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Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin - Madison
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Jill Schiff Boissonnault, PT, PhD

Photograph of Jill Schiff Boissonnault, PT, PhD

Faculty Associate, 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 boissj@surgery.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 538: Seminar in Professional Issues I
  • PT 539: Seminar in Professional Issues II
  • PT 540: Seminar in Professional Issues III
  • PT 541: Seminar in Professional Issues IV

Clinical Interests

My area of clinical practice is women’s health and includes treating patients who are pregnant or postpartum with musculoskeletal dysfunction, treating pelvic floor dysfunction (incontinence, vulvar pain syndromes) and pelvic pain. I oversee Meriter Hospital’s PT care for patients with osteoporosis. I teach continuing education seminars to graduate physical therapists in the area of obstetrics a number of times per year.

I am founder and 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, Orthopedic and Education Sections of the APTA
  • Member of the International Childbirth Education Association
  • President and Founder of the International Organization of Physical Therapists in Women's Health, a subgroup of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, 1999 - present
  • Book Reviewer/Manuscript Reviewer (OB/GYN Section Journal/SOWH Journal ), 1984 - present
  • Contributor, OB/GYN Section/SOWH Journal, Newsletter, 1984 - present
  • Manuscript Reviewer, Physical Therapy, 2003 - present
  • Chair, Task Force on Women's Health PT in 1st Professional Education, Section On Women's Health, APTA, 2002 - 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)

Research Interests

Involved in a task force for the Section on Women’s Health (chair) utilizing my dissertation research on what content should be included in professional PT education programs. This task force work will likely be published in the Section on Women’s Health Journal and distributed to PT schools as guidelines to accompany the Normative Model of Professional PT Education.

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. Expected publication Date: 2005.

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.


 

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Physical Therapy - University of Wisconsin Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation
First published: 01/01/04 Last updated: 05/09/08 webmaster@surgery.wisc.edu
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