APTA Podcasts: Recent Episodes
American Physical Therapy Association
Getting into DPT school is a major milestone — but it’s only the beginning. In this episode of the APTA Podcast, Noah Ackerman, Ida Hoxha, and Melissa Dreger, PT, DPT, MA, share what it really takes to move from acceptance to confidence as a Doctor of Physical Therapy student. Whether you're preparing to start or already navigating your program, this conversation offers practical strategies to help you stay grounded and move forward with purpose.Hear honest perspectives on managing a rigorous workload, rethinking study habits, building routines that support your well-being, and connecting with your cohort and community. The speakers also discuss why asking for help early can be one of the most important skills you develop. You’ll come away with clear, actionable insights to help you start strong, adapt as you grow, and make the most of your DPT journey.
Check out these additional resources for students:
- Read the recent APTA Magazine article, “The Power of Student Advocacy,” featuring Ackerman and Hoxha, for advice on getting involved in advocacy early.
- Not yet an APTA member? Join APTA to receive the APTA Student Newsletter, with monthly updates, news, and resources for students.
- Connect with peers and professionals in the APTA Community, and follow APTA Students on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
- Explore online courses and earn CEUs through the APTA Learning Center.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Kathleen Mangione, PT, PhD, FAPTA, about receiving the 2026 Jules M. Rothstein Golden Pen Award for Scientific Writing for her notable research career. TheRothstein Golden Pen Award recognizes an author who has demonstrated superior writing skills in one or more articles published in PTJ: Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal and has collaborated with or encouraged others to make similar contributions.
Physical therapists often enter the profession to help patients — but many also aspire to have greater autonomy, flexibility, and ownership over their careers. In this episode of the APTA Podcast, entrepreneur, business coach, author, and physical therapist Danny Matta, PT, DPT, joins APTA's Alicia Hosmer, CME, AAiP, and Drew Contreras, PT, DPT, to share practical lessons from his journey from U.S. Army physical therapist to successful business owner.
Learn how Matta identified his niche, built a cash-based practice, navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship, and developed a mindset centered on continuous growth. Whether you're considering private practice, looking to expand your impact, or simply exploring new possibilities in your professional journey, this conversation offers actionable insights on creating a career that aligns with your goals.
In this episode of the APTA Podcast, John Gallucci Jr., PT, DPT, ATC, MS, president and CEO of JAG Physical Therapy and associate chief medical officer for Major League Soccer, explores the unique physical demands of soccer for athletes of all levels. With the 2026 men’s World Cup underway, Gallucci draws on his extensive experience with elite athletes, while also offering guidance for physical therapists preparing to support recreational, first-time, and youth athletes.
Join Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, as he talks with Alyson Cavanaugh, PT, DPT, PhD, MPH, and Micah Wong, PT, DPT, about their recently published scoping review. The review mapped the current literature on the implementation of primary care physical therapy and found that integrating physical therapists in primary care may result in reduced healthcare utilization with similar patient outcomes.
Cavanaugh and Wong are co-authors of the article “The Value of Integrating Physical Therapists into Primary Care, Including Patient Outcomes and Health Care Costs: A Scoping Review.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
Two students. One lobby day. A meaningful impact that reached the state legislature.
In this episode, discover how DPT students Ally Clark and Brian Pham turned preparation into opportunity — earning an invitation to testify after APTA Virginia’s Lobby Day. Joined by VCU faculty members Alicia Flach, PT, DPT, EdD, and Katie Shaab, PT, DPT, PhD, along with APTA Virginia President Emily Hawkins, PT, DPT, PhD, this episode unpacks how students are trained for advocacy, what makes a lobby day successful, and why your voice matters.
Tune in to learn practical strategies for organizing and participating in a state lobby day, guidance for getting started in advocacy, and why engaging at every stage of your career is critical.
Ready to get involved in advocacy? Check out the following APTA resources to get started.
- Download the APTA Advocacy App.
- Start a discussion in the APTA Community.
- Join the APTA Advocacy Network and read all the latest advocacy news.
- Participate in the APTA Student Advocacy Challenge.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, editorial board member Christopher Bise, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, talks with Katie O’Bright, PT, DPT, OCS, Evan Kelley, PT, DPT, and Micah Wong, PT, DPT, about the 2025 primary care physical therapy consensus definition from the APTA Federal Primary Care Special Interest Group. The authors discuss primary care physical therapy as an emerging area of practice and explain why the definition will support consistent knowledge translation and address key challenges in the current healthcare landscape.
For more information on the consensus definition and the 2026 Primary Care Summit and Think Tank, visit the APTA Federal Primary Care SIG resources page.
O’Bright, Kelley, and Wong are co-authors of the article “Primary Care Physical Therapy: 2025 Consensus Definition.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
Kelly Roberts Lane, PT, DPT, APTA Minnesota’s lead representative for the Special Olympics USA Games, and Drew Contreras, PT, DPT, APTA vice president of strategic affairs, dive into APTA’s partnership with the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota. From how the partnership came together and will bring national awareness to the profession, to the many ways you can volunteer and make an impact, learn how APTA members are making a difference.
Visit the Special Olympics USA Games to learn more about volunteer opportunities available to both clinicians and non-clinicians.
Ash James, director of practice and development at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in the United Kingdom, joins APTA Vice President of Strategic Affairs Drew Contreras, PT, DPT, for a conversation on how artificial intelligence is shaping physical therapist practice — and how it could continue to evolve in the future. James shares lessons learned from the creation of CSP’s AI principles, as well as tips for clinicians trying to navigate AI, whether they are new or experienced users.
- Read APTA’s practice advisory on ambient scribes: “Emerging Technology: AI-Enabled Ambient Scribe Technology in Physical Therapy Documentation.”
- Continue the conversation about AI and emerging technologies by joining the new APTA AI Network on the APTA Community. (Member login is required to access the APTA Community.)
- Learn more about AI through one of the APTA Learning Center’s many courses, including “AI in Physical Therapy,” “Implementing Technology in PT Practice,” and “Ethical Considerations and Application of Artificial Intelligence in Physical Therapy: Navigating the Intersection of Technology and Ethics.”
- Discover APTA Magazine’s coverage on the topic, with “What’s the Impact of AI on Physical Therapy” and “AI as an ‘Intelligent Assistant.’”
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Sandy Willett, PT, PhD, Elena Donoso Brown, OT/L, and Regina Harbourne, PT, PhD, FAPTA, define intervention fidelity, discuss its importance in bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, and highlight what clinicians and researchers can do in the future to make fidelity feel practical.
Willett, Donoso Brown, and Harbourne are co-authors of the article “Intervention Fidelity: A Common Language for Clinicians and Researchers.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Sandy Willett, PT, PhD, Elena Donoso Brown, OT/L, and Regina Harbourne, PT, PhD, FAPTA, define intervention fidelity, discuss its importance in bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, and highlight what clinicians and researchers can do in the future to make fidelity feel practical.
Willett, Donoso Brown, and Harbourne are co-authors of the article “Intervention Fidelity: A Common Language for Clinicians and Researchers.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Sandy Willett, PT, PhD, Elena Donoso Brown, OT/L, and Regina Harbourne, PT, PhD, FAPTA, define intervention fidelity, discuss its importance in bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, and highlight what clinicians and researchers can do in the future to make fidelity feel practical.
