• June, 2010 - Zak Martin-Kilgour
• October, 2009 - Shulamit Day Berlevtov
• September, 2009 - Nancy Leach
• May, 2009 - Deeni Wagner
• April, 2009 - Barbara Ford
• March, 2009 - Leanne Wierzbicki
• February, 2009 - Isabella D'Alessandro, H.E.T.
• January, 2009 - Rhonda Lee Stetsko
• December, 2008 - Jane Booth-Robertson
• November, 2008 - Lee Pryke
• October, 2008 - Bonny Rochford
• September, 2008 - Karen Egoff

Rhonda Lee Stetsko

January, 2009

Rhonda Stetko

What brought you to the realization that you are a healer?

A personal injury:

I am often asked how the idea and designs for technically functional and aesthetically beautiful THERMAHEAL^tm wraps came about.

During my first year in the University of Waterloo’s Master’s Degree program in Applied Health Sciences, I sustained a personal injury that left me with 37 stitches to my face, plus neck and shoulder trauma. It took 3 hours of ER treatment with an on-the-spot z-plasty and 3 years of rehab to finally recover.

Almost a year after the neck-shoulder trauma problems had set-in, I began to realize the benefits and importance of using cold-hot therapy to maximize my healing but was often confused, with conflicting messages about using hot and cold as therapy.

Interestingly, I would also continually come across people who were injured in some way and equally uncertain of how to use cold-hot therapy, even when recommended by their health care practitioners. Although there were an increasing number of thermal therapy products available in retail, none of them offered therapeutic guidelines with their products. Most were unattractive, velcroed, vinyl or sack-like objects; not something you could feel very good about using.

By combining my natural creativity, health sciences research, health promotion and education backgrounds, THERMAHEAL^tm was founded on the belief that healing is a blend of art & science - beauty & functionality.

My passion is to develop pain-relief that also meets the emotional and cognitive needs of healing by creating education-based, Class I medical devices that are attractively styled and contoured-to-fit multiple body areas - helping you feel good about getting better.

My sincere desire is to help massage and physical therapies practitioners continue to provide improved healing experiences and outcomes for their clients using cold and heat as therapy.

What obstacles have you found in considering yourself a success in this field?

Although I enjoy the research and design process immensely, finding efficient, cost-effective and sustainable manufacturing methods and channels of distribution continues to be a challenge. More importantly, is finding effective ways to promote THERMAHEAL^tm products, their educational aspects and the benefits of using a THERMAHEAL^tm hot/cold therapy product over those manufactured outside Canada.

What schooling or training have you completed?

I have a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree from the University of Alberta, with a background in community and public health education and health promotion, as well as a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Applied Health Sciences from the University of Waterloo.

Do you find group gathering to be helpful in supporting you on your journey?

Spreading learning and health knowledge in any form is helpful. However, I know that scheduling group meetings or session is often a challenge for me and my time schedule.

Does networking with others assist you in achieving your goals?

Yes

Is there advice you would offer to someone starting on this path?

I think getting a background in business or accounting would give someone starting the necessary practical grounding on how to deliver a sustainable service or product. Also, having an organizational system in place for the inevitable paperwork would be extremely useful.

What type of advertising has worked best for you? What has been your best resource for building a client base?

I think that word-of-mouth, through referrals and recommendations is always the best way to build any endeavour and establish your credibility. Doing it effectively and efficiently is the challenge, without seeming like you are advertising or "pushing" something people don’t want or need. Finding and getting to know the needs of a well-defined niche group is the best way to establish a client base that fits with your product or service offerings.

Where do you see yourself in a year? 5 years? Do you have any particular goals that you would like to achieve in the near future?

I see THERMAHEAL^tm as the choice referral for hot and cold therapy products among physical therapies, health practitioners and their clients. I also see a growing enterprise, providing natural agri-based hot/cold therapy products while helping others to grow and develop their own health practices and businesses.

Visit Rhonda Stetko's web site at www.thermaheal.com.