Greetings and welcome to the Hands Of History Podcast, a production of the Society Of Massage Archives, where we delve into the rich tapestry of massage therapy's past, explore its evolution, and share the stories that have shaped this vital practice.

Join your host, Kirby Clark Ellis, for a conversation with Ruth Werner.

Ruth Werner is an award-winning educator, writer, and former massage therapist who loves to share her passion about the role of bodywork for people who live with health challenges. Her textbook, A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology is now in its 7 th edition and used all over the world. She is a columnist for Massage and Bodywork magazine, and she teaches continuing education workshops on pathology, research, and ethics both virtually and in person world-wide. Her popular podcast, “I Have a Client Who… Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner”, is available wherever you get your podcasts.

Greetings and welcome to the Hands Of History Podcast, a production of the Society Of Massage Archives, where we delve into the rich tapestry of massage therapy's past, explore its evolution, and share the stories that have shaped this vital practice.

Join your host, Kirby Clark Ellis, for a conversation with Dr. Donelda Leverick.

Dr. Donelda (Gowan), Leverick holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Psychology, a Master of Science degree in Community Health & Epidemiology, and a Doctorate in Population Health Science from the University of Saskatchewan. She also has a diploma from the Canadian College of Massage & Hydrotherapy in Sutton, Ontario. Donelda is currently a Director in the Centre for Integrative Medicine in the Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, in the College of Medicine, at the University of Saskatchewan, where she holds an Adjunct Professor appointment. She is the Past-Research Chair on the Board of Directors of the Massage Therapist Association of Saskatchewan and the Past-Chair of the Canadian Interdisciplinary Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research Network (INCAM). Donelda’s career in the massage therapy field spanned three decades. She thoroughly enjoyed the clinical work as a massage therapist and ended the hands on portion of her career in recent years to pursue greater involvement in knowledge translation and exchange. She recalls joyful experience as a massage therapy educator in both pre-service and continuing education for massage therapists, and as a volunteer in leadership roles on various committees and boards provincially, nationally, and internationally. She is now a health services researcher and knowledge broker. Her main research interests include integrative healthcare and interprofessional collaboration and always, massage therapy.

Greetings and welcome to the Hands Of History Podcast, a production of the Society Of Massage Archives, where we delve into the rich tapestry of massage therapy's past, explore its evolution, and share the stories that have shaped this vital practice.

Join your host, Kirby Clark Ellis, for a conversation with Amanda Baskwill.

Dr. Amanda Baskwill is a massage therapist, educator, and academic leader whose career has been deeply rooted in advancing the profession of massage therapy in Canada and beyond. With over two decades of experience, she has worn many hats: clinician, educator, researcher, author and advocate. Her contributions include curriculum leadership in massage therapy education, government advocacy for professional regulation, and research that bridges clinical practice and evidence-informed care. Amanda’s work has consistently focused on elevating the profession’s visibility, credibility, and integration within broader health systems. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President Academic and Chief Learning Officer at Loyalist College, Amanda continues to support the growth of health and wellness professions through strategic leadership and innovation. She is also the Executive Editor and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (IJTMB), where she champions scholarly work that reflects the complexity and potential of massage therapy. A passionate storyteller and mentor, Amanda brings a reflective lens to her own professional journey and the evolving history of massage therapy, making her an insightful voice in conversations about where the profession has been and where it’s headed.