Willett, Donoso Brown, and Harbourne are co-authors of the article “Intervention Fidelity: A Common Language for Clinicians and Researchers.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
In this APTA Podcast episode, Vice President of Strategic Affairs Drew Contreras, PT, DPT, and Senior Director of Brand Strategy Alicia Hosmer discuss the partnership between APTA and the National Strength and Conditioning Association with NSCA Board members Jaynie Bjornaraa, PT, PhD, and Antonio Squillante, PhD. The partnership was announced at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting in Anaheim, California, in February.
Together, they discuss the associations' missions and the overlap between physical therapists and certified strength and conditioning specialists in promoting health and well-being through evidence-based practices for athletes and patients alike. The discussion also covers how collaboration between these two professions helps improve patient performance and outcomes.
Listeners can also get a preview of what to expect at the upcoming joint conference at APTA Centennial Center on Sept. 25-26.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Madeline Ratoza, PT, DPT, PhD, Rupal Patel, PT, PhD, and Julia Chevan, PT, DPT, PhD, who used a cross-sectional geographic information systems approach across census tracts and licensure records to look at rehabilitation provider availability in Texas. Their study found that availability varies dramatically and is often much lower in communities with higher disability prevalence and poverty rates, and with larger proportions of Hispanic and non-white residents. The authors discuss what inspired the research question, how they defined access as a metric, and the follow-up actions they recommend from the study.
Ratoza, Patel, and Chevan are co-authors of the article “Geographic Disparities in Rehabilitation Provider Availability and Community Demographics in Texas: A Cross-Sectional Geographic Information Systems Study.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
APTA President Kyle Covington, PT, DPT, PhD, is joined by three fellow members of the APTA Board of Directors to discuss APTA’s Strategic Framework for 2030. They share details on the three interconnected priorities that APTA believes will shape the next generation of physical therapy: advancing our payment, empowering our members, and evolving our practice.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Katrina Monroe, PT, PhD, about her recently published study, which tracked physical therapist-patient conversations over a six-week care period and found that consistently responding to patients’ emotional cues was associated with lower pain intensity. George and Monroe discuss what empathy looks like during physical therapy visits, why there might be variability in empathetic communication, and why empathy’s influence might take time to appear in patient encounters.
Monroe is co-author of the article “More Frequent Empathic Communication by Physical Therapists is Associated With Improved Outcomes for Low-Impact Chronic Pain.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
In this episode, APTA Vice President of Advancement Carmen Elliott sits down with Milly Polovich, a former patient of the pioneering Black physical therapist Vilma Evans.
Together, they discuss Evans\' life, legacy, and barrier-breaking career, which helped open the door for future Black clinicians. Polovich also recalls her time spent with Evans in the 1950s, when Evans helped her regain mobility after a polio diagnosis.
Learn more about Evans and other Black physical therapists who helped pave the way for future generations to follow:
- Vision, Courage, Compassion: Black Physical Therapists Who Transformed the Profession
In this episode, ethics experts discuss the development of the Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapy Profession, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Members of the APTA Ethics and Judicial Committee and the Ethics Task Force break down what the code means for both everyday practice and the future of the profession. Plus, learn how the code was modernized to help PTs, PTAs, and students make ethical decisions in the era of AI and other emerging technologies.
Learn more about the new code and other ethical milestones with these resources referenced in the episode:
- Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapy Profession
- Published in PTJ: Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal in 2010: “The Revised APTA Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist and Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant: Theory, Purpose, Process, and Significance”
- The 31st Mary McMillan Lecture by Ruth B Purtilo, PT, PhD, FAPTA: “A Time to Harvest, a Time to Sow: Ethics for a Shifting Landscape”
Reach out to ejc@apta.org with any questions about the code of ethics.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Daniel White, PT, ScD, MSc, about his recently published survey study, which evaluated the effectiveness of a physical therapist-administered physical activity intervention in increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in adults after total knee replacement. The study found similar increases in physical activity in both the intervention and the control groups. George and White discuss if clinicians should reconsider the use of wearable technology and step goals, and they give advice to PTs aiming to increase physical activity in patients after total knee replacement.
White is co-author of the article “Effectiveness of a Physical Therapist-Administered Physical Activity Intervention after Total Knee Replacement: A Randomized Trial.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
For the first time in APTA history, physical therapist assistants are eligible to serve on the APTA Board of Directors beginning with the 2026 cycle. In this episode, host Kelley Kubota, PT, DPT, MS, sits down with Evan Bier, PTA, and Timothy Russell, PTA, to discuss what this milestone means for the profession. Bier and Russell share their personal reactions to the news, reflect on how the PTA role has evolved, and discuss why belonging to APTA matters for PTAs at every career stage.
Visit APTA’s website to learn more about PTA membership and explore APTA’s PTA resources.
Editorial Board member Shauna Dudley-Javoroski, PT, PhD, talks with Jessica Feda, PT, DPT, DSc, and Evan Pucillo, PT, DPT, EdD, about their recently published article, which evaluated the reliability and validity of the Learning and Studies Strategies Inventory, aka LASSI. The authors define what self-regulated learning is, discuss how the instrument assesses self-regulated learning, and explain how LASSI was shortened through exploratory analysis to be more suitable for entry-level DPT students.
Feda and Pucillo are co-authors of the article “Validation of the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) in Doctor of Physical Therapy Learners: A Retrospective Observational Study.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Brittany Lapin, PhD, Joshua Johnson, PT, DPT, PhD, and Sandra Passek, PT, DPT, about their recently published article on the development and validation of the Physical Therapy Frequency Clinical Decision Support Tool, aka PT-PENCIL. The tool identifies which patients are most likely to benefit from daily physical therapy to be discharged home. The authors discuss what spurred their interest in this research, the study design and methodology of the predictive model, and the potential challenges of using large datasets.
Lapin, Passek, and Johnson are co-authors of the article “Development and Validation of PT-PENCIL: The Physical Therapy Frequency Clinical Decision Support Tool to Increase Hospital Discharge to Home.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
In this episode, APTA staff experts Rachel Miller, MPH, and Sharon West, JD, discuss how the final 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule will affect the physical therapy profession.
They explain why physical therapists can expect an average 1.75% increase in payment under this fee schedule and provide important updates on telehealth and remote therapeutic monitoring.
For more insights from APTA, read this news article, CMS Finalizes Fee Schedule Pay Bump for the First Time in 5 Years, and watch APTA's Regulatory, Legislative, and Payment Updates webinar from Nov. 19.
Staff referenced the following resources from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in this episode:
- The Quality Payment Program Small Practices webpage.
- CMS’ Ambulatory Specialty Model, aka ASM, webpage.
- QPP’s Rehabilitative Support for Musculoskeletal Care MVP webpage.
APTA continues to advocate for reforms to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule to increase payment, reduce administrative burden, and provide more flexibility to both patients and providers.
Sign up for the APTA Advocacy Network, a free, member-only service that sends you special legislative updates and action alerts so you're up to speed and ready to act.
