Iowa Vestibular Symposium

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Iowa Vestibular Symposium

The Iowa Vestibular Symposium is a collaborative care symposium for healthcare providers. Prerequiste education on vestibular disorders not required.

10/06/2025

Still thinking about whether or not you should sign up for this year’s Iowa Vestibular Symposium? Here’s why you absolutely should! Link to sign up in bio.

09/24/2025

SESSION HIGHLIGHT - KEYNOTE ADDRESS - FROM CLINIC TO CASE STUDY: ADVANCING COLLABORATION IN VESTIBULAR CARE

This session will highlight real-world strategies to strengthen teamwork and improve outcomes for patients with vestibular disorders. Learn from practical case studies that showcase the power of collaboration. Don't miss this session designed to inspire connection and elevate vestibular care!

Join us on January 17-18, 2026, for the "Iowa Vestibular Symposium" CME conference, where Kirsten Radke, PT, DPT, from Core Physical Therapy, will discuss collaboration in vestibular care.

The cost to attend is $350 for clinicians, $175 for full-time health sciences students. Participate in person at Des Moines University Medicine and Sciences, Olsen Center, or virtually via Zoom.

REGISTER TODAY: https://cme.dmu.edu/ivs-2026

09/23/2025

Meet Dr. Julie Hershberg PT, DPT, NCS founder of re+active and neuro PT lover! She will be speaking at this year’s conference about Functional Neurological Disorders from the neuroscience behind it to appropriate treatments. See full bio below. As always, link to register for the symposium is in our bio. See everyone soon!🌟
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As a neuro PT with a focus on movement disorders and motor learning, Dr. Hershberg has become a leading voice in the treatment of FND. She is an instructor for multiple continuing education courses on FND, providing clinicians with a practical, evidence-based framework for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. She is a professor and the University of Southern California and the founder of re+active therapy and wellness in the Los Angeles area. She leads a transdisciplinary team of over 30, specialized in complex cases. She emphasizes a person-centered approach, guiding patients to "undo negative neuroplasticity" and cultivate new central nervous system connections. Dr. Hershberg’s expertise in FND is informed by her clinical experience in various settings, including outpatient, inpatient, and home health

09/16/2025

Meet Sara Mohr the Director of Vision Therapy at Elite Eye Care. She will be speaking about Functional Vision Skills for providers and can answer all your questions about the ins and outs of vision therapy! Come see her this January at our annual Iowa Vestibular Symposium - link to register in bio.

09/09/2025

Meet Dr. Heidi Bell, OD, FAAO, FCOVD founder of Elite Vision Therapy! She will be speaking at this year’s symposium on vision rehabilitation and how vision deficits could be impacting your therapy treatment and outcomes. Read full bio of Dr. Bell below. Link to register for symposium in bio.
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Dr. Heidi Bell, OD, FAAO, FCOVD earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN, in 2012. She went on to complete a Residency in Primary Care Optometry, where she devoted her training to serving underserved populations in public health settings throughout Memphis.

In 2015, Dr. Bell achieved her fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry, and in 2019, she became a Board-Certified Fellow of the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association. That same year, she founded Elite Vision Therapy, a specialty branch within her primary care practice, Elite Eye Care. Elite Vision Therapy focuses on providing non-invasive, therapeutic care for patients with binocular vision dysfunction, amblyopia, strabismus, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

Dr. Bell lectures nationally on the integration of functional vision care and concussion rehabilitation in primary care optometry. She is deeply passionate about children’s vision, vision rehabilitation for patients of all ages, and an approach to eye care that prioritizes treating the whole person.

