Academy News

2022 Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Annual Report

The APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy has published it's annual report for 2022.  Check it out here:

 

Congraulations to Our 2022 Award & Scholarship Recipients: 2023 SNP AC Scholarship Applications Due 8/1, Others 10/1

Congratulations to our 2022 Award & Scholarship Recipients, who were honored at CSM 2023 in San Diego! Check out the Award Program here:

Apply for an APTA Pediatrics award or scholarship in 2023!  APTA Pediatrics awards honor service, mentorship, advocacy, research, and clinical excellence. APTA Pediatrics scholarships help your prepare for the Pediatric Certified Specialist Exam, pay for membership, and attend conferences. Nominate a coworker, colleague, or yourself for one of the following awards or scholarships:

• Service Awards: GE "Bud" DeHaven Service Award, Jeanne Fischer Distinguished Mentorship Award, Susan Effgen Advocacy Award, Distinguished Service Award for External Advocates
• Clinician Award: Outstanding Pediatric Clinical Practice Award (PT or PTA)
• Research Awards: Dissertation Award, Stephen Haley Research Award
• Scholarships: Carol Gildenberg Dichter Memorial PCS Scholarships, Diversity Development Scholarship for Student/New Professional, APTA Pediatrics Annual Conference Attendance Scholarships for Student/New Professional (due 8/1), CSM Attendance Scholarships for Student/New Professional, Pediatric Physical Therapy Journal Mentored Writing Scholarship

Additional information can be found on the Awards, Scholarships & Grants page. Applications are due 10/1 unless otherwise indicated. Questions may be directed to awards@pediatricapta.org or info@pediatricapta.org.  

President’s Message from Mary Jane Rapport

APTA Pediatrics President’s Message (February 2022)

Since February 6, 2023, many APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy members have been grieving the loss of APTA Pediatrics President Cindy Miles. Cindy’s second 3-year term as President was set to close at the conclusion of the Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) 2023. Instead of recognizing Cindy in the manner typical of outgoing presidents, we took several opportunities at CSM to remember Cindy together. But we also took some time to celebrate accomplishments and recognize outgoing and incoming leaders and award and scholarship recipients at the Business Meeting.

APTA Pediatrics, including its volunteers and Board of Directors, accomplished so much during the past year under Cindy’s leadership, including:

• Hosting 3 in-person courses and 10+ virtual courses, with 673 attending in person and 481 attending virtually
• Distributing $107,000 in Research Grants
• Donating $18,000 to the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research to support the Pediatric Fund and Pediatrics PODS grants
• Providing $5,000 in scholarships to support students & new professionals attending the APTA Pediatrics Annual Conference, Combined Sections Meeting, and APTA’s Leadership Congress
• Providing resources and support to 158 newly credentialled Pediatric Certified Specialists (PCS) and 50 recertified PCS
• Publishing Pediatric Physical Therapy, our peer-reviewed journal, including research reports, systematic reviews, commentaries, special communications, and case reports, in addition to podcasts, video interviews, editorials
• Adding and updating resources in the fact sheet library, while continuing with the development of 5 new clinical practice guidelines
• Sharing a variety of advocacy and reimbursement resources with members, and working with APTA on legislation that impacts children we serve and their families

The Board continues to work hard on behalf of all members, and the Board is committed to several major initiatives for APTA Pediatrics in 2023, including:

• Planning high-quality professional development (courses, webinars, and other continuing education) to maximize our reach to our members, while right-sizing for a post-COVID world that includes changes in consumer consumption and preferences
• Hosting the APTA Pediatrics Education Summit in June 2023 to update the essential core competencies and ensure that they continue to effectively guide professional pediatric physical therapy education and align with ongoing efforts across the profession toward excellence and competency-based education
• Hosting the APTA Pediatrics Research Summit in October 2023 to focus on the contemporary topic of Precision rehabilitation research for children with neuromotor conditions
• Advancing the integration and expectation of diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout all APTA Pediatrics activities
• Continuing to develop additional member resources through the Journal, fact sheets, networking opportunities, PCS preparation, and more, while launching new initiatives, including journal clubs, communities of practice, new branding, and more!!

The APTA Pediatrics Board of Directors is committed to supporting members from all practice settings and patient populations in education, clinical practice, and research. Each of these areas is important and will continue to be front and center for the work of the Board.

Unfortunately, we are also grappling with a financial deficit stemming from major losses in income from declining membership and declining participation in professional development since the start of COVID. These declines continue to affect our budget in ways that we could not have anticipated a few years ago. We hope you will consider attending an APTA Pediatrics course in person or online in the next year, as we continue to look internally and externally at how we continue to provide benefits to members and serve as the primary advocates for children and families within our profession supported by a leaner funding structure - with a goal of increasing income and looking toward moving our budget in a more positive direction.  I am committed to lead APTA Pediatrics and the Board, and I hope that all members will be part of OUR efforts to:

• Advance the Profession: through advocacy, research support, residency/fellowship initiatives, and education  
• Build Community: through volunteer opportunities, special interest groups, mentoring, social media, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
• Share Knowledge: through professional development, the Pediatric Physical Therapy journal, our Milestones newsletter, fact sheets, the website, and clinical practice guidelines
• Support Our Members: through practice and reimbursement resources, membership in the International Organization of Pediatric Physical Therapy, and distribution of scholarships, awards, and grants
• Increase Awareness: through family resources and involvement with APTA, ChoosePT, and internal and external communications

Thank you for granting me this opportunity to serve as a representative of APTA Pediatrics and as your leader - I hope to fulfill these roles ably, humbly, and graciously working with YOU and for you.

Mary Jane Rapport, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, President, APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy

Check out the Business Meeting slides from CSM 2023 in San Diego:

 

Remembering Cindy Miles, PT, PhD

• Donate to the Cindy Miles Adaptive Fund to benefit the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation - set up by Cindy's family - Cindy was passionate about children of all abilities having fun and exercising.
   
• View the tribute video that we showed at CSM - the password is social

APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy President Cindy Miles, PT, PhD, passed away on February 6, 2023, after a private battle with cancer while surrounded by the love of her family. Cindy was a clinician, successful private practice owner, and educator. She served as President of APTA Pediatrics for two terms and was the founder of the APTA Pediatrics Annual Conference. She also served in many other roles in the Academy, including APTA Pediatrics Treasurer, Pediatric Sports-Fitness SIG Chair & Vice Chair, and as a manuscript reviewer for Pediatric Physical Therapy. She served APTA on the Movement System Task Force, FiRST Council, Movement System Summit, Payment Policy & Advocacy Committee, and State Government Affairs Medicaid Workgroup; she was also involved in the Sports Section, Private Practice Section, and Pennsylvania Chapter. Cindy served as Director of Pediatric Therapies at St Luke’s University Health Networks and was actively engaged in the Lehigh Valley community.

Cindy encouraged us all to be forward-thinking and proactive in tackling critical issues affecting our profession and the families we serve. She felt that promotion of health and wellness should be a primary focus for each child from day one, and defined pediatric physical therapists as lifespan movement specialists that empower the starting point to optimize lifelong meaningful participation for ALL abilities. APTA Pediatrics recognized Cindy’s many contributions during the Business Meeting at the Combined Sections Meeting on February 24, 2023.  

Apply for APTA Pediatrics Research Grants by 6/1

APTA Pediatrics awards various types of research grants annually. The purpose of the APTA Pediatrics Research Grants Program is to encourage and assist Academy members to add to the body of knowledge related to improvement of pediatric physical therapy. APTA Pediatrics is accepting Research Grant applications ranging from $1,000 to $30,000 until midnight on June 1. To find out more or to apply, visit the Research Opportunities page on our website and click on APTA Pediatrics Research Grants Program.

APTA Pediatrics Board of Directors News

APTA Pediatrics Board Meetings are held virtually the second Tuesday of each month, 7:30-9:30 pm ET. Questions may be directed to APTA Pediatrics Leadership. Minutes from the most recent Board Meeting are posted below.