Contact APTA’s advocacy staff with questions related to this year’s fee schedule.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Stanley Hung, PT, PhD, about his recently published survey study, which looked at implementation factors for intensive rehabilitation within real-world inpatient stroke rehabilitation settings. George and Hung discuss the differences between the DOSE and Walk ‘n Watch trials, the potential inaccuracies of wearable technologies and monitors in clinical practice, and what other methods can be used in addition to survey methods in implementation science.
Hung is co-author of the article “Real-World Experiences of Therapy Staff Implementing an Intensive Rehabilitation Protocol in Canadian Stroke Inpatient Rehabilitation Settings: A Multi-Site Survey Study.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
What do Americans really think about physical therapy—and what’s keeping more people from seeing a PT? In this episode of the APTA Podcast, host Alicia Hosmer sits down with APTA’s Drew Contreras and Emilio Rouco, as well as APTA’s research partners Shelly Adcock and Tam Nguyen from Penta Group, to unpack findings from APTA’s Consumer Perceptions Report.
Hear how insights on awareness, access, and trust are shaping APTA’s national advocacy and public awareness strategies — including the new ChoosePT: PT for Future Me campaign — and what PTs and PTAs can do to help more Americans view physical therapy as a valuable, smart strategy to maintain lifelong movement and health.
In this episode, Megan Brown, PT, DPT, details her journey from beginning her career as a physical therapist to founding her business Mind The Mat Pilates & Yoga. Gain practical advice for your career and finding your passion while gettinga preview of what Brown plans to share during her panel discussion “Unfiltered & Unlocked: 3 PTs on Building a Career You Love” at APTA CSM in Anaheim, California.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Gregory Hartley, PT, DPT, FAPTA, and Neva Kirk-Sanchez, PT, PhD, about their recently published perspective, which defines the health systems science framework and advocates for the framework to be a foundational pillar in physical therapy education. Listen as the authors discuss how the framework can contribute to better clinical outcomes, support the development of community-based interventions, and better prepare students to be leaders in health care.
Hartley and Kirk-Sanchez are co-authors of the article “Educating for Impact: The Imperative of Health Systems Science in Physical Therapy.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Shane McClinton, PT, DPT, PhD, about his recently published study, which compared the cost-effectiveness of usual podiatry care plus physical therapy with podiatry care alone in the management of plantar heel pain. Listen as they discuss the inspiration for the study, the typical patient experience for those with plantar heel pain, and why it is important for researchers to consider economic analysis studies for physical therapy.
McClinton is co-author of the article “Cost-Effectiveness of Physical Therapist Treatment in Addition to Usual Podiatry Management of Plantar Heel Pain: Economic Evaluation of a Randomized Clinical Trial.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
APTA is ushering in a historic change in physical therapy education: the merger of CAPTE and ABPTRFE into a single integrated accreditation body. This unification will streamline processes, reduce burdens on programs, and strengthen quality across the entire education continuum — from entry-level through residency and fellowship. In this podcast, APTA President Kyle Covington, PT, DPT, PhD, speaks with leaders guiding the transition about why now is the right time, how the merger supports innovation, and what it means for students, educators, and the future of our profession.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Andrew Hogan, PhD, about his recently published perspective on the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education standard requiring that at least 50% of core faculty in all physical therapist education programs hold an academic doctorate of PhD, EdD, or ScD. They discuss the history of the standard, why it could be a barrier to entry for faculty, and how academic physical therapy is unique compared to other fields.
Hogan is the author of the article “Credentialism and Barriers to Entry: A Historical and Sociological Analysis of the CAPTE 50 Percent Requirement for Physical Therapy Faculty With Academic Doctorates.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
In this episode of the APTA Podcast, Justin Elliott, vice president of government affairs at APTA, and William Boissonnault, PT, DPT, DHSc, FAPTA, discuss APTA’s recent report on direct access to PT services. Boissonnault, a key contributor to the report, discusses the purpose of the report, its significance in today’s physical therapy profession and health care system, and how this evidence can be utilized to promote direct access policies at every level.
Don't miss this informative discussion on the state of direct access and the importance of advocacy in the physical therapy profession.
- Join the APTA Advocacy Network and read all the latest advocacy news.
- From the episode: Read APTA’s “State of Direct Access to Physical Therapist Services” report and “The Economic Value of Physical Therapy in the United States” report.
- From the episode: Use resources on APTA's consumer information website, ChoosePT.com, to help educate patients about physical therapy and direct access.
- Register for the free APTA Regulatory, Legislative, and Payment Updates Series (2025) for expert insights.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Shawn Farrokhi, PT, PhD, about winning the 2025 APTA Outstanding Research Award for the article “The Influence of Active, Passive, and Manual Therapy Interventions for Low Back Pain on Opioid Prescription and Health Care Utilization.” They discuss why the article was chosen for the award, how the Military Health System Repository was used as a data source, and how the study has impacted practice and patient care.
The APTA Outstanding Research Award encourages the publication of outstanding physical therapy research articles, including both foundational and clinical research impacting practice and patient care. Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn for more research updates.
A brief introduction from the leadership of the academy.
Jason Lau, PT, DPT, interviews Jamie Grigsby, PT, DPT, and Melissa Lazinski, PT, DPT, DHSc, with APTA Hand & Upper Extremityat APTA CSM in Houston.
Visit the APTA Hand and Upper Extremity website to learn more about the academy. Watch a video of this interview on the APTA Magazine website.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD, FAPTA, about winning the 2025 Jules M. Rothstein Golden Pen Award for Scientific Writing. The Rothstein Golden Pen Award recognizes an author who has demonstrated superior writing skills in one or more articles published in PTJ: Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal and has collaborated with or encouraged others to make similar contributions. Listen as Stevens-Lapsley reflects on her notable article contributions, offers writing advice for the toughest aspects of scientific writing, and discusses how to find the right audience for a paper.
APTA staff expert Rachel Miller, MPH, breaks down the proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and what it means for the physical therapy profession.
Use your voice to make a difference: Visit the APTA Patient Action Center to submit your comments on the proposed rule to CMS. You’ll find an easy-to-use template letter that tells CMS to appropriately value physical therapy codes and to recognize physical therapy as a high-quality, low-cost service that prevents and manages chronic disease.
Learn more about this year’s proposed fee schedule:
- APTA Regulatory, Legislative, and Payment Update webinar, August 2025
- Takeaways From the Proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, Part 1
- Takeaways From the Proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, Part 2 (including an update on the KX modifier)
To learn more about the legislative initiatives that would improve payment and reduce administrative burden for PTs, read about APTA’s ongoing advocacy on payment reforms.
Sign up for the APTA Advocacy Network, a free, members-only service that sends you special legislative updates and action alerts so you're up to speed and ready to act.
Contact APTA’s Advocacy staff via email: advocacy@apta.org.
A brief introduction from the president of the academy.
