What a great way to jump into 2019 - attending the second largest Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) in Washington, DC, with our colleagues from across the country! It was wonderful to meet new members, reconnect with current members and old friends, and participate in the wonderful pediatric content our CSM program committee planned.

Saturday, January 26, 2019, offered a unique opportunity for attendees to participate in multi-section programing, cosponsored by all 18 APTA specialty sections/academies and APTA’s Frontiers in Rehabilitation, Science, and Technology (FiRST) Council. Eric Green, MD, PhD, director of the Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health, and Richard Shields, PT, PhD, FAPTA, whose 2017 Mary McMillan Lecture focused on precision physical therapy guided by genetic data, steered our profession into the genomic era. FiRST Council cochair Steven L. Wolf, PT, PhD, FAPTA, reports “All physical therapists, no matter their area of practice, must understand the Human Genome Project’s profound influence on the advancement of biological and medical science, and how it will enable physical therapists to provide better and more personalized care.”

The Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy had record attendance at our annual business meeting. The bylaw amendments that were proposed in the fall were voted on and approved at the business meeting by our membership, which will allow the Academy the flexibility to better support our strategic plan as we continue to play a crucial role in optimizing development and movement.

Since the Academy’s formation almost 45 years ago, our leaders and members have played a significant role in district, state, academy, and national leadership. Throughout those years, we have expanded our role, and today we are recognized on both a national and international level. Our diverse Academy membership reaches across the lifespan in multiple environments to serve individuals and families. What a wonderful position to be in!

We will kick off our Academy’s 45th anniversary celebration in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of our annual conference(November 15-17, 2019) at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA. We hope you can join us for inspiring pediatric programming (and a magical evening event on Saturday, November 16). 

Keep an eye out for our renovated website, coming your way this spring! The new website will include exciting technology updates and a new and improved community forum for increased member and community engagement. I am excited to continue on our journey together as we explore the heights we can achieve as we engage through advocacy, education, and research! 

Thank you all for your commitment to the Academy, the profession, and the families we serve.

Cindy Miles, PT, PhD

ABPTS Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist