William Boissonnault, PT, DHSc, DPT, FAAOMPT

Associate Professor, Division of Physical Therapy 5190 Medical Sciences Center 1300 University Avenue Madison, WI 53706-1532 Office: (608) 263-5095 Fax: (608) 262-7809  boissonnaultw@pt.wisc.edu

Why I am a Physical Therapist, and Why I Teach Physical Therapy

With my interest in pathology and medical screening, I have been asked a number of times, 'Bill why don’t you go to medical school?’ I have never had a desire to pursue a medical career outside of the profession of physical therapy. The opportunity to work closely with patients/clients and their families, specifically towards goals of enhanced function, mobility, health and wellness, is something that I have always enjoyed. I have learned so much over the years working with all age groups in a variety of settings, including home health, outpatient private practice and hospitals. Teaching, a vocation I have always been drawn to, is an integral part of providing physical therapy services in all of these settings.

I am happiest when I am learning, growing, and being challenged. The academic setting provides an environment where perpetual learning, growing and being challenged are the norm. I learn a great deal from our students; this knowledge assists me in planning research and becoming a better clinician. Besides teaching, the academic setting carries the responsibility of contributing to the profession’s body of knowledge. The ability to do research at a university like ours, with the rich history of discovery and the abundant resources, is a privilege.

Education and Certification

• BS, Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• MSc, Specialty Track - Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, Institute of Physical Therapy-St. Augustine
• DHSc, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
• DPT - MGH Institute of Health Professionals
• FAAOMPT, Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists

Courses Taught

• PT 664 Clinical Medicine I
• PT 665 Clinical Medicine II
• PT 667 Clinical Case Conference

Clinical Interests

I am a Senior Physical Therapist at the Spine Center PT Clinic - UW Hospital and Clinics. I have worked at OP Spine/TMJ PT centers since 1982. I have a strong interest in manual therapy as it applies to the OP orthopedic population.

Professional Activities

Current

• President, Foundation for Physical Therapy, Inc.
• Orthopaedic Section, APTA- Practice Affairs and Awards Committees
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists- Practice Committee
• Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association-task Force on Autonomous Practice and Workforce Issues Committee
• Member: APTA Orthopaedic, Education and Research Sections.
• Adjunct faculty positions at Marquette University, Columbia University, University of Tennessee-Memphis, Northern Arizona University and Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis.

Previous

Awards

• 2008: John Mc Mennell Service Award. American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy
• 2008: Helen J Hislop Award for Outstanding Contributions to Professional Literature from the American Physical Therapy Association
• 2005: Dean's Teaching Award 2004-2005. Excellence and innovation in medical education. University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School
• 2005: Dorothy E. Baethke-Eleanor J. Carlin Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching. American Physical Therapy Association
• 2004: Paris Distinguished Service Award. Orthopaedic Section, APTA. Combined Sections Meeting, Nashville, TN
• 2001: Charles Magistro Service Award, Foundation for Physical Therapy
• 2000: John H.P. Maley Lectureship Award, “Innovations in Clinical Practice,” American Physical Therapy Association, Physical Therapy
• 1999: Trish King Baker Alumni Award for Professional Excellence, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, St. Augustine, FL
• 1998: Clinical Excellence Award, Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association
• 2008: JOSPT George Davies-James Gould Excellence in Clinical Inquiry Award: Differential diagnosis of a patient referred to physical therapy with low back pain: abdominal aortic aneurysm

Honors

• 2006: Keynote Lecture, Florida State Physical Therapy Association, Spring Conference. Sanibel Island, FL
• 2005: Keynote Speaker, Northwestern University Department of Physical Therapy Graduation Ceremony, Chicago, IL
• 2005: Capstone Lecturer, Differential Diagnosis for Physical Therapists. University of Tennessee-Memphis Program for Physical Therapy, Memphis, TN
• 2003: Keynote Speaker: Research Day. American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists Annual Conference, Reno, NV
• 2002: Luiese Lynch Lectureship, College of Allied Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
• 2009: Accepted into Accademia dei Fisiocritici Siena, Italy

Research Interests

• Investigating the impact that illnesses, medication and substance use (caffeine, tobacco and alcohol) have on outcomes following rehabilitation.
• Investigating physical therapists’ role in medical screening-identifying patients/clients who should be referred to a physician.
• Investigating the intervention thrust joint manipulation from a physical therapy educational perspective; what is being taught, how is it being taught etc.
• Developing teaching strategies to enhance student differential diagnosis and patient intervewing skills

Publications of Note

Journal articles:

Mechelli F, Probaski Z, Boissonnault WG. Differential diagnosis of a patient referred to physical therapy with low back pain: abdominal aortic aneurysm. Journal of Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2008 Sep;38(9):551-7.

Heiderscheit, B.C. and W.B. Boissonnault. Reliability of joint mobility and pain assessment of the transverse spine and rib cage. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy [in press].