Thailey Leak, SPT, interviewed APTA Oncology President Chris Wilson, PT, DPT, DScPT, at APTA CSM in Houston. Learn what Wilson says about the skills, settings, and steps to thrive in this specialty. Visit the APTA Oncology website to learn more about the academy. Watch a video of this interview on the APTA Magazine website.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editorial Board Member Shauna Dudley-Javoroski, PT, PhD, talks with Keshrie Naidoo, PT, DPT, EdD, and Diane Jette, PT, DSc, FAPTA, about their recently published perspective titled "An Improvement Science Framework to Advance Sense of Belonging for Physical Therapist Students From Minoritized Backgrounds.” The authors explain how “wicked problems” and “solutionitis” can arise in physical therapist education, discuss how to measure and cultivate a sense of belonging in physical therapist students, and suggest how to use an improvement science framework to face challenges in other education programs.
Read the article on the PTJ website, and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
In this episode, Alice Bell, PT, DPT, senior specialist, health policy and payment, is joined by Wanda Evans, PT, DPT, MHS, senior specialist, health policy and payment, to discuss how APTA advocacy led to Aetna’s decision to provide unrestricted direct access to physical therapist services. Bell and Evans recap the almost decade’s worth of effort by APTA staff to move the needle and ultimately help deliver this significant win for the profession.
This episode also features insights from Laura Keivel, APTA senior specialist, PAC and grassroots, who shares tips and best practices for making the most out of August’s Congressional recess — and any of your interactions with elected officials. Don’t miss this fascinating episode on the importance of relationship-building and advocacy in advancing the profession.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Matthew Schumacher, PT, DPT, DSc, Kyle Cottone, PT, DPT, DSc, and Laura Siviter, PT, DPT, DSc, about their recently published study, which identified six themes related to barriers to clinical practice guideline implementation for low back pain. The authors discuss why they chose a mixed-methods approach, why clinician training and confidence may be a barrier to clinical practice guideline usage, and how clinicians can use clinical practice guidelines to build therapeutic alliances with patients.
Schumacher, Cottone, and Siviter are co-authors of the article "Understanding Barriers to the Use of a Low Back Pain Clinical Practice Guideline in Physical Therapist Practice: A Mixed-Methods Approach.” Read the article on the PTJ website, and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
In this episode, Colleen Ward, PT, DPT, board-certified clinical specialist in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy, chats with three fellow APTA members about their experiences becoming board-certified clinical specialists. They share how earning certification has transformed their careers and the different paths they took to achieve it. Additionally, they offer advice for anyone considering certification.
Since February 1985, when podcast panelist Meryl Cohen, PT, DPT, MS, FAPTA, and her peers, Linda Crane, PT, and Scot Irwin, PT, DPT, became the first physical therapists to achieve advanced specialist certification, this credential has been opening doors for thousands of professionals in the field.
After listening to the episode, visit these resources to learn more:
· APTA Specialist Certification Governed by ABPTS website and its “Become an ABPTS-Certified Specialist” page
· APTA Report: "A Physical Therapy Profile: Wages for the Profession, 2021-22"
· A Brief History: The First Specialist Certification Exams Held
A brief introduction from the president of the academy.
Annabelle Hu, SPT, a first-year student at University of Southern California Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, interviews Stephanie Woelfel, PT, DPT, president of APTA Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology & Wound Management at APTA CSM in Houston. Learn more about these two clinical specialties that both reward curiosity and problem-solving.
Visit the APTA Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology & Wound Management website to learn more about the academy. Watch a video of this interview on the APTA Magazine website.
In this episode, Rachel Miller, MPH, APTA health policy and payment specialist, shares key updates on the organization's advocacy efforts over the past few months. Discover how APTA is working to reduce administrative burdens in physical therapy, address inefficiencies in Medicare and Medicaid policy, and tackle commercial payer issues.
This episode also features insights from APTA's Harker Intern, Alvin Osorio Flores, SPT, who shares his journey and experiences within the advocacy team. Don't miss this informative discussion on the importance of advocacy in the physical therapy profession.
- Join the APTA Advocacy Network and read all the latest advocacy news.
- Read articles on APTA's efforts to reduce administrative burdens and address TRICARE payment issues.
- Register for the free APTA Regulatory, Legislative, and Payment Updates Series (2025) for expert insights.
- Explore internship opportunities available at APTA.
A brief introduction from the president of the academy.
Britton Farnum, PT, DPT, interviews Mary Jane Rapport, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, president of APTA Pediatrics. Learn what Rapport says about the skills, settings, and steps to thrive in this specialty.
Visit the APTA Pediatrics website to learn more about the academy. Watch a video of this interview on the APTA Magazine website.
In this podcast, APTA Ethics and Judicial Committee member Rebecca Edgeworth Ditwiler, PT, DPT, PhD, asks three experts about the most pressing ethical issues related to artificial intelligence, one of the most rapidly evolving frontiers in health care. They provide insights about data privacy, bias, informed consent, and more.
The EJC recently wrote two columns in APTA Magazine related to AI ethics: one on unveiling and shaping AI technologies and another on exploring AI ethics within the five roles of physical therapy.
Read more about common and emerging ethical issues facing PTs, PTAs, and students in APTA Magazine's “Ethics in Practice” series.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Sally Mastwyk, PT, MPhysio, and Casey Peiris, PT, PhD, about their recently published study, in which 230 participants received a 30-minute health screen in physical therapy private practices in Australia to determine the feasibility of physical therapists conducting client health screening with point-of-care testing. The authors discuss how they implemented the study in a network of private practice clinics, why they chose the three outcomes of acceptability, demand, and practicality, and how they can determine effectiveness in future research.
Mastwyk and Peiris are co-authors of the article, "Metabolic Health Screening in Physical Therapy Private Practice in Australia: A Feasibility Study.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
A brief introduction from the president of the academy.
Conner Murphy, SPT, interviewed APTA Pelvic Health President Darla Cathcart, PT, DPT, PhD, at APTA CSM in Boston. Learn what a day in the life of a pelvic health physical therapist looks like and advice for exploring this specialty.
Visit the APTA Pelvic Health website to learn more about the academy. Watch a video of this interview on the APTA Magazine website.
Elizabeth Pimentel, PT, MA, recalls a memorable patient and her struggles to make peace with the patient’s untimely death.Access the article on the APTA Magazine webpage for photos and to learn more about this episode’s speaker.
In March, the American Physical Therapy Association published a workforce forecast in PTJ that used original survey data to project shortages in physical therapists through 2037. Listen as Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with authors Timothy Dall, MS, and Tara Manal, PT, DPT, FAPTA, about the different data sources used for the report, what a microsimulation is as an approach, and some strategic interventions that could help address the projected shortfall.
Dall and Manal are co-authors of the article "Current and Projected Future Supply and Demand for Physical Therapists From 2022 to 2037: A New Approach Using Microsimulation.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
To learn more, sign up now for an APTA Live event, “Understanding the APTA Workforce Forecast Model: Insights and Discussion with Authors,” on May 1 at 10:30 a.m. ET, in person (limited availability) or online.
In this episode, entrepreneur and APTA member Odell Miller, PT, DPT, interviews APTA Vice President of Strategic Affairs Drew Contreras, PT, DPT. They talk about starting a business, how new technologies are rapidly changing the profession, and ways PTs can take care of themselves to avoid burnout.
During the episode, Contreras referenced ChoosePT.com, APTA’s consumer website. Learn more about APTA’s work to support the profession at apta.org.
