This April, the TSPTA in conjunction with the TPTA
Membership Committee provided four physical therapy students with $250
scholarships to attend APTA’s Federal Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C.. After
they returned, we asked them the following questions:
Why did you want to
attend FAF?
What was your favorite part of FAF?
What is the biggest thing you
learned from attending FAF?
Do you plan on attending again in the future?
Check
out their responses below!
Elizabeth Brewer, SPT (Texas
Women’s University – Houston, TX)
Why did you want to attend FAF?
I wanted to attend FAF because physical therapy is an
evolving field. Within the last couple of decades physical therapy has
changed immensely. If we want to continue to be the ones to shape our
field, we have to talk to our legislators about what is important to us as a
profession. Realistically, I can work hard to be the best clinician that
I am able to be and legislation can be passed dictating how I practice. If that
happens we are suddenly not able to practice the way that is best for our
patients. If we do not tell our legislators about how certain laws affect
our patients, we lose our voice in how we are able to treat them. I wanted to
go to FAF so that I could shape the ways in which I am able to practice.
What was your favorite part of FAF?
While I enjoyed speaking with my representatives and
having my voice heard, my favorite part of FAF was meeting other motivated
therapists from around the country and hearing about the work that they are
doing to forward our profession.
What was the biggest lesson you learned
from attending FAF?
The biggest lesson that I learned was that what happens in
on The Hill has a meaningful impact on our patients. I watched a video
addressed to a congressman made by a patient about how the Medicare Therapy Cap
had affected her ability to seek care. It was very powerful to hear her story and
to be able to share it with her representative so that hopefully that law can
be changed for her and all ofour patients affected by the cap.
Do you plan
to attend again in the future?
Definitely!
Chris Scott, SPT (UT
Southwestern Medical Center – Dallas, TX)
Why did you want to attend
FAF?
I looked to attend the Federal Advocacy Forum in DC
because of my passion and pursuit of knowledge in regards to this profession. I
stand firm in my belief that advocacy for any line of work is what allows the
profession to grow, evolve and adapt to the ever so dynamic society we live in
today. This first trip to DC for me served as a stepping-stone to put my foot
in the door into entering the federal advocacy picture. Serving as a federal
spokesperson, one can look to be a part of the change, and that’s what I look
to do.
What was your favorite part of FAF?
My favorite part about the Forum was definitely witnessing
and connecting with the hundreds of students and professionals that shared a
common variable which was advocating for their profession, and more importantly
their patients. The Forum would be nothing without the people who attended.
What
was the biggest lesson you learned from attending FAF?
The biggest lesson I learned from attending FAF was the
amount of work it takes to attempt to make changes in this line of work. I was
relatively unaware of the logistics of advocacy as well as the process it takes
to make changes at a federal level. This Forum did an incredible job in my
opinion of explaining the importance of advocacy and the way in which you may
be able to put it in place from everywhere from your university or clinic all
the way to the national level.
Do you plan to attend again in the future?
I definitely plan to attend the Forum in the future, as it
was a great experience. The connections I made with students and professionals
that shared the same passion about the profession made it so worth it. Coming
together, learning about the issues we looked to advocate for and then taking
it to the Hill first hand was very enjoyable and easy to see the immediate
impact.
Jennifer Webb, SPT (Texas Women’s
University – Dallas, TX)
Why did you want to attend FAF?
I attended PT Capitol Hill Day in 2015 (thanks to TSPTA!)
and was immediately hooked on professional advocacy! I couldn’t wait to return
in 2016 and reconnect with fellow inspiring advocates I had met last year, and
meet so many more this year. There isn’t anything more important I could invest
my time and energy into for my future career than to ensure protection and
progression for PT professional and patient rights.
What was your favorite
part of FAF?
Attending the Federal Advocacy Forum, I was blown away by
the passion and dedication of everyone leaving their lives and responsibilities
for three days to meet with the legislators who make things actually happen on
the Hill. Witnessing hundreds of physical therapy professionals, leadership,
and students walking the halls of our national offices and
having important conversations about real physical therapy issues was
empowering and inspiring. It made me realize the great strides those before me
have accomplished in order to transform the PT profession into how we know it
today, and how excited I am to continue this progress for all of us in the
future.
What was the biggest lesson you learned from attending FAF?
Ultimately, my involvement in federal advocacy has really
shown me how valuable it is to be involved in caring for and shaping the future
of a profession I so passionately care about. When I see how simple it is to be
a part of a process making huge, influential changes impacting our
practice, I get a sense of having my finger on the “pulse” of PT. It is
exciting and so very meaningful as a student, and I know it will only become
more meaningful as I continue as a professional.
Do you plan to attend again in the future?
I can’t wait to return in 2017! It will be extra exciting
as it will be a state legislative year in February on top of the federal
advocacy forum in April! This forum is something I intend to make a
professional commitment to throughout my career for as long as I am able to
attend. I look forward to following up on my legislative contacts I have formed
with my representatives, senators, and their legal counsels. Advocacy is a
marathon and I am definitely in this race! Thank you again for this
opportunity!
Christina Cocking (UIW, San Antonio), Bethany Uhl (TWU
Dallas) and Jennifer Webb (TWU Dallas)
Texas Advocates on the steps of the
Capital Building
APTA Student Assembly and all of the student advocates at the
FAF 2016!
Blaise Bourgeois, SPT (University of St.
Augustine – Austin, TX)
Why did you want to attend FAF?
One of the things I mentioned in all of my applications
when applying for PT school was my interest in staying active in advocating for
my profession. I appreciate the hard work that goes in to pushing legislation
and defending our interests and I understand the importance of strength in
numbers. Attending the FAF was a goal of mine and I am lucky to have attended
the Forum in just my first year of PT school.
What was your favorite part of
FAF?
There was so much going on at the forum that it is hard to
delineate a favorite part. From registration until my last meeting on Capital
Hill, we were kept extremely busy with guest speakers, presentations, break out
educational sessions, and socials. It did feel good, however, to walk out that
last Capital Hill meeting with a feeling of such accomplishment. There was so
much build up to our Hill meetings, and to finally execute them after all the
preparation and anticipation was very satisfying.
What was the biggest
lesson you learned from attending FAF?
I have never been one to think that effort in any case
goes unnoticed, but after attending the FAF I have truly learned just how big
of an impact I could have by advocating our issues. It was pleasantly
surprising to witness how attentive and concerned our representatives and their
staff were to our issues. It was equally surprising to see how little they knew
of the Bills we were advocating for, but their legitimate questions and
concerns showed that they were listening. I look forward to following how our
representatives support us with their votes in the near future.
Do you plan
to attend again in the future?
I have fully committed myself to attending
the Federal Advocacy Forum on a yearly basis, I have also challenged myself and
the other students who attended the forum to bring 2 more students with them
next year. I can not begin to explain how enlightening and life changing
attending the FAF has been for me. More than just advocating, it was a great
opportunity to meet such influential people in our profession and absorb the
advice they would give to us students. For anyone who is remotely interested in
attending a future advocacy forum, I can promise you it will be an experience
that you will never forget.
