2026 AHPA Virtual Pre-Course
Friday, March 27, 2026 — 1:00–4:30 pm EST
Agenda
| Session | Presenter | Time |
| AHPA Member Networking | 12:30 – 1:00pm EST | |
| Opening Remarks | AHPA President & Moderator | 1:00 – 1:10 pm EST |
| Building Comfort and Skill in Discussing Sexual Health | Diana Wark | 1:10 – 2:25 pm EST |
| Break | 2:25 – 2:35 pm EST | |
| Support for Francophones Living with Arthritis |
Laurie Proulx Kelly-Maude Amaral |
2:35 – 3:00 pm EST |
| Newborn Hip Screening, Assessment and Management |
Dr. Stephanie Coupal Amanda de Chastelain |
3:00 – 3:50 pm EST |
| Closing Remarks | AHPA President & Moderator | 3:50 – 4:00 pm EST |
| Discussion | All | 4:00 – 4:30 pm EST |
Presenters
Diana Wark — Building Comfort and Skill in Discussing Sexual Health
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Centre for Sexuality is a community-based organization delivering programs & services to support healthy sexuality across the lifespan.
Laurie Proulx & Kelly-Maude Amaral — Support for Francophones Living with Arthritis
Laurie Proulx is a bilingual patient leader and consultant who brings lived experience of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and a background in government and non-profit work to improve health systems. She is Managing Director of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance and works nationally on patient engagement, research, and policy initiatives. Laurie contributes to national advisory and planning roles that advance inclusive approaches to health policy, research, and engagement.
My name is Kelly-Maude Amaral. I was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at the age of three, an experience that has deeply shaped both my personal and professional journey. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in occupational therapy at Université de Montréal. Inspired by the professionals who supported me throughout the years, I hope to give back by helping others and making a meaningful difference in the lives of people facing similar challenges.
Dr. Stephanie Coupal & Amanda de Chastelain — Newborn Hip Screening, Assessment and Management
Dr. Stephanie Coupal is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and a Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. She completed an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering with a Biomedical Specialization at the University of Calgary in 2011. She remained at the University of Calgary for medical school, which she completed in 2017. Dr. Coupal trained in orthopedic residency at the University of Ottawa, graduating in 2022, and completed a Pediatric Orthopedic Fellowship at the Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City in 2023. Her clinical interests include developmental hip dysplasia, clubfoot, and other lower extremity pediatric orthopedics. Dr. Coupal spent two years as a staff surgeon at the Stollery Children’s Hospital before returning to her hometown of Calgary in September 2026.
Amanda de Chastelain is a Pediatric Physical Therapist at the Alberta Children’s Hospital with over 20 years of clinical experience dedicated to helping children of all ages achieve optimal mobility, function, and independence. Her practice focuses on the evaluation and treatment of infants, children, and adolescents with a wide range of orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions including congenital disorders, developmental delays, sports injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation as well as those with arthrogryposis, complex pain, functional neurological disorders and burns.
Amanda is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to the unique needs of each child and works collaboratively with families, physicians, and interdisciplinary teams. She develops individualized treatment plans that support physical development and long-term functional outcomes for the children with whom she works with the goal of creating a supportive and engaging therapy environment that empowers children to reach their highest potential while guiding families throughout the rehabilitation process.