Interested in how large language models compare against clinicians? Listen as Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Yael Arbel, PT, MHA, Yoav Gimmon, PT, PhD, and Liora Shmueli, PhD, about their recently published study, which tested the performance of ChatGPT and Google Gemini against 30 physical therapists and 30 physical therapist students on 20 multiple-choice questions about vestibular rehabilitation. The authors discuss the impact of prompt engineering, the potential for studies with other large language models, and the importance of human expertise when integrating new technological tools.
Arbel, Gimmon, and Shmueli are co-authors of the article "Evaluating the Potential of Large Language Models for Vestibular Rehabilitation Education: A Comparison of ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Clinicians.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
A brief introduction from the president of the academy.
Corry Brinken, PT, DPT, interviewed APTA Orthopaedic President Bob Rowe, PT, DPT, DMT, MHS, at APTA CSM 2024 in Boston. Learn how Rowe says students can best prepare for a career in orthopedics.
Visit the APTA Orthopaedic website to learn more about the academy. Watch a video of this interview on the APTA Magazine website.
In this episode, we check in on both state and federal advocacy efforts to prioritize patients' access to physical therapy and support PTs and PTAs throughout their careers. We look back on key wins from 2024, while also looking ahead to what the rest of 2025 might have in store.
To learn more, join the APTA Advocacy Network and read more on apta.org:
· Policy Principles for Outpatient Therapy Reform under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
· APTA News: Congress Fails to Address Medicare Fee Schedule in Continuing Resolution
· APTA Advocacy Delivers 2 Major Wins in 2025 Fee Schedule
· Position Paper: The Prevent Interruptions In Physical Therapy Act
· Position Paper: Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly Act
· APTA News: APTA Chapters Fuel State-Level Wins in 2024
· APTA State Advocacy Map
· APTA Regulatory, Legislative, and Payment Updates Series (2025)
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Amee Seitz, PT, DPT, PhD, and Kyle Strickland, PT, DPT, about their recently published perspective, which presents a modified emergency department treatment-based classification system for low back pain with three case examples. Listen as the authors discuss the “origin story” of the algorithm, how the emergency department creates a unique setting for physical therapy, and why patients may be more open to trying nondrug treatment options.
Seitz and Strickland are co-authors of the article "Application of Algorithm-Based Treatment Approach to Low Back Pain in the Emergency Department.” Read the articles on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
Emily Berthelette, PT, DPT, examines what it's been like on the patient side of PT services. Access the article on the APTA Magazine webpage for photos and to learn more about this episode’s speaker.
A brief introduction from the president of the academy.
Brett Traeger, PT, DPT, interviewed American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy President Mike Reinold, PT, DPT, ATC, at APTA CSM in Boston. Learn what Reinold has to say about finding your niche as a sports PT and how mentorship plays a big role in their specialty.
Visit the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy’s website to learn more about the academy. Watch a video of this interview on the APTA Magazine website.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Nicole Tombers, PT, DPT, about her recently published article, which used data from the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service to compare influences on applications to doctor of physical therapy programs between applicants who identified as white and applicants who identified as Black, American Indian, Asian, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander. George and Tombers discuss how the DPT application is structured, what is included in a holistic narrative analysis approach, and what factors draw applicants to the field of physical therapy.
Tombers is co-author of the article “Influence of Race and Ethnicity on Application to Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs.” Read the article on the PTJ website, and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Alexander Garbin, PT, DPT, PhD, and Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD, FAPTA, about their recently published companion papers, which evaluated the effectiveness of a progressive multicomponent intervention for older adults in home health settings across three comparison groups. Listen as the authors discuss the pragmatic aspects of the trials, how the second study illustrates the importance of design and interpretation of control groups, and how early career researchers interested in conducting their own clinical trials can get started.
Garbin and Stevens-Lapsley are co-authors of the articles “Progressive Multicomponent Intervention for Older Adults in Home Health Settings Following Hospitalization: Randomized Clinical Trial” and “Improving Function in Older Adults With Hospital-Associated Deconditioning: Lessons Learned Comparing a Randomized Controlled Trial to Real World Practice.” Read the articles on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.
A brief introduction from the president of the academy.
Grace Cioffi, PT, DPT, interviewed APTA Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy’s Gillian McLean, PT, DPT, at APTA CSM in Boston. Learn what McLean says makes this specialty unique and how students can get involved in the academy.
Visit the APTA Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy’s website to learn more about the academy. Watch a video of this interview on the APTA Magazine website.
Jasmine Blocker, PT, DPT, learned perseverance and determination after failing out of — and subsequently being reinstated into — PT school. Access the article on the APTA Magazine webpage for photos and to learn more about this episode’s speaker.
In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George talks with Jason Silvernail about his perspective paper on defining orthopaedic manual physical therapy (OMPT) as a subspecialty of the profession. Learn about the “all-star” author team behind the article, what it was like to publish in PTJ: Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal, and why now is the time to classify OMPT for future studies. Silvernail is co-author of the article "Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy: A Modern Definition and Description." Read the article on the PTJ website.
Moral spaces provide a safe harbor in perilous waters.
In this podcast, APTA Ethics and Judicial Committee member Becca Edgeworth Ditwiler, PT, DPT, interviews Ruth Purtilo, PT, PhD, FAPTA, and Gail Jensen, PT, PhD, FAPTA, about the importance of building moral communities to guide decision-making in today’s challenging health care environment.
Read Purtilo’s McMillan Lecture about ethics in a shifting landscape.
Read more about common and emerging ethical issues facing PTs, PTAs, and students in APTA Magazine’s Ethics in Practice series, written by EJC members.
A brief introduction from the president of the academy.
Faith Majors-Culp, SPT, interviewed APTA Geriatrics President Cathy Ciolek, PT, DPT, FAPTA, at APTA CSM in Boston. Learn what Ciolek says makes this specialty unique and how to reframe thinking about older adults.
Visit the APTA Geriatrics website to learn more about the academy.
Watch a video of this interview on the APTA Magazine website.
APTA staff experts discuss highlights from the proposed 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: Cuts, but also potential good news around misvalued codes, PTA supervision, telehealth, and more.
Mental health resources, new PTJ content for PTs and PTAs. Visit apta.org/podcasts for links mentioned in this episode.
While softball may have led a PT to her physical therapy career, physical therapy led her to a welcome softball side effect.
Presenters for an APTA online course on Long COVID talk about why you should tune in or download.
A patient’s permanent reminder of her physical therapist’s instruction left an indelible mark on both of them.
Stay on top of developments in PT practice: APTA staff experts on new learning opportunities, the latest clinical practice guidelines available, and exactly what’s meant by the term “digital health.” Also, the importance of taking care of yourself.
Hear what APTA President Roger Herr, PT, MPA, has to say about where the profession is, and what it will take to pursue our full potential.
A former newscaster trades the thrill of chasing down a story for the higher satisfaction of improving patients’ lives.
Physical therapists working with people with long COVID should measure and validate the patient’s experience.
Physical therapists working with people with long COVID should measure and validate the patient’s experience.
