Rebecca Stephenson and Darla Cathcart | Revolutionizing Women’s Health: A New Guide for Pelvic & Perinatal Care

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Show Notes:

What if you had a single resource that could change the way you treat women’s health—covering everything from pelvic care to pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond? In this episode, Lynn talks with authors Darla Cathcart and Rebecca Stephenson about their groundbreaking new textbook, The Physical Therapist’s Guide to Women’s Pelvic, Perinatal, and Reproductive Health, that blends evidence, compassion, and real-world tools to support clinicians at every level. They reveal the behind-the-scenes challenges, the surprising insights, and why this book is the guide you’ve been searching for. Don’t miss it—this conversation will leave you inspired to expand your practice in powerful ways.

✨ Episode Highlights:

• The story behind this groundbreaking book
• Practical tools: charts, scripts, and visuals for daily use
• Updated evidence on pelvic, perinatal, breast, and reproductive health
• Addressing disparities and empowering underserved populations
• Why this book matters for PTs, OTs, physicians, and midwives

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To learn more visit: InstituteforBirthHealing.com

About Today’s Speakers

Rebecca G. Stephenson is a clinical specialist in women’s and pelvic health physical therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital MGB at the Newton-Wellesley Ambulatory Care Center, medical writer and is a board-certified Women’s Health Clinical Specialist (WCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. From the Academy of Pelvic Health of the American Physical Therapy Association she has a Certification of Achievement in Pelvic Health (CAPP-Pelvic), Certification in Childbirth Education. She is a past president and secretary of the International Organization of Physical Therapists in Pelvic and Women’s Health. She is an adjunct faculty member at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. Dr. Stephenson has received many awards: the Lucy Blair Award from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Elizabeth Nobel Award from the Academy of Pelvic Health, and the Barbara Adams Fellow in the MGH Institute of Physical Therapy for leadership. Dr. Stephenson is on the faculty for the Academy of Pelvic Health of the American Physical Therapy Association. Rebecca founded, along with Tracy Spitznagle and Susan Clinton, the Global Women’s Health Initiative, a non-profit, GWHI.org.

Darla B. Cathcart is Assistant Clinical Professor and Assistant Director of Clinical Education at Graceland University (Independence, MO) and is a board-certified Women’s Health Certified Specialist (WCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She has also earned from APTA Academy of Pelvic Health the Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Physical Therapy (CAPP-Pelvic) and the Certificate of Achievement in Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Therapy (CAPP-OB). 

Darla has served as the President (2024–2026), President-elect (2023–2024), Vice President (2015–2016), and Director of Education (2011–2014) for the Academy of Pelvic Health, American Physical Therapy Association. She serves as faculty for the Herman & Wallace Rehabilitation Institute in pelvic health, perinatal, and sexual health courses. Dr. Cathcart received several awards from the Academy of Pelvic Health: Instructor of the Year (2017); Course Site Hostess of the Year (2018); and Volunteer of the Year (2015). She also received Clinical Instructor of the Year while serving as a clinical instructor for a pelvic health physical therapy student from Elon University in 2011.