How two Physiopedia Plus courses helped Stacy to achieve her conference dream

Physiopedia Plus (Plus) instructor Stacy Schiurring turned a long-held dream of presenting at a national conference into reality by using Plus courses to guide her through the abstract and poster development process. This February, she’ll present her first poster at the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) in Los Angeles, demonstrating how accessible education can bridge the gap between clinical expertise and professional communication skills.

As an experienced physiotherapist and online course creator, our very own Plus course instructor Stacy Schiurring is adept at communication in clinical scenarios, but she has long had the personal and professional goal to present a poster at a physical therapy conference. So when the opportunity came up to submit to the APTA CSM, it seemed like the perfect moment to finally tick that box. There was just one problem: having never created a conference abstract or poster presentation before, it was difficult to know where to start.

Rather than diving in blindly or letting the uncertainty become a reason to give up, the solution was surprisingly close to home. As an Instructor for Plus, Stacy was aware of two Plus courses that seemed tailor-made for this exact situation: Amanda Ager’s Developing a Conference Abstract and Developing and Delivering a Conference Poster. The timing couldn’t have been better, working through the courses whilst actually developing the submission meant the learning was immediately practical and relevant.

What made the difference was how structured and accessible the courses were. The step-by-step instructions broke down what initially felt like an overwhelming task into manageable pieces. Visual examples showed what good abstracts and posters actually looked like, whilst the practical handouts provided templates and frameworks that could be adapted. It transformed the process from something vague and intimidating into something concrete and achievable.

When Stacy’s abstract was accepted, there was genuine relief, and excitement. But the work wasn’t done yet. The poster itself still needed to be created, and once again, the Plus course provided clear guidance through that process. From initial design concepts to the final presentation-ready materials, having a structured approach made all the difference.

This February marks a first for Stacy: presenting a poster at APTA’s Combined Sections Meeting in Los Angeles. It’s a professional milestone that didn’t seem possible just months ago, not because the clinical knowledge wasn’t there, but because the skills needed to communicate that knowledge in a conference setting were missing.

The experience highlighted something important about professional development in physiotherapy. Clinical knowledge and expertise are crucial, of course, but they’re not the whole picture. Being able to share our work effectively, contribute to professional conversations and communicate with the broader rehabilitation community requires its own set of skills. These aren’t mysterious talents that some people are born with, they’re practical competencies that can be learned with the right guidance.

That’s really what made the difference for Stacy. It wasn’t about transforming into a research expert overnight or discovering some hidden talent for presentation design. It was about having access to clear, practical instruction that demystified the process and made it possible to move forward with confidence.

For anyone who’s been thinking about submitting to a conference but feels uncertain about how to go about it, that uncertainty is completely normal. The gap between having valuable insights from clinical practice and knowing how to package them for a conference audience can feel significant. The good news is that gap can be bridged with structured support and practical guidance.

Plus courses continue to help physiotherapy professionals like Stacy develop skills that extend beyond direct patient care – skills that enable us to contribute more actively to our profession, share our experiences with colleagues and participate in the broader conversation about rehabilitation practice. Sometimes the most valuable professional development isn’t just about learning new clinical techniques, but about learning how to effectively communicate the knowledge and insights we already have.

Planning to attend CSM? Don’t miss Stacy’s poster presentation – Artificial Intelligence Enhanced Tutoring for Equitable Neurorehabilitation Online Learning on Friday 13 February 13; 12 pm–2 pm; Exhibit Hall C (Level One, Anaheim Convention Center, Main Building), and make sure you stop by the Physiopedia booth too!