STAAR Conference is proud to announce our
SPEAKERS & INSTRUCTORS
Elena Saltis
Elena Saltis received her undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy at Ohio State University. She started PhysiotherapyNZ Limited, a prominent, successful, multi-clinic human Physio business in the South Island of New Zealand. She went on to obtain her certificate in canine rehabilitation (CCRT) from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI). After graduating she continued to hone her skills, attending post graduate courses at CRI, further study through the Australian Physiotherapy Association – Special Interest Group, and multiple internships at various facilities. Elena went on to become an instructor for CRI in both the US and Australia, and presented at numerous international conferences.
Elena is passionate about giving back and imparting her therapy skills on animals most in need. She established a rehabilitation clinic in Spain in partnership with the Galgo Rescue sanctuary. She started Street Tails, a charity providing veterinary and physical therapy services to the pets of people who are homeless. Also, she developed Canine NeuroPark Charity Trust, a private rehabilitation and enrichment park in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Deb Torraca
Dr. Debbie Torraca began her career in human physical therapy (PT) and specialized in orthopedics, sports medicine, and pain management. With a solid foundation in human PT, she has adapted her skills (including her expertise in the Mulligan Technique) to her work with animals. Dr. Torraca is a pioneer in the field of canine physical rehabilitation and is a core faculty member of the NC State Veterinary School’s Certified Companion Animal Therapy (CCAT) program. She also founded and heads the Certified Canine Manual Therapy (CCMT) program at UTN.
Following her doctorate in Physical Therapy from UTN-Chattanooga, she transitioned to her work with animals and has been practicing canine rehabilitation for more than 25 years.
Dr. Torraca has authored many chapters in veterinary textbooks and writes for professional journals and magazines dedicated to the dog enthusiast. She has been a speaker and instructor at many veterinary conferences including the International Association of Veterinary Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy (IAVRPT), American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS), North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC), Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference (ACVC), and Western States Veterinary Conference (WSVC). She sits on the advisory board for Companion Animal Health and has been a key speaker at the American International Medical Laser Association.
Dr. Torraca is a longtime member of American Physical Therapy Association Special Interest Group (APTA-SIG) and has held the office of President. She is also a member of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM). She is an active member of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, the American Bullmastiff Association, the Clumber Spaniel Club of America, and various other local dog clubs and organizations including the Connecticut Police Canine Unit.
Felicity Parris
Felicity Parris is an internationally recognised Chartered Physiotherapist and Veterinary Physiotherapist, celebrated for her pioneering contributions to small animal rehabilitation, professional education, and welfare-centred clinical practice. With over 15 years of specialist experience, she has become a trusted voice in advancing standards across the veterinary and canine therapy professions. Felicity is the founder of The Canine Rehab Co and SVPS Education
The Canine Rehab Co is the UK’s only mobile physiotherapy and hydrotherapy franchises, delivering accessible, evidence-based rehabilitation to dogs across Sussex and Kent. Felicitys clinical work is grounded in excellence, compassion, and a deep understanding of canine biomechanics and functional recovery.
Through SVPS Education, Felicity has built a global platform providing high-quality continuing professional development for veterinary and rehabilitation professionals. Her teaching is known for its clarity, practicality, and ability to empower therapists to elevate their clinical reasoning, refine their hands-on skills, and grow with confidence.
Felicity is also the founder of Wagaway Travel, a lifestyle and travel brand supporting professionals to create balance, adventure, and wellbeing alongside their careers.
Beyond her professional achievements, Felicity is a proud mum of two lively children, supported by her husband and their much-loved Labrador, Bear, who frequently appears in SVPS webinars and educational content as a patient and charismatic demo dog.
Amie Lamoreaux Hesbach
Amie Hesbach is a doctor of physical therapy with over twenty-five years of experience with human patients and over twenty with small animal patients. She has expertise and experience in the application of manual therapy and facilitation techniques (including PNF and IASTM), corrective functional exercise training, and proprioceptive and neuromuscular retraining in orthopaedic, athletic, and neurologic patients. She has a clinical interest in the application of physical therapy and rehabilitation techniques to maximize the potential for NeuroPlasticity and recovery in her patients.
Dr. Hesbach was educated at the University of Montana (DPT, Physical Therapy), the Medical College of Virginia (MS, Physical Therapy), and Slippery Rock Univeristy of Pennsylvania (BS, Biology). She completed a post-graduate NeuroRehabilitation residency in Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) at the Kaiser Foundation Rehabilitation Center in Vallejo, California.
Dr. Hesbach is certified in Canine Rehabilitation through both the University of Tennessee and the Canine Rehabilitation Institute. Dr. Hesbach has published and lectured on both human and animal rehabilitation in the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Poland, and Japan and continues to offer webinars and clinical coaching to pet parents and pet physical therapy and rehabilitation colleagues online.
Dr. Hesbach is a past president of the Animal Rehabilitation/Physical Therapy Special Interest Group of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She owns and operates EmpowerPhysio, a mobile pet physical therapy and rehabilitation practice near Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Hesbach was honored with the award of the IAVRPT Animal Rehabilitation Practitioner of the Year in 2022.
Alex Collins
Alex owns and runs Flexidog Therapy and Training Workshops where she specialises in Canine Functional Osteopathy, Exercise Rehabilitation and Fitness programs for sports and working dogs. She is an active competitor in agility for the past 19 years and has recently qualified her springer spaniel, Fergus, for the ABC semi-finals at the London International Horse show in 2026. Alex creates content for and teaches on the L4 Gatehouse Canine Physical Trainer Course. She is also a significant contributor to ‘Conditioning Your Canine’, an online exercise fitness and rehabilitation tool for practitioners to help their client achieve successful clinical outcomes with dog training tips.
Alex brings her enthusiasm for positive dog training, clinical reasoning with theoretical and practical knowledge of sports and working dogs to develop, support and enthuse canine therapists.