving of this award, Margaret.
Sincerely,
Elaine Langdon
Congratulations Margaret (and support crew).
You certainly deserve and should be proud of the recognition. Your work has allowed clients that I’ve referred to your website to better understand how to approach and manage everyday life and activity while dealing with osteopaeneia and osteoporosis.
Three and more cheers! Helen 🙂
WOW! Congratulations!!! You really deserve recognition for the amazing and enormous work you did and are still doing.
Bravo!
Marjorie Gingras, passionate physical therapist, student of your level I and still learning everyday!
Heartiest congratulations!!! You deserve it, Margaret.
Lily Yang
Congratulations, Margaret! You deserve this. I attended one of your courses last year and found it to be very informative. You had me worried with the Tai Chi though, but I have to admit I am sold!
Good luck with the rest of your year and I wish you many Blessings.
Regards,
Elizabeth Diedericks
Way to go Margaret! You are truly an inspiration to us all. Keep up your amazing work that helps so many people.
Susan
Congratulations Margaret! You are very good at what you do, and now you’ve been recognized for it. Good stuff!
Madeleine
Hello Margaret,
Congratulations you SO deserve it!
I don’t have bone health issues but know plenty who do. I always refer them to your site!!!
Well done!
Cheryl Poulin
Congratulations Margaret! I always knew you were a cut above the rest. I am so happy to see that your professional and personal relationships also recognize the valuable contributions you have made through your work, your positive attitude and knowledgeable approach in this area. As a client I am also thankful for all the help you continue to give me, and there is no better place than here to express my gratitude for that.
Congratulations Margaret!
This award is well deserved and the physiotherapy community is fortunate to have you as one of our own.
Warm regards,
Florinda Coelho PT
It’s a joy to read of your well-deserved recognition/award – keep up the great work and vigil on behalf of us!
Best regards,
Congratulations Margaret! So happy to hear of your award. I always knew I was receiving guidance from the “best” – a wonderful confirmation.
Congratulations Margaret!! What an honor to receive this distinction. You have truly done so much for your clients and all your colleagues, and we are able to learn so much for you. I am just starting the learning process through your online course and I am very impressed with the videos and course manual. Thank you for making the learning so accessible to everyone. Well done.
Congratulation Margaret Well deserved!
CONGRATULATIONS Margaret! A well deserved, well earned award.
Thank You for all you have done and all you continue to do.
Cheers!
Shelley
Congratulations, Margaret! How wonderful to have all of your great work recognized by not only your clients but also your profession. We are fortunate to have leaders like you!
All the best,
Sue Moffat
HI Margaret,
You and your husband have worked hard at creating Melioguide. It’s educational, patient focused, so necessary, evidence based, and makes sense! The course I took last fall was one of the best (most practical and useful) that I’ve taken so far. Congratulations on your award. You deserve it and are truly inspirational!
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations on your prestigious award!!!
Way to go. You have done so much to advance the practice and care that we as physiotherapist give. Thank-you for your great contributions to the field.
Camille
Congratulations Margaret. This award is so well deserved. You are an inspiration to our Association and our College and I am proud to be a Physiotherapist working with you to make a difference in Peoples lives. Your committment to the continued education, your informative web site and your drive to continue to provide evidence based practice is an inspiration to us all. Way to go. I am so proud of you. Doreen Sharpe, Physiotherapist.
It has been humbling to receive all of the praises. The award of distinction could not have been achieved without my husband’s work and support. All his work, editing my poorly written articles; photographing thousands of exercise poses; shooting and editing video; having a vision of a great resource and the skills to develop it are what made Richard the unending force behind MelioGuide. Today is our 24th wedding anniversary and I want to publicly thank him for being so patient, loving, supportive and tolerant!