2026 PAC Symposium Program

The 2026 PAC Symposium program delivers a dynamic mix of education, insight, and inspiration designed specifically for today’s Pedorthic professional. Featuring expert-led sessions, practical takeaways, and timely industry discussions, the program supports professional growth, innovation, and collaboration. From clinical advancements to business strategies, each session is thoughtfully curated to provide meaningful value you can apply immediately while creating meaningful space to connect, share, and learn alongside peers from across the country.

Symposium Program

Thursday, April 23

Time	Event or Session	Sponsor	Location
4:15pm – 6:30pm	Registration Opens		ABC Foyer
4:30pm – 7:00pm	Exhibit Hall Opening Reception	Bauerfeind	Ballroom A+B

Friday, April 24

Time	Event or Session	Sponsor	Location
7:15am	Registration Opens		ABC Foyer
7:30am – 8:15am	Mentorship Breakfast		ABC Foyer
7:30am – 8:15am	Breakfast & Exhibit Hall	Vittoria Phoenix	Ballroom A+B
8:30am – 8:45am	Opening Remarks		Ballroom C
8:45am – 9:45am	Keynote: Strategic Growth for Pedorthic Clinics: Building Resilient Practices in a Changing Market with Peter Wright		Ballroom C
	Canada’s rehabilitation sector is undergoing rapid transformation, and Pedorthic clinic owners and leaders are navigating a complex mix of competitive pressures, rising costs, and shifting patient expectations. In this keynote plenary, Peter Wright of The Planning Group will share strategic insights drawn from extensive work with healthcare organizations across Canada and recent national research on the structure and dynamics of the rehab clinic market. This session will focus on how Pedorthic leaders can strengthen their business fundamentals, define clear growth strategies, and build resilient practices that thrive in today’s environment. Participants will explore: – How to develop a strategic roadmap tailored to their clinic’s goals and market realities. – Approaches to improve profitability and business value to support sustainable expansion. – Approaches to clarify their clinic’s value proposition and differentiate in a crowded market. – Practical tools for aligning business decisions with long-term success—whether scaling, transitioning, or preparing for future ownership changes. Grounded in real-world examples and actionable frameworks, this session offers a fresh perspective for Pedorthic clinic owners and leaders seeking to grow their businesses with confidence and clarity.
9:45am – 10:00am	Nutrition Break		Ballroom A+B
10:00am – 10:45am	Curiosity Built This: Turning Everyday Problems Into Better Products with Dani Kagan		Ballroom C
	Dani Kagan, founder of Mave & Chez, translates direct experience with foot pain into innovative product solutions. This talk offers pedorthists invaluable insights into building consumer trust, empathetic design, and iterative product development grounded in real-world needs. Learn practical principles for bringing clinical expertise into products that patients will adopt and use daily.
10:45am – 11:15am	Nutrition Break & Exhibit Hall		Ballroom A+B
11:15am – 12:00pm			Ballroom C
12:00pm – 1:45pm	Lunch Break & Exhibit Hall		Ballroom A+B
1:45pm – 2:30pm	Get a Grip: How to Create Vision, Traction and Healthy in Your Business with Brett Thompson		Ballroom C
	Brett Thompson, an experienced EOS Implementer, will demonstrate how the Entrepreneurial Operating System can help pedorthic practices simplify operations, build accountable teams, and achieve consistent growth. Learn practical tools to solve root issues, gain clarity, and turn your vision into measurable traction.
2:30pm – 3:15pm	Nutrition Break & Exhibit Hall		Ballroom A+B
3:15pm – 3:30pm	NIHB Communication Clinical Impressions with Clarity and Purpose		Ballroom C
3:30pm – 4:00pm	IGR Communication Clinical Impressions with Clarity and Purpose with Matt Deeter C. Ped (C)		Ballroom C
	Matt Deeter, C. Ped (C) with 20 years of diverse clinical and business experience, will address a critical challenge: documenting and communicating medical need for custom orthotics with clarity and compliance. Learn standardized language and insurer-friendly strategies to confidently justify treatment, align with CPC standards, and navigate increasing documentation demands.
4:00pm – 4:45pm	Strengthening Pedorthic Documentation: Insights from a National Audit with Andrea Di Croce		Ballroom C
	Andrea Di Croce, Chief Medical Officer at BioPed, presents critical findings from a mandatory national audit of 72 pedorthic clinics. This session reveals common documentation gaps and provides actionable strategies to strengthen your SOAP notes, align with College standards, and protect your certification. Leave with practical tools to elevate the clarity, defensibility, and quality of your clinical records.
5:00pm – 6:00pm	CPC AGM		Ballroom C
7:30pm – 11:30pm	Social Night at The Vue	National Shoe Specialties Ltd