Chase Kuhn, PT, DPT, and Nate Thomas, PT, DPT, didn’t know each other a few months ago, but once introduced they realized they have a few things in common. Both PTs from the midwest, both having been selected as the APTA Harker Intern within APTA’s Government Affairs department, and serving as APTA Student Assembly Board … Continue reading A Shared Experience: Members Discuss Their Professional Experience in Advocacy
A home visit to a patient with an intriguing background leads a PT back to the profession.
A PT student understands that helping a patient is more than furnishing billable service units.
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes play an important role in describing services and procedures performed by health care providers and ultimately in the payment for those services. This podcast reveals the role that APTA member volunteers play as advisors in the CPT and The Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) process.
Physical therapists working with people with long COVID should measure and validate the patient’s experience.
PTJ walks you through the complexities around multiparticipant therapy provision in SNFs.
A volunteer guideline development group of the American Physical Therapy Association has developed a clinical practice guideline on Parkinson disease.
Actions both small and heroic as a “yellow jacket” in an NYU summer program prompted a career in physical therapy. By: Gary Krasilovsky, PT, PhD
This updated Integrated Framework for making clinical decisions responds to changes in evidence, policy, and practice.
In this discussion, a panel of physical therapists on the front lines of shaping clinical practice share their plans for creating knowledge translation tools for the Parkinson CPG and their goals for implementation into practice, and more.
This learning health system can serve as a blueprint for physical therapists to make optimal use of routinely collected clinical data for improving care for patients with a variety of conditions.
A light came on not only in a dark hospital basement but in a future PT’s head that this was her ideal career. By Linda Pillow, PT
A PT recalls overcoming her own obstacles to become a board-certified orthopaedic clinical specialist and help others reach their goals. By Natalie Snyder, PT, DPT
A light came on not only in a dark hospital basement but in a future PT’s head that this was her ideal career.
Janet R Bezner, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, discusses simple, actionable items related to your personal and professional well-being as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.
The future of health care professional education is moving from a focus on the individual to embrace the health of the larger society. Read the PTJ article
With many state legislatures now or soon to be in session, now’s the time to get up-to-speed on what’s happening in physical therapy advocacy at the state level. Topics covered include direct access, the physical therapy compact, telehealth, and more.
The first wave of this study’s findings provides insights into physical therapist education and identified differences between physical therapist and medical student perceptions. Read PTJ Article.
The pandemic has affected physical therapy professionals in many ways, including mentally and financially. PTs and PTAs, be prepared for the federal loan repayment to start up again, and how to give yourself permission to spend on the fun stuff.
Get answers to questions specifically directed at nutritional needs of a busy clinician. Learn how to best hydrate your body, what quick snacks, herbs and spices pack the most nutritional punch, plus great fermented foods, and how to figure out if you’re having healthy bowel movements.
Racism exists throughout the organizations and systems that make up the physical therapy profession in the United States. Statements of support must be substantiated by actions that drive change throughout physical therapy organizations. Read PTJ: Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal article.
The author of a recent study, “Moral Injury Signified by Levels of Moral Distress and Burnout in Health Science Clinical Educators” answers questions and defines moral injury and how it relates to burnout, and more specifically how both experiences affect physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who serve as clinical instructors.
Knowing the risk of harm associated with exercise can better inform safe dosing of exercise, clinical implementation, and replicability. Read the PTJ: Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal article.
Join Brian Gilbert, PT, MSPT, and Paul White, PhD, psychologist and co-author of the book “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace,” as they discuss the value of expressing appreciation in ways that tell employees and colleagues you really mean it.
As Congress attends to business in the last days before recess for the year, there are several important issues on the table, including a bill to address the fee schedule cuts, and legislation aimed at the PTA differential. Here’s a rundown of where things stand, and what you can do to help urge Congress to … Continue reading Advocacy Update: Payment Cuts, PTA Differential, and Other Issues in the Last Weeks of 2021
Listen to PTJ’s author interview with Anneleen Malfliet on the why and how of integrating weight reduction with chronic pain management. https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/101/11/pzab198/6352462
Learn about the benefits of adding bicycling to your life, the challenges you may face, and how to overcome them.
PTJ talks with author Phoebe Simpson about biopsychosocial treatment for pain. https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/101/10/pzab188/6330890
The Core App by Hyperice is a mindfulness meditation app grounded in science and driven by data. It’s designed to help you find calm, improve focus, and flex your inner strength to seize the day without it ever seizing you. Learn how this app can help you.
A former ballet dancer sought a more meaningful career that still would keep her on her toes. By Geri Ann Sokell, PT, DPT, MEd.
PTJ talks about predicting low back pain improvement improvement. Read the article at https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/101/10/pzab176/6326850
APTA Fit for Practice, powered by Hyperice, is designed to help you recover, evolve, and remain resilient as we move forward into a postpandemic workplace. This episode provides a high-level overview of the initiative, what you can expect, and more.
Defining moments can come more than once, a move to America, the birth of a baby, starting a practice, and a being thrown a curveball.
APTA’s monthly advocacy and regulatory update has expanded to cover commercial payment issues! In this episode: how the commercial insurance industry is altering the course of telehealth for PTs and PTAs, the evolution of utilization management (and APTA’s impact on that evolution), and advice on addressing challenges with payers.
PTJ talks with Pamela Dunlap about fear-avoidance beliefs and how measurement of those beliefs can help clinicians identify people at a greater risk of disability after vestibular disorder. “We had hypothesized that fear-avoidance would be associated with symptom burden, function, quality of life, disability, and psychological distress,” Dunlap says, but until the development of the … Continue reading Vestibular Disorders: Fear-Avoidance Beliefs and Perceived Disability
See the history of the physical therapy profession in a different light! Editor-in-Chief Alan Jette, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with David Nicholls, author of PTJ’s latest history essay and of the controversial 2017 book titled “The End of Physiotherapy.”
Have you ever stopped to think about your bias? In ways big and small, we all express bias, but it’s up to us to meet our bias with awareness, empathy, and with inclusivity in mind. In this discussion, we’ll talk about these themes and more with physical therapist and educator Brian Wilkinson, PT, DPT, who … Continue reading Advancing Inclusion in the Classroom — and Beyond
We’ve wrapped up a #FightTheCut virtual rally that brought together PTs, PTAs, and students from across the country to send a clear message to CMS about the flawed 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule it proposed. So where do things stand now? This podcast takes a post-rally look at where we are—and what needs to happen … Continue reading The #FightTheCut Virtual Rally: How Did We Do, and What’s Next?
Listen to this PTJ interview that discusses two recent essays on the history of physical therapy in the military, as well as important and insightful lessons on what can be learned from the military to empower the profession in civilian health care.
APTA’s monthly practice update covers multiple topics from the perspective of what’s happened, what’s hot right now, and what to keep an eye on in the future. In this episode: physical therapists in emergency care, learning center resources, COVID-19, and more.
A physical therapist known to two kids only as “the Exercise Lady” helped both them and their family in a time of need. Pat McAdoo, PT
PTJ Editor-in-Chief Alan Jette, PT, PhD, FAPTA, talks with Kathleen Mangione, PT, PhD, FAPTA, about something critically important to physical therapists but rarely top of mind: treatment fidelity.
Get updates on the proposed Medicare physician fee schedule, what we’re doing to #FightTheCut, and how you can help.
