American Physical Therapy Association

Last updated
American Physical Therapy Association
Formation1921
Type Professional association
Headquarters Alexandria, Virginia, US
Location
  • United States
Membership>100,000 (as of 2023)
Official language
English
President
Roger Herr, PT, MPA
Key people
CEO: Justin Moore, PT, DPT
Staff180
Website https://www.apta.org/

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is an American individual membership professional organization representing more than 100,000 member physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students of physical therapy. The nonprofit association, based in Alexandria, Virginia, seeks to improve the health and quality of life of individuals in society by advancing physical therapist practice, education, and research, and by increasing the awareness and understanding of physical therapy's role in the nation's health care system. [1]

Contents

APTA annually holds two large conferences and publishes the Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal, the leading international journal for research in physical therapy and related fields, [2] and APTA Magazine, a professional issues magazine providing legislative, health care, human interest, and association news. [3]

APTA also advocates on behalf of the profession and for issues which impact the health and well being of society such as funding for health research and for an adequate health care workforce. It lobbies for health care reform to improve access to health care. [4]

History

APTA originally formed in 1921 as the American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association. The association was first led by President Mary McMillan, and an executive committee of elected officers governed the Association, which included 274 charter members. In 1922, the association changed its name to the American Physiotherapy Association. In 1923 the first two men were admitted into the American Physiotherapy Association. Membership grew to just under 1,000 in the late 1930s. [5]

With the advent of World War II and a nationwide polio epidemic during the 1940s and 1950s, physical therapists were in greater demand. The Association's membership swelled to 8,000, and the number of physical therapy education programs across the U.S. increased from 16 to 39.

During the mid-1940s, the association adopted its current name, hired a full-time staff, and opened its first national office in New York City. A House of Delegates representing chapter members was established to set policies. The House elected a board of directors, previously the Executive Committee, to manage the association. In addition, sections were created to promote and develop specific objectives of the profession. Among the early sections were Schools (now the Academy of Physical Therapy Education) and Self-Employed (now APTA Private Practice). [6] [7] In the 1960s, APTA membership reached 15,000, and the number of education programs nationwide grew to 52. As of the end of 2022, 294 institutions offer physical therapy education programs and 396 institutions offer physical therapist assistant education programs in the United States. These numbers will change significantly in the coming years to encompass 48 developing PT programs and 29 developing PTA programs. [8]

Combined Sections Meeting

In 1976, the association launched an annual Combined Sections Meeting, informally known as "CSM," that is attended by physical therapists from around the United States. The name was selected because all of the sections of APTA meet at this time. [9]

Previous and future CSM meetings

Year [10] DatesVenueAttendance
2015February 47 Indianapolis, IN 9,000
2016February 1720 Anaheim, CA 11,000
2017February 1518 San Antonio, TX 11,000
2018February 2128 New Orleans, LA 17,000
2019January 2326 Washington, DC 17,000
2020February 1215 Denver, CO 18,000
2021February 2427 Orlando, FL Held virtually
2022February 14 San Antonio, TX
2023February 2225 San Diego, CA 15,000
2024February 1417 Boston, MA 16,000
2025February 1315 Houston, TX
2026February 1214 Anaheim, CA
2027February 46 Philadelphia, PA
2028February 1012 Chicago, IL
2029February 1517 Anaheim, CA

Pauline "Polly" Cerasoli Lectureship

Year [11] LecturerTitle
1998Katherine ShepardEducation for Meaningful Health Care Practice
1999Colleen KiginDare to Care
2000Beverly SchmollBeyond Parochialism and Rhetoric
2001Laurita HackThe Virtuous Spirit
2002Martha FerrettiAdvancing Contemporary Practice: A Role for Educators
2003Susan DeusingerA Passion for Discovery
2004Samuel FeitelbergThe Influence of Leaders
2005Donna El-DinThe Rise of the Creative Practitioner
2006Better Ann HarrisInterdisciplinary Education: What, Why, and When?
2007Elizabeth DomholdtSins of the Professional Programs
2008Geneva JohnsonPhysical Therapy: A Profession of Purpose, Promise, Potential, and Power
2009Bella MayAre We There Yet?
2010Karen HayesRhetoric and Responsibility in Physical Therapy Education
2011James GordonExcellence in Academic Physical Therapy: What is it and How Do We Get There?
2012Christine BakerGoogling and Texting and Browsing, Oh My! Mentoring and Teaching in an Electronic Age
2013Ellen MostromLife Lessons: Teaching for Learning the Lasts
2014Leslie PortneyChoosing a Disruptive Path Toward Tomorrow
2015Cecilia GrahamComing into Focus: The Need for a Conceptual Lens
2016Diane JetteUnflattening
2017Chad CookThe Sunk Cost Fallacy
2018Jody FrostCoddiwomple
2019Terrence NordstromDeveloping Habits of the Heart
2020MultipleDeja Vu All Over Again: Cerasoli Lectures Revisited
2021Laura SwisherEducating for Professionalism: The Science of Caring: the Art of Healing
2022Gail JensenPhysical Therapy Education Through the Lens of the Master Adaptive Learner
2023Donna ApplebaumIt Takes a Village to Raise a Profession
2024Emmanuel JohnWeak Though Accredited: Application of Operations Research to Strengthen PT Programs
2025Peggy GleesonY'all Means All: Inclusivity and Belonging of ALL PTs, PTAs and Academic Programs

Chapters and Academies/Sections

APTA has chapters in most U.S. states as well as academies/sections covering special interests. Academies/Sections cover: [12]

See also

References

  1. Bellamy, Jason. "About Us". www.apta.org. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  2. "Physical Therapy | Oxford Academic". OUP Academic. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  3. "APTA Magazine". www.apta.org. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  4. Bellamy, Jason. "Advocacy". www.apta.org. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  5. Neil, Amber. "APTA History". www.apta.org. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  6. Murphy W. Healing the generations: A history of physical therapy and the American Physical Therapy Association. Alexandria, VA: American Physical Therapy Association; 1995.
  7. Roberts, L, Alex. "Physiotherapie" . Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  8. "Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)". www.capteonline.org.
  9. Davies E. Midwinter Combined Section Meeting. Phys Ther. 1975; 55(11):1237-1240.
  10. Bowes, Chelsea. "APTA CSM Future Dates". www.apta.org. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  11. Bowes, Chelsea. "APTA Academy of Education Awards & Scholarships". www.apta.org. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  12. Bowes, Chelsea. "APTA Chapters and Sections/Academies". www.apta.org. Retrieved 2023-04-18.