11/06/2024: Transitioning to Ergonomics: Career Journeys from Physical Therapy, Athletic Training, and Occupational Safety

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Transitioning to Ergonomics: Career Journeys

About the webinar:

Are you considering a career in ergonomics? Join us for an engaging panel featuring ergonomists who have successfully transitioned from fields such as physical therapy, athletic training, and occupational safety. Gain insights into transferable skills and expertise that are highly valued in ergonomics, learn about the necessary educational requirements, and explore the diverse career pathways available in this evolving field. Our panelists will provide practical advice on assessing whether a career in ergonomics aligns with your professional goals and interests, equipping you with the information needed to make informed career decisions.

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this activity, the learner will be able to:

Identify key skills and expertise from physical therapy, athletic training, and occupational safety that are transferable to a career in ergonomics
Discuss the unique challenges and opportunities professionals face when transitioning from related fields into ergonomics
Identify educational requirements needed to transition into ergonomics effectively
Determine if a transition into ergonomics aligns with your career goals and interests

Speaker: Alison Heller-Ono PT, MSPT, CPE

Alison Heller-Ono PT, MSPT, CPE, President and CEO of Worksite International, Inc. is passionate about how people work! Ms. Heller-Ono is a veteran Physical Therapist combined with dual credentials as a Certified Industrial Ergonomist (CIE) and Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) along with a Certified Disability Analyst. As an entrepreneur, pioneer, and bold industry leader in the ergonomics marketplace since 1993, Alison helps small to mid-size multi-national and global employers keep employees healthy so they can work to their maximum potential. Alison is a trusted advisor and consultant to clients who desire a safe, comfortable, and productive workforce. She is also a coach and mentor to professionals desiring to learn about occupational ergonomics.

Speaker: Courtney Upshaw, MS, LAT, ATC, AEP

A native of Lima, Ohio, Courtney Upshaw, MS, LAT, ATC, AEP, completed her Bachelor of Science at Bowling Green State University where she studied Athletic Training and has earned her Master of Science from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Upon achieving her board certification for Athletic Training, Courtney accepted a role as the Athletic Trainer for an elite soccer club in Greenville, SC, where she proudly conducted the 5 domains of Athletic Training daily; 1) risk reduction, wellness, and health literacy, 2) Assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis, 3) Critical incident management, 4) Therapeutic intervention, and 5) Health care administration and professional responsibility. In 2017, Courtney transitioned into the industrial settings and was introduced to ergonomics. With her role as an Injury Prevention Specialist, Courtney carried out tasks geared towards reducing employees’ risks of developing musculoskeletal disorders such as workstation evaluation and redesigning and implementing wellness programing. Today, Courtney is a Consultant for VelocityEHS where she facilitates workshops informing employers how to conduct an ergonomics assessment with using AI generated software to reduce MSDs within the workplace. In addition to facilitating workshops, Courtney conducts job assessments and provides employers with solutions to mitigate employees’ exposure to soft tissue injuries.

Speaker: Megan Krones, CSP

Megan Krones, CSP, is a Sr. Safety Services consultant for Sentry Insurance which provides workers compensation coverage to large/national customers across the United States. She serves as the subject matter expert (SME) in ergonomics for her team whose ergonomic service platform includes ergonomic assessments, hands-on workshops, and program development. More recently she led a companywide initiative, bringing computer vision software to Sentry customers. Collectively as a team, Sentry Consultants have conducted over 5,000 ergonomic assessments since 2021, with a goal of bringing effective, but practical solutions to the table. Prior to her role at Sentry, she worked as a safety manager in the manufacturing industry. She has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management (2011) and currently a student in the Human Factors and Ergonomic Certificate Program.

ACCREDITATION

The Center for Occupational and Environmental Health designates this activity for a maximum of 1 Contact Hour. Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Certificates of Completion

Certificates of Completion will be available to webinar participants who are present for the complete, live webinar, and logged in with their registered email address. Call-in attendees are not eligible for certificates at this time - Please download the Zoom app to log in via email on your smartphone whenever possible.

In order to receive your Certificate of Completion, qualified learners must complete the post-webinar evaluation within 7 days of the webinar. A link to the evaluation will be emailed to qualified learners 24 hours after the webinar via no-reply@zoom.us. Qualified learners who submit their evaluation will receive a Certificate of Completion via email, and can also print/save the certificate from their browser after submitting their evaluation.

If you're not able to attend the live presentation, no problem! We record most presentations and will host them on our website provided we have permission to do so. Presentation recordings are not eligible for Certificates of Completion.

ACCESSIBILITY:

If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) to fully participate in this event, please contact Michelle Meyer at (510) 642-8365 or mmeyer@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event.

About the NorCal ERC

The goal of the Northern California ERC, a consortium of programs at the University of California’s Center of Occupational and Environmental Health, is to train professionals as practitioner and research leaders in occupational safety and health by offering graduate degrees, residency training, clinical experiences, and research mentorship to trainees. The aim of the ERC is to provide a broad, multidisciplinary educational experience involving student and faculty collaborations in the classroom, laboratory, and field. Through academic training, research, and community service projects, our faculty and trainees address ongoing and emerging challenges facing US Workers. Activities are grounded in multi-campus, interactive teaching programs that translate knowledge into information that can be used to improve worker safety and health.