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Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin - Madison
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Jill Schiff Boissonnault, PT, DSc, SCS, ATC

Photograph of Jill Schiff Boissonnault, PT, PhD

Assistant Professor (CHS), Division of Physical Therapy

4190 Medical Sciences Center
1300 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706-1532

Office: (608) 265-4682

Fax: (608) 262-7809

Send an email to Jill Schiff Boissonnault, PT, PhD boissonnaultj@pt.wisc.edu

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

I entered the profession in the mid 1970's. My desire to work in a medical field that permitted and encouraged one-on-one interaction with patients with a goal of rehabilitation led to the choice of PT as a profession. I was also drawn to the field because of the flexibility of professional life and career options physical therapy offered. I have not been disappointed. My career has led me to many unexpected places (international travel, networking with therapists across the globe and into the women's health arena) and allowed me to practice while raising a family. I continue to be challenged on a daily basis by my patients and by my students…challenges I love. My career in physical therapy has been all and more than I could ever have envisioned.

Education

  • BS, Physical Therapy, University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign and Chicago Campuses
  • MS, Physical Therapy (OB/GYN and Orthopedics), Northwestern University
  • Clinical Residency in Manual Therapy, Physical Therapy Orthopedic Specialists, Inc., Minneapolis, MN
  • PhD, Curriculum and Instruction with a minor in Women's Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Courses Taught

  • PT 501: Anatomical Applications in Physical Therapy
  • PT 538: Seminar-Introduction to the Physical Therapy Profession and Professionalism
  • PT 539: Seminar-PT Education and Lifespan Learning Issues
  • PT 540: Seminar-Psychosocial Aspects of Health Care
  • PT 541: Seminar-Issues of Culture and Diversity in Health Care
  • PT 542: Seminar-Medical Ethics, Jurisprudence, and Health Care Regulations
  • PT 543: Seminar-Professional Practice Issues in Physical Therapy
  • PT 600: Service Learning Seminar in Physical Therapy
  • PT 642: Research Practicum

Clinical Interests

My area of clinical practice is women's health and includes consulting on patients who are pregnant or postpartum with musculoskeletal dysfunction; have pelvic floor dysfunction (incontinence, vulvar pain syndromes) or pelvic pain. I teach continuing education seminars to graduate physical therapists in the area of obstetrics and ethics as applied to physical therapy.

I am founder and past president of the International Organization of Physical Therapists in Women's Health (IOPTWH), a subgroup of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy. I have been a member of the Section on Women's Health, American Physical Therapy Association, for over 20 years and have served them in various capacities as board member and task force chairperson.

Professional Activities

  • Member, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), also member of the Women's Health, Health Policy and Administration, and Education Sections of the APTA
  • Member of the International Childbirth Education Association
  • Book Reviewer/Manuscript Reviewer - Journal of Women's Health (SOWH) 1984 - present
  • Contributor, OB/GYN Section/SOWH Journal, Newsletter, 1984 - present
  • Manuscript Reviewer, Physical Therapy, 2003 - present

Honors and Awards

  • Leadership Award presented to selected graduating 1976 seniors from University of Illinois at the Medical Center
  • Recipient of the year 2000 'Elizabeth Noble Award', the Section on Women's Health Service award
  • Recipient of the 2001 Margie Polden Memorial Lectureship by the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Women's Health ( UK )
  • 2006 WI PT Association Mentor of the Year Award
  • 2006 Recipient of the APTA Lucy Blair Service Award

Research Interests

  • Chaired a task force for the Section on Women's Health utilizing my dissertation research and others' research to develop recommended content for inclusion in professional PT education programs . The work was published and distributed to PT schools as guidelines to accompany the Normative Model of Professional PT Education.
  • Developing and utilizing an assessment tool for patient-interviewing/history taking.

Publications of Note

Co-Author of chapter, "Diastasis Recti" in the book: Obstetrics and Gynecologic Physical Therapy, 1988. Churchill Livingstone.

Boissonnault J, MJ Blaschak. Incidence of diastasis recti during the childbearing year. Phys Ther, 68(7): 1082-1086, 1988.

Co-Author of Chapter, "The Endocrine System" in the book: Examination in Physical Therapy - Screening for Medical Disease, 1990, and in the second edition, 1995. Churchill Livingstone.

Bookhourt M, J Boissonnault. Musculoskeletal dysfunction the female pelvis. Orthopedic Physical Therapy Clinics of North America, 5(1):23-45, 1996.

Boissonnault JS. Dyspareunia: Issues of etiology and treatment viewed through a multi-dimensional lens. Newsletter of the International Organization of Physical Therapists in Women’s Health, Spring, 2000.

Boissonnault WG, JS Boissonnault. Case presentation: Transient osteoporosis of the hip Associated with pregnancy. J of Ortho and Sports Phys Ther, 31(7):359-365, 2001.

Boissonnault JS, and RG Stephenson. "Special Populations: The Obstetric Client" in the book: A Primary Care Primer for the Outpatient Orthopaedic Physical Therapist. Boissonnault, WG, (Ed). Harcourt Brace, 2004.

Boissonnault JS. Modifying labor and delivery positions for women with pre-existing spine and pelvic ring dysfunction. J Section On Womens Health, APTA, June, 2002.

Boissonnault JS. "Physical therapy management of musculoskeletal dysfunction during pregnancy" in the book: Women’s Health Care in Physical Therapy: Principles and Practices for Rehabilitation Professionals. Irion J, Irion G, (Eds.) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Expected publication Date: 2005.

Irion J, JS Boissonnault. "Introduction to Women’s Health," in the book: Women’s Health Care in Physical Therapy: Principles and Practices for Rehabilitation Professionals. Irion J, Irion G (Eds.) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Publication date 2009.

Boissonnault JS. A History of Women’s Health Physical Therapy. Journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Women’s Health. Expected Publication, April, 2004.

Dockter, M., K. Abraham, J.B. Coe, and J.S. Boissonnault. Technical report of specialty practice in women's health physical therapy. Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy 32:12-25, 2008.


 

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Physical Therapy - University of Wisconsin Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation
First published: 01/01/04 Last updated: 11/07/09 webmaster@pt.wisc.edu
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