By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

ELEVEN trainees, including some from Guam and Japan, have completed the Mulligan physical therapy course at the Commonwealth Health Center.
This was the second education program hosted by CHC’s physical therapy unit, according to course organizer Dana McFadden. The first one was the wound care course held in April last year.
McFadden said in a statement, that “the Mulligan Concept course focuses mainly on joint mobilization treatment techniques, which will enhance the knowledge base and skill level of the physical therapists at CHC.”
The instructor was Amy Bennet who came all the way from Dayton, Idaho. She spent a week on island before leaving on Monday.
The 11 participants from Saipan, Guam and Japan found the training extremely useful, McFadden said,.
“We all feel that this training will increase the quality of physical therapy care that our patients receive,” she added.
Organizing the course, she said, was “a worthwhile venture despite the great amount of planning and the 8 to 12 months of preparation.”
She said “obtaining continuing education on physical therapy on Saipan and other Micronesian islands is extremely difficult because of the lack of qualified instructors in the region and the travel expenses for the instructors” from the U.S.”
McFadden hopes to bring more continuing education programs to the CNMI’s healthcare professionals.
Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez said the training that was held from March 2 to 5 was a great success, adding that it was the first physical therapy enhancement course on Saipan.