09/04/2025

Meet Dr. Becky Bliss PT, DPT a clinical associate professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center in the Physical Therapy, Rehab Science and Athletic Training Department! Come hear her speak about advancing concussion rehabilitation at this year’s vestibular symposium! Link to sign up in bio.
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Becky Bliss, PT, DPT, DHSc is a Clinical Associate Professor in the University of Kansas Medical Center Physical Therapy, Rehab Science and Athletic Training Department. She is board certified in Neurological Physical Therapy and serves in the role of Program Coordinator for the University of Missouri’s Neurological Physical Therapy Residency. She holds her Certificate in Vestibular Rehabilitation from the APTA, as well as Advanced Vestibular Certificate. Becky has been actively practicing in the field of physical therapy for 24 years with specialization in concussion management since 2006. Becky is active within the Academy of Neurological Physical Therapy on multiple committees and task forces and with the American Physical Therapy Association’s Concussion CPG Revision work. Her clinical research interests include translating best practice in concussion care into clinical practice and higher level neuromotor control deficits that are not detected by routine clinical examinations.

08/28/2025

Meet Dr. Lisa Brekke! She is the Co-founder of the Iowa Vestibular Symposium and will be presenting on peripheral vestibular dysfunction at our event. See full bio below.
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The next speaker introduction is co-founder of the Iowa Vestibular Symposium, Dr. Lisa Brekke. She will be presenting on peripheral vestibular dysfunction with a heavy emphasis on examination and intervention with hands on break outs being the primary feature of this lecture.

Lisa Brekke is a practicing physical therapist at Kinetic Edge Physical Therapy and owns her own consulting/educational company Brekke Rehab Consulting, PLLC. She graduated from Sacred Heart University in Connecticut with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She has her board-certification in neurologic physical therapy and certifications in brain injury and vestibular rehabilitation. Lisa’s practice focuses on central and peripheral vestibular impairments, dysautonomia, migraine disorders, and post-concussion/mTBI.

Lisa is passionate about education and collaborative care. She enjoys spending time networking and growing her interdisciplinary team for better patient care.

Lisa currently serves the ANPT Vestibular SIG on the education committee and as the liaison to the prevention and wellness committee. She is also a member APTA Iowa and many other discipline specific groups.

Lisa is from Iowa and earned her bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University. Go Cyclones!

08/21/2025

Meet Dr. Kirsten Radke! She is one of the Co-founders of the Iowa Vestibular Symposium and will be the keynote speaker at this year’s event. See full bio below.
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As co-founder of the Iowa Vestibular Symposium and partner at Core Physical Therapy, Dr. Kirsten Radke has built her career around helping patients with complex vestibular and cranial challenges. A Clinically Certified Vestibular Therapist, she holds the Certificate of Competency in Concussion Management and has advanced training in craniosacral therapy, myofascial techniques, and visceral interventions.

A rural Iowa native and current resident, Kirsten is deeply passionate about expanding awareness, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing clinical competencies to improve access to high-quality vestibular care. She has served as secretary for the APTA Iowa Board, SW District Director, and was recognized as the 2020 APTA Iowa Emerging Leader.

This year, she takes the stage as our keynote speaker — ready to share case-driven insights and cranial connections to vestibular impairments.

08/14/2025

Meet our first speaker at this year’s Iowa Vestibular Symposium! Dr. Helena Esmonde is the co-founder of Vestibular First and will be teaching our pre-conference lecture on vestibular screening and referral efficiency for primary care providers. All full weekend registrations will have access to this content but it can also be purchased individually from the conference. Registration link in bio.

08/11/2025

Meet Abbey! She will be coordinating all things social media leading up to our event in January. Need info about something previously posted? Looking forward to fun photo ops at the event? She’s your gal. Be on the lookout for additional team member and speaker bios coming soon.

08/08/2025

Registration for the Iowa Vestibular Symposium 2026 is officially LIVE! Stay tuned for additional updates on speakers, topics, and more. See you soon!

01/13/2025

As we wrap up the weekend we want to thank everyone who attended, our sponsors (Kinetic Edge Physical Therapy, Core Physical Therapy, Atha SomaYoga, The Dizzy Doctor, Pella Regional Health Center, Mountain Laurel Physical Therapy, and Vestibular First) and Des Moines University Continuing Medical Education for all of their assistance leading up to and during this event. We had so much fun. After a short break we will start prepping for next year.

Thank you again to everyone!

Address

Des Moines, IA
50312

Website

https://www.brekkerehabconsulting.com/iowavestibularsymposium

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