NCBTMB TAPS PRACTITIONER AND EDUCATOR TO LEAD GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE
S. Pualani “Pua” Gillespie RN, LMT, NCTMB, to Chair GR Committee
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Illinois (May 2, 2008) – The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) is pleased to announce the appointment of S. Pualani “Pua” Gillespie RN, LMT, NCTMB, to chair the organization’s new Government Relations Committee.
The NCBTMB Government Relations Committee is being established to build a network of volunteers at the regional and state levels. These volunteers will work closely with Gillespie to enhance communications between NCBTMB, state accrediting and licensing agencies, and key industry organizations such as the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). The committee will be charged with monitoring legislative initiatives and state board developments throughout the country, helping to make sure that users of massage and bodywork have access to professional massage and bodywork practitioners.
“As the acceptance of massage and bodywork as a recognized component of integrative healthcare continues to evolve, Pua and her committee will work closely with state and local legislators in addressing the expanding roles and requirements of the profession,” stated NCBTMB’s Board Chair Donna Feeley. “Pua’s experience in government relations and her knowledge of the many issues impacting practitioners, educators and consumers made her the perfect choice for this important new role. We are pleased that she is willing to volunteer her time to chair these efforts.”
Gillespie has a background in both massage and government relations. Her career in massage began in 1989 in Hawaii where she was trained in the Hawaiian Lomilomi style of massage. Gillespie is a staff member with the family of Aunty Margaret Machado and teaches Hawaiian Lomilomi on the Big Island of Hawaii. She became nationally certified in 1999, and has been an approved continuing education provider for NCBTMB since 2002. Gillespie is a certified practitioner of Active Release Technique (ART), which is used in the healing of injured soft tissue. She is currently a member of the Ethics and Standards Committee for NCBTMB, and the former 1st Vice-President for the Hawaii Chapter of AMTA.
As a practicing registered nurse since 1983, Gillespie followed the career path of nursing administration, serving as a liaison to the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations for a large hospital corporation. As clinical director for 21 hospitals, she worked with federal and state government programs to monitor quality improvement and treatment outcome studies. She also advocated for private psychiatric hospitals with the federal Medicare program.
“Pua will provide the vision – and just as important the practical knowledge – to lead this very important initiative into the future,” said Chris Laxton, NCBTMB CEO. “We are happy to have her on our team.”
“It is a privilege to work with the current Board and to chair NCBTMB’s Government Relations Committee on behalf of massage schools, educators, practitioners and consumers across the country,” stated Gillespie. “As a nationally certified practitioner and an approved provider of continuing education, I appreciate the value of certification in the delivery of competent, ethical and professional massage and bodywork services. I look forward to working with members of our committee and NCBTMB volunteers across the country to enhance the credibility of our practices through board-driven state legislative and regulatory activities.”
Gillespie earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1972 and an associate degree in nursing in 1983. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and has completed master’s level training in healthcare administration.
ABOUT NCBTMB
The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) was established in 1992 as an independent, private, nonprofit organization fostering the highest standards of ethical and professional practice in the delivery of therapeutic massage and bodywork through a recognized credentialing program. NCBTMB examinations are currently accepted or recognized in statute or rule by 32 states plus the District of Columbia. There are currently more than 89,000 professionals with NCBTMB certification. The NCBTMB credentialing program has been accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) since 1993 and NCBTMB is currently pursuing American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation.