Change is difficult. Those words ring true for most, even for those who consider themselves “change agents,” but change doesn’t have to be negative or a struggle. That’s what we’ll talk about today with Stephanie Kostsuca, PT, DPT.https://www.apta.org/article/2021/03/03/walking-the-walk-of-a-change-agent
It wasn’t until she saw patients with the same rare condition that a PT realized what had been plaguing her own body for years.https://www.apta.org/apta-magazine/2021/08/01/apta-magazine-august-2021/a-lucky-patient-encounter-provides-answers
In June 2020, the American Physical Therapy Association House of Delegates issued a position statement, Support of Emergency Physical Therapist Practice. Despite physical therapists’ knowledge about symptoms and conditions affecting many patients presenting for emergency care, they are not always considered by hospital administrators to be essential to emergency department staffing. In this podcast, APTA … Continue reading Physical Therapy in Emergency Care: A Win-Win for Patients and Hospitals
In a descriptive study that’s already been featured in 14 news stories, Mark Werneke, PT, and colleagues analyzed data on more than 222,000 patients in the Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes database. Werneke and Jette talk in depth about the relatively low use of telerehabilitation in the outpatient population studied.https://academic.oup.com/ptj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ptj/pzab110/6224412
The proposed 2022 Medicare fee schedule is here, and as expected, cuts and the PTA differential are moving forward. Kate Gilliard, APTA senior policy and regulatory affairs specialist, and Justin Elliott, APTA vice president of government affairs, provide an overview of both provisions, plus a look at CMS’ decisions around telehealth for PTs after the … Continue reading An Early Look at the Proposed 2022 Fee Schedule
Director of Communications Lindsay Durand, PT, DPT, of APTA’s Student Assembly Board of Directors, Kelly Quigley, SPT, APTA Student Assembly centennial ambassador, and Gini Blodgett Birchett, MSLS, APTA’s senior information resources specialist, discuss our professional history and take questions from viewers.
This PT encourages others in the profession to expand the bounds of what PTs can be. https://www.apta.org/article/2021/06/10/no-one-way-to-be-a-pt
Every patient is a one in a million. By Kathleen Wild PT, DPT. https://www.apta.org/apta-magazine/2021/07/01/apta-magazine-july-2021/looking-for-the-zebras
In this APTA Live event, we will talk with members of the Cross-Academy/Section COVID-19 Core Outcome Measure Task Force about the physical therapy core outcome measures algorithms they developed — one for adults and one for children.
World Physiotherapy, previously known as the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, recently released a briefing paper and toolkit on safe and effective rehabilitation for individuals with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. APTA member Rebecca Martin, PT, DPT, PhD, who represented APTA in authoring the briefing paper and the toolkit, answers questions about the PT’s role in … Continue reading Safe and Effective Rehabilitation for Long COVID
Dr Dias and his coauthors provide an antidote to the barriers that make it difficult to apply clinical practice guidelines to patients. “There are many inconsistencies in the examination and treatment…[for patients with] heart failure, [and] so often physical therapists have developed their own biases…based on their years of clinical experience,” which present challenges to … Continue reading Help for Clinicians in Applying Clinical Practice Guidelines for Patients With Heart Failure: Author Interview With Dr Konrad Dias
Dr. Jette and the author discuss a range of issues, from the relationship and professional boundaries between physical therapists and dieticians, to practical recommendations for identifying and understanding the behaviors, socioeconomic determinants, and environmental factors that can affect access to proper nutrition. Dr. Berner is coauthor of “Nutrition in Physical Therapist Practice: Setting the Stage … Continue reading Integration of Nutrition in Physical Therapist Practice: An Author Interview with Dr. Patrick Berner
APTA’s monthly advocacy and regulatory update covers multiple topics from the perspective of what’s happened, what’s hot right now, and what to keep an eye on in the future. In this episode: lawmakers focus on the PTA differential, a big telehealth win, a bill to relieve administrative burden in Medicare Advantage, and more.
A PT reflects on opening a clinic in an underserved neighborhood. https://www.apta.org/apta-magazine/2021/06/01/apta-magazine-june-2021/i-see-me-in-you
A mindful pause allows us to reflect and make conscious decisions that spark transformation and help us promote our emotional well-being. Podcast with Monica Jain, PT, DPT. Read the article at https://www.apta.org/article/2021/05/24/mindfulness-just-what-the-pt-ordered
A recent large-scale study of postacute care sponsored by APTA and AOTA has the potential to change the conversation on payment in these settings. This podcast takes a closer look at the TOPS study findings with Jason Falvey, PT, DPT, PhD, who served as an advisor on the study’s methodology and analysis.
This May installment of APTA’s monthly advocacy and regulatory roundup focuses on SNF and IRF rules, a sequestration win, telehealth, and more.
Could a massive new study change the conversation on payment in postacute care settings? The research, involving 1.4 million episodes of rehab in SNFs, IRFs, and home health agencies, has major implications for discussions about a one-size-fits-all policy approaches.
In this episode, experts explore how the mind and body intersect in the healing process, and how physical therapists and physical therapist assistants can provide better patient care by understanding the body’s response to stress and trauma.
After years of working with patients, Sara DeMars, PT, DPT, has learned the power that words and word choice can have when working with patients. Sara believes that through being aware of our verbal communication and avoiding broad language we can actually make a big impact when it comes to patient care. Here’s our discussion … Continue reading The Power of Words
A hospital PT finds meaning in a visit with a patient with COVID-19. Read the article at: https://www.apta.org/apta-magazine/2021/05/01/apta-magazine-may-2021/a-brief-but-meaningful-encounter
APTA Student Assembly Board of Directors, Director of Communications, Lindsay Durand, SPT, talks with Alex Macielak from Laurel Road and Kevin Soehner from Enrich about what you need to know about your financial wellness, student debt and refinancing, spending habits, and more.
Find it hard to keep up with what’s happening on Capitol Hill, in Medicare, and other regulatory arenas? You’re not alone. Now you can get up-to-speed, fast: APTA offers a podcast-based roundup of what’s going on, and what our panel of staff experts says needs to be on your radar. We cover multiple topics from … Continue reading Regulatory and Advocacy Update, April 2021
In this conversation with Editor-in-Chief Alan Jette, Dr. Keil notes that the evidence supporting direct access is now clear and that data indicate that physical therapists refer for imaging less often and use it more appropriately than other first-contact providers.https://academic.oup.com/ptj/pages/podcasts#36e2ce14316c8af4f11a
While one-to-one care is the main focus of most physical therapy providers, looking at the health of a population — however you define it — can reveal patterns and obstacles that can be addressed.
Editor-in-Chief Alan Jette gets at the practical—and ethical—realities involved in studying children. Dr. Harbourne shares insights from her decades of research with children, on such topics as parents’ insistence on usual care. What is the take-home message for early interventionists? It might surprise you. https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/101/2/pzaa232/6056331
Two PT students share their experiences in the times of COVID-19. We also talk about mental health and stress — all of which aren’t new to PT and PTA students but may be different or heightened due to the pandemic.
