Foundation for Physical Therapy

Learn more about the upcoming 1-day conference, “ Face Into the Storm: Gaining the System Skills Needed to Succeed in the Changing Health Care Environment”, co-sponsored by APTA and Boston University’s Health & Disability Research Institute. The event, to be held June 7 in Boston, continues the dialog initiated by Alan Jette, PT, PhD, in his 2012 McMillian Lecture on the need to boldly tackle the challenges of the new century. These challenges include a health care system that is increasingly data driven, and where reimbursement is tied to coordination of care and performance. To meet these challenges, physical therapists must develop critical systems skills to collect and examine clinical data to determine what works for which conditions, for which patients and in different settings in order to improve clinical practice and meet reimbursement requirements. The conference agenda includes a combination of key didactic presentations, case examples of innovative programs, and opportunities for discussion among attendees. Members interested in systems to collect and examine clinical data can attend in-person or via webcast. Registration closes May 17.

An essay by Caitlin Burbank, SPT a 2012-2013 Pittsburgh-Marquette Challenge participant.

I got involved in research completely by accident. I was finishing pre-requisites to apply to PT school when, on a whim, I applied for a research assistant job.  I was hired on to track functional recovery of patients who had undergone nerve transfer surgeries, and through that experience was able to win a research assistant scholarship for the duration of my DPT education at Washington University in St. Louis.  I work in the Neurorehabilitation Lab, which is run by Dr. Catherine Lang and is focused on rehabilitation of patients who have suffered a stroke.  Most of my time is spent working on the Brain Recovery Core, which is an effort to streamline the continuum of care between the acute hospital, the rehabilitation hospital, and outpatient physical therapy for these patients.  My experiences in the lab have not only convinced me that this a population I hope to work with throughout my career, but also of the importance of research in helping to determine therapeutic goals, prognosis, and functional ability in patients with stroke. I have found that  physical therapy research is imperative to furthering our profession as a whole, and making sure that physical therapists have the best possible evidence with which to make clinical decisions.

Working on the WUPT Run For Research was a great fit for me. I have always been a runner, and volunteering for this event my first year of PT school was a great way for me to support something I care about with something I love to do. Becoming the student coordinator in my second year was a daunting task—I had no experience in putting on this type of event! But even with no experience, I found that making an event like this successful is possible if you do three things:  1. Get a great committee. I had an amazing group of students in my class that worked on the event, and it cannot be done without the help of others. 2. Get started EARLY! We did most of our fundraising and planning six months before the event, and because of that had very few, “freak out moments” the week of. 3. Involve the community. We did our best to advertise outside of the Washington University community as well as within it. There are plenty of local businesses that are happy to support you and donate, but you have to get out there and ask!  The bottom line is, events like these are fun and easy to coordinate if you stay organized, and it is fulfilling to know that your school has helped contribute to the Foundation for Physical Therapy, which provides so much support to our colleagues across the country.

The Shoes4Kids program, providing underprivileged and under-served children with both brand new and brand name youth athletic footwear, will be visiting several locations in Salt Lake City, Utah during APTA’s Conference and Exposition, June 26-29, 2013. Shoes4Kids goal is to acquire 1,500 pairs of shoes and socks by June 1, 2013 to meet the needs of children in Salt Lake City. To see how you can help, click here to learn more!

Greetings! We are Mallory Fetta and Amanda Theisinger, the Student Coordinators from Marquette University.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Marquette Challenge!  It is a great year to be involved as we are aiming to raise $200,000 to help reach a total of $2.5 million raised in 25 years of the Marquette Challenge. Accepting the Challenge and joining efforts to raise money for the Foundation allows PT and PTA programs from around the country to work together to raise the bar in terms of quality of research and research in practice. By participating in the Challenge, PT and PTA students have the opportunity to develop professionalism, raise awareness of physical therapy, help further our profession through supporting research and evidence-based practice, and network with some of the most distinguished physical therapists in the country.

As coordinators for the Challenge, we look forward to celebrating this milestone year with you at the Foundation’s Annual Gala on Thursday, June 27, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The winners of the 2012-2013 Challenge will be announced and all participating schools will receive national recognition for the countless fundraising efforts carried out this past year. The Foundation’s Annual Gala provides a unique experience to share a mutual appreciation for the esteemed physical therapy researchers advancing our profession and the students who have contributed to the research through their funding efforts. This year we will also get to see how far we have come in the past 25 years. We cannot wait to see you there!

Section on Geriatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association has donated $50,000 to the Foundation, allocating $25,000 toward the Marilyn Moffat Endowment Fund for Geriatric Research and $25,000 toward the Center of Excellence for Health Services/Health Policy Research.

Click here to read the full press release.

The Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association (WPTA) has introduced a new matching gift program as part of their annual fundraising efforts. The WPTA will contribute up to $10,000 to the Foundation, matching donations they receive for the WPTA Legacy Endowment during 2013.

If you have been considering joining or renewing your membership in the WPTA Legacy Society, NOW is the time!

WPTA donation form

HPSO/CNA has renewed its membership in the Foundation for Physical Therapy’s Partners in Research program as a Gold Level Partner. In addition, Biodex Medical Systems and Parker Laboratories, Inc, will continue their partnerships with the Foundation as Bronze Level Sponsors. The Partners in Research program recognizes corporate donors and sponsorships that support the Foundation’s mission to provide doctoral scholarships, fellowships, and research grants to emerging physical therapist researchers.

Click here to read full press releases.

The Foundation for Physical Therapy takes great pleasure in announcing its 2013 Service Award recipients. Every year the Foundation recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting the Foundation and advancing our mission to fund physical therapy research.

The Foundation is delighted to present awards to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA); the Wisconsin Chapter, APTA; Daniel Riddle, PT, PhD, FAPTA; and Jayne Snyder, PT, DPT, MA, FAPTA (posthumously), for their contributions to the Foundation. The Foundation will also be honoring outgoing Foundation board members Patricia Traynor, PT, Philip Vierling, MBA, and Charles T. Wetherington for their service.

Click here to read full press release.

The Foundation for Physical Therapy has appointed two new board members, Helene Fearon, PT, FAPTA, and Ruthann “Randy” Roesch, PT, DPT, MBA.

“The Foundation is honored to welcome both Helene and Randy to the Board of Trustees. Their combined knowledge, expertise, and passion for advancing the
profession will be a great asset for the Foundation,” said Foundation Board of Trustees President William G. Boissonnault, PT, DPT, DHSc, FAPTA, FAAOMPT.

Click Here to read full press release.

DJO Global Inc renewed its membership in the Foundation for Physical Therapy’s Partners in Research program as a Platinum Level Partner, with a donation of $25,000. The Partners in Research program recognizes corporate donors and sponsorships that support the Foundation’s mission to provide doctoral scholarships, fellowships, and research grants to emerging physical therapist researchers.

Click here to read full press release.