Saturday, April 25

Time	Event or Session	Sponsor	Location
7:00am – 7:45am	Workout Class: An Energizing Morning Yoga Experience		Montreal A+B
	Start your day with an energizing and accessible yoga session led by Lise Dallien MacMillan, a Certified Pedorthist and Kinesiologist. This practice is designed specifically for professionals, using gentle flow and breathwork to enhance circulation, focus, and body awareness. You will leave feeling physically refreshed and mentally centered, ready to engage fully in the conference with reduced stress and a renewed appreciation for your own strength and mobility.
7:30am – 3:45pm	Registration Opens		ABC Foyer
7:45am – 8:15am	Breakfast	GoEngineer	Ballroom A+B
8:15am	Welcome and Housekeeping Notes		Ballroom C
8:30am – 9:30am			Ballroom C
9:30am – 9:45am	Break		Ballroom A+B
9:45am – 10:45am	Fear of Falling: Unlocking Movement Through Interdisciplinary Care with Chantal von Shoenberg		Ballroom C
	Chantal von Schoenberg, DPT, brings over 25 years of expertise in balance and mobility to challenge traditional fall-prevention models. This session explores how fear of falling limits movement and reveals an interdisciplinary, restoration-focused framework to rebuild patient confidence. Learn practical strategies to identify fear-based behaviors and collaborate effectively with pedorthists to transform care outcomes.
10:45am – 11:00am	Break
11:00am – 11:45pm	Strong Roots, Broader Reach; Diversifying your Pedorthic Practice with Andrea DiCroce, Crystal Kaufman C. Ped (C), Mark Garvie C. Ped (C)		Ballroom C
	A panel discussion focused on the areas of Footwear, Compression, Bracing and Allied Health connections. The session will explore practical ways pedorthists can expand their clinical offerings through complementary services.
11:00am – 11:45pm	Rockered Footwear as a Pain-Reduction Intervention for Metatarsalgia with Allison Penner		Toronto
	Allison Penner, a graduate researcher from the Wilfrid Laurier Neuromechanics Lab, will present a study on rockered footwear for metatarsalgia. Her research, conducted in partnership with Kintec, employs plantar pressure analysis to compare how two distinct rocker designs, with and without orthoses, affect forefoot offloading during walking. The session will share key results on pressure redistribution and pain reduction relative to a barefoot baseline. This practical evidence aims to equip pedorthists with clearer insights for designing more targeted, effective footwear and orthotic interventions to manage this common forefoot condition.
11:45pm- 1:15pm	President’s Lunch
1:15pm – 2:00pm	Rebuilding Confidence: Practical Strategies to Reduce Fear of Falling and Increase Mobility with Chantal von Shoenberg		Ballroom C
	Chantal von Schoenberg moves beyond theory to deliver practical tools for clinical practice. This session will equip you with actionable strategies to identify fear-based behaviors, modify treatment approaches, and design collaborative care plans that rebuild patient confidence. Learn to apply real-world, movement-based techniques that promote safe exploration and restore mobility.
1:15pm – 2:00pm	Custom Orthotic Manufacturing Chain with Jeff Lewis C. Ped (C)		Toronto
	Jeff Lewis, C. Ped (C), leverages 15 years of clinic ownership and lab management to present a new manufacturing model for pedorthists. This session demonstrates how GOSLabs’ cutting-edge 3D printing technology can be integrated into your supply chain, reducing dependence on full-service labs without major capital investment. Learn a practical strategy to control production, decrease overhead, and open new revenue streams with minimal risk.
2:00pm – 2:15pm	Break
2:15pm – 3:00pm	Forging the Future: Integrating the Next Generation of Pedorthists with Katrina McIntosh, Kalsey Smith C. Ped (C), Jenn Gould C. Ped (C) and Alison Kis C. Ped (C)
	This panel explores how the future of pedorthics depends on intentional mentorship, education, and stronger pathways from course work to clinical practice. Panelists will dive into collaboration between educators, clinicians, and the association to better support students entering the field and equip them with the skills needed to thrive and what that can do for pedorthic businesses.
2:15pm – 3:00pm	Growing Your Practice: Adding to Your Assessment Lens, a Functional View with Murray Wood C. Ped (C)
	Growing your Practice; Adding to your assessment lens, a functional view. Helping and teaching your client/patient more about foot health.
3:00pm – 3:15pm	Break
3:15pm – 4:00pm	How Loading Magnitude and Speed Shape Foot Sole Mechanics: Implications for Injury Prevention and Footwear Design with Ashley Vanderhaeghe		Toronto

3:15pm – 4:00pm	The Supinated Foot: Biomechanics, Assessment and Orothotic Management with Nick Caravaggio C. Ped (C)		Ballroom C

4:00pm – 4:30pm
4:30pm – 4:45pm	Closing Remarks