Boissonnault W, Badke MB. Influence of acuity on physical therapy outcomes for patients with cervical disorders. Arch Phys Med Rehab 89:81-86, 2008.

Borgerding, L.J., P.J. Kikillus, and W.B. Boissonnault. The use of the patellar pubic percussion test in the diagnosis and management of a patient with a non-displaced hip fracture. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy 15:E78-84, 2007.

Boissonnault W, Badke MB, Wooden M, Ekedahl S, Fly K. Patient outcomes following physical therapy intervention for rotator cuff surgery: The impact of patients’ pre-existing health histories. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 37(6):312-3107, 2007.

Badke MB, Boissonnault WG. Changes in disability following physical therapy intervention for patients with low back pain. Arch of Phys Med Rehab. 2006;87:749-756

Boissonnault W, Morgan B, Buelow J. Differential diagnosis clinical decision-making in physical therapy professional education; A comparison of two classroom teaching strategies. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 2006;20(1):28-36

Collaer J, McKeough M, Boissonnault W. Isthmic lumbar spondylolisthesis detection with palpation: An assessment of reliability and validity. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy. 2006;14(1):22-29.

Gurney B, Boissonnault W, Andrews R. Differential diagnosis of a femoral neck/head stress fracture. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2006;36(2):80-88.

Boissonnault JS, Boissonnault WG, Bartoli P. Osteoporosis during the childbearing year. J Womens Health Phys Ther. 2005;29(3):13-17.

Boissonnault W, J Bryan. Thrust joint manipulation clinical education opportunities for professional degree physical therapy students. J of Ortho and Sports Phys Ther, 35(7):416-423, 2005.

Thein-Nissenbaum J, W Boissonnault. Differential diagnosis of spondylolysis in a patient with chronic low back pain. J of Ortho and Sports Phys Ther, 35(5):319-326, 2005.

Boissonnault W, M Badke. Collecting patient health history information: The accuracy of a self-administered questionnaire in a pre-operative care ambulatory setting. Phys Ther, accepted for publication June 2005.

Boissonnault W, J Bryan, KJ Fox. Joint manipulation curricula in professional physical therapy education programs. J of Ortho and Sports Phys Ther, 34(4): 171-181, 2004.

Boissonnault W, J Thein-Nissenbaum. Differential diagnosis of a sacral stress fracture. J of Ortho and Sports Phys Ther, 32(12):613-621, 2002.

Boissonnault W, P Meek. Risk factors for anti-inflammatory drug and aspirin-induced gastrointestinal complications in physical therapy outpatients. J of Ortho and Sports Phys Ther, 32(10):510-517, 2002.

Text:

Goodman C, W Boissonnault, K Fuller. Pathology: Implication for the Physical Therapist, 2nd edition., WB Saunders Co., 2nd edition. 2002.

Boissonnault W. Medical Screening for the Physical Therapist. On CD-ROM; 20 hours of material including written examination, December, 2003.

Boissonnault W. Primary Care for the Physical Therapist: Examination and Triage. WB Saunders Co., Publication date September, 2004.

Boissonnault W. Examination in Physical Therapy Practice: Screening for Medical Disease, 2nd ed., Churchill Livingstone, Inc., New York, 1995.

Perform a customized PubMed literature search for William Boissonnault.

Grant Funding

Correlation of Microdiskectomy Outcomes With Apolipoprotein E and Carboxyl-O-MethylTRansferase. (W Boissonnault, Co-investigator & Database Manager) Funding Agency: Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation, July, 2005 – June, 2006.

Understanding the Belief of Physical Therapy Academic Faculty and Clinical Instructors That Thrust Joint Manipulation is not a Professional Degree Physical Therapy Student Skill. (W Boissonnault, PI) Funding Agency: American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists, October, 2004 – September, 2005.

Patient Outcomes Following Orthopedic Spinal Surgery, Shoulder and Knee Surgeries; The Impact of Pre-Surgical Co-Morbidities, Medication and Substance Use (W Boissonnault, PI), Funcing Agency: Surgical Associates, May, 2002 – June, 2003.

Patient Outcome Following Physical Therapy Intervention for Rotator Cuff Surgery: the Impact of Patients’ Pre-Existing Health Histories (W Boissonnault, PI),
Funding Agency: Orthopaedic Section, APTA, June, 2003- June, 2004.

Joint Manipulation: First-Professional Physical Therapist Students’ Clinical Instructors Attitudes and Expertise (W Boissonnault, PI),
Funding Agency: American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists, October, 2003-June, 2004.

Contact Us - Administration - Maps: Clinical - School of Medicine and Public Health - UW Home

Physical Therapy - University of Wisconsin Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation
First published: 01/01/04 Last updated: 11/07/09 webmaster@pt.wisc.edu
Copyright © 2005 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System