Interview with Dr. Sandra Hon on her study—which found that direct access to physical therapy is more cost-effective than physician-first access in the United States, with greater functional improvement–in the context of current and especially pandemic-related economic realities. https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article-abstract/101/1/pzaa201/5999910?redirectedFrom=fulltext
In this podcast, we take closer look at the information blocking rule: where it came from, who it affects, how it works, and what it means for PTs and PTAs.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased the number of patients seeking physical therapist services via telehealth. This paradigm shift will improve access to care, but it also brings change.
This podcast focuses on panelists’ experiences as internationally educated physical therapists working with recruiters, and how elements of the APTA House of Delegates guideline “Recruiting and Hiring Internationally Educated Physical Therapists” were put into practice and resulted in a good experience.
As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available and distribution plans vary by state, APTA Practice and Regulatory Affairs staff and members will discuss the latest updates on vaccine distribution, access, and administration.
Physical therapy has an important role in addressing the challenges of a devastating disease.
Dr. Sahrmann elaborates on her thought-provoking Point of View in a conversation that acknowledges some of the differences of opinion and controversies surrounding this vital topic.
Lindsay Durand, SPT, APTA Student Assembly director of communications, and Tonya Olson, MSPT, DPT, discuss the benefits of online learning, hybrid education, and how to make the most of your virtual learning experiences.
In this episode we talk to Chris Lane, PT, DPT, is a PhD and Louise Thoma, PT, DPT, PhD about their career journeys, things to consider when pursuing a PhD, both personally and professionally, and advice they’d give to those interested in this professional path. Here’s our discussion.
Learn from PTAs who have taken the lead on navigating through their careers and finding rewarding pathways to professional success.
Zach Waltson, PT, DPT, is an avid reader who is continuously learning, seeking to grow and reflect, and ultimately striving be the best clinician and mentor he can be. In this episode, Zach shares his message to seek out more information, identify bias and limitations when they exist, find mentors, and reflect on experiences whenever … Continue reading Maximizing Your Potential as a Professional
In this episode, Cameron Massumi, PT, DPT talks about how he reassessed his career goals and journey, how this year forced him to be creative and innovative, and he gives tips for listeners to consider when things don’t go according to your plan.
Listen to this update advocacy efforts to stop the cut, recently introduced legislation, and learn why it is still imperative to continue to take action.
In a conversation from his current station in South Korea, Major Eric Walter, PT, DPT talks about how he decided to become a physical therapist in the military, what his day-to-day is like, and why serving as a military PT is different than in the civilian world.
Join your host Yusra Iftikhar, PT, DPT, Director of Communications, APTA Student Assembly for a discussion on the topics of body dysmorphia, body image, and physical therapy treatment with guests Krystyna Holland, PT, DPT, and Ivana Salazar Fryer, PTA, BS, RYT
Learn how you can take action, and why it matters. With PTA Caucus Delegate, Jodi Pfeiffer, chats with Kara Gainer, APTA director of regulatory affairs, and Justin Elliot, APTA vice president of government affairs.
In this installment in our DEI Discussion series we focus on pathways to leadership. We discuss how to create pathways, how to facilitate them through mentorship, and the ways volunteers can support structures and groups that keep those pathways open into the future.
Becoming a U.S.-licensed PT, for someone who has attained entry-level education internationally is a feat. Learn about these challenges and how you can make a difference.
In this episode, Heidi Moyer, PT, DPT, shares what she’s learned through her years working on teams and gives tips for successful team work.
Join us as we talk to Ashley Johnson, PT, DPT, and Craig Phifer, PT, MHA, about starting a practice and innovative ways to run a business.
The second installment of our DEI Discussions series focuses on the career “pipeline” and equity.
Sean Bagbey, PTA, ATC, MHA, and Kacey Kline, PTA, BS, discuss the role of the PTA and the value they offer to the profession. They also discussed the implications of COVID-19, the looming budget cuts from CMS, and the job outlook for the profession.
Student success and today’s students as the future of the profession with guest, Alex Koszalinski, PT, DPT, PhD, Assistant Dean and Director of Curriculum, Doctor of Physical Therapy at South College.
Christine Davidson, PT, DPT, and Nanako Barry, PTA, CBIS, won the APTA Outstanding PT-PTA Team Award for their exceptional teamwork and collaboration and share their model for success and answer your questions.
APTA’s first in a series of discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion. This discussion focused on race and racism in physical therapy.
Enacted in 2017, the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact was created to increase consumer access to physical therapist services by reducing regulatory barriers to interstate mobility and cross–state practice. With T.J. Cantwell from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
Serving patients where they live, through a different practice model. By Mollie Hope, PT, DPT.
As we move through life, we are confronted by moments, unexpected and unplanned, that can change us forever, if only we allow them to do so. By Ann W. Jackson, PT, DPT, MPH
Jason Falvey, PT, DPT, PhD, lays out key challenges facing the physical therapy profession, key research priorities, and key opportunities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reducing risk of avoidable hospitalization, helping offload the emergency department, and meeting post discharge rehabilitation demand for survivors of COVID-19.https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/100/7/1058/5820965
Dr. Hunter and Dr. Jette share some of the experiences and insights of the total knee arthroplasty (TKA) guideline development group, including the comprehensive and systematic process used, the amount and quality of evidence analyzed, and the way in which the group approached recommendations when evidence was insufficient for a particular intervention.
Experts Katie Lucas, PT, DPT, Sarah Reinking, PT, DPT, and James Zachazewski, PT, ATC, DPT discuss injury prevention concerns, COVID-19 and safe practice and play considerations, and gave recommendations for preparation and implementation of sports activities in the upcoming phases of reopening.
Life as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant student is busy, stressful, and demanding, even in the most normal scenario. Now, add a global pandemic to the mix. As many of us are scrambling to figure out clinical assignments, watching lectures on zoom, and trying to study from our couches, we want to take a moment to talk about mental health and self-care, with Yusra Iftikhar, DPT.
Scott McAfee, PT, DPT, talks about discovering one’s value as a professional, how to market yourself to an employer, and how knowing the basics of marketing and business can go far when it comes to patient and community interaction.
Madison Kirkpatrick, SPT, Howe Wang, SPT, and your host, Yusra Iftikhar, DPT, discuss gender and sexual diversity, equity, and inclusion in the physical therapy profession.
Listen as three physical therapists discuss the topic of allyship in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and share their personal stories about the Black student experience.
A little more than 30 years ago, Scott Giles, PT, DPT, was fresh out of physical therapy school and decided he wanted to create study resources for the professional licensure exam. Along with his wife, Tracy, they eventually founded Scorebuilders.
As the country moves to reopen gradually, rules, regulations, policies, and recommendations are swiftly being amended, but valid concerns remain about how to safely run an outpatient facility during a pandemic. Members had an opportunity to ask questions of APTA staff and colleagues in the spaces of physical therapy and infection control to assist with facilitating evidence-based safety precautions and best practices as outpatient facilities remain open, and reopen. http://www.apta.org/Courses/20/5/29/COVID-19/
For PTs and PTAs, the two never have been more closely intertwined. By Carrie Hall, PT, MHS
In this podcast we speak with financial experts Kevin Soehner from Enrich and Alexander Macielak, Laurel Road. APTA is committed to providing physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, students, and prospective students, with valuable tools and information to help you make the best financial decisions possible