Congratulations 2020 DPT/PTA Graduates!

TSPTA would like to recognize all 2020 DPT/PTA graduates! We are wishing you all the best in your future endeavors and hope to hear of the great things each of you will be doing within our profession. Without further ado, we now introduce to you the graduating Class of 2020:

South Plains College PTA Class of 2020

Angelo State University Class of 2020

The University of Texas at El Paso Class of 2020

Laredo College PTA Class of 2020

South University PTA Class of 2020

The University of Texas Medical Branch Class of 2020

The University of North Texas Health Science Center Class of 2020

We would also like to congratulate the 2020 DPT/PTA graduates from the following programs:

Hardin-Simmons University

Texas State University

Texas Tech University

Texas Women’s University – Dallas

Texas Women’s University – Houston

University of Mary Hardin Baylor

Incarnate Word University

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

UT Southwestern

US Army – Baylor

UT Health San Antonio

Amarillo College

Austin Community College

Blinn Community College

Community College of the Air Force

Concorde Career College – Dallas

Concorde Career College – San Antonio

Del Mar College

El Paso Community College

Houston Community College

Brightwood College

Kilgore College

Lone Star College

McLennan Community College

Northeast Texas Community College

Odessa College

Pima Medical Institute – Houston

San Jacinto Community College South

South Texas College

St. Philip’s College

Tarrant County Community College

Victoria College

Weatherford College

Western Technical College

Wharton County Junior College

Navarro College

Tyler Junior College

ACAPT Job Market Info Session (July 14,2020) / Midwest Student Conclave

Good afternoon,

In response to COVID-19, the American Council for Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) created a task force to assist students and new graduates. One of the products of this task force was a series of recorded interviews and an upcoming live Facebook event regarding how the PT job market has been impacted by COVID-19 and what that means for students entering the workforce soon. The FB event is July 14th at 8:30 PM Eastern on the ACAPT FB page. See below for details and links.
ACAPT's Student Leadership Development Committee interviewed managers, clinicians and recruiters from diverse practice settings across the nation to provide insight on the current and future perspective of the PT job market.
Topics discussed include:

• Virtual interview tips,
• Negotiating salary and benefits and
• How to market your value as a new grad to clinics, travel companies, skilled nursing facilities and hospitals.

Facebook event details:  https://acapt.org/events/event-details/2020/07/15/acapt-events/class-of-2020-navigating-the-job-market-during-a-pandemic-facebook-live

Recorded interviews: https://acapt.org/resources/students/interviews-about-pt-job-market

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Each year the SSIG plans and hosts a conference for students in the Midwest called the Midwest Student Conclave.

In the past, students have expressed interest in attending this conference from Texas.

The Chairperson for APTA Kansas' Student Special Interest Group (SSIG) would like to collect information about Texas students interest in this conference with the current COVID-19 circumstances. The SSIG would like to maintain alignment with other physical therapy conferences while providing the best experience possible for our fellow students.

This survey attempts to gather information about attendance for the conference. Ultimately, the SSIG is trying to gauge if students would feel comfortable with an in-person conference at any time this year. Please click the link below to fill out the survey.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRyxnTpRz4XeMS3yUfzRmwH2c2dPJ3YmmfAGQcfUl2nIScng/viewform?usp=sf_link

Thank you !

June CA Updates

APTA's Rebrand, Message From President Dunn, Student Debt Report, and more.

View web version of this email.

June 26, 2020

Inform    Message From President Dunn on Racism and Systemic Inequality in America "There is nothing healthy about racism. It's a disease of the heart and mind that has infected not just people but customs, systems, and laws. There is no vaccine. We must be the cure." Impact of Student Debt on the Profession The report, based in part on a nationwide APTA survey of 3,073 PTs and 596 PTAs, asserts there is no single "silver bullet " to undoing the damage rising education costs are having on the profession. Introducing Our New Brand and Website Our new brand embodies our mission to build a community that advances the physical therapy profession to improve the health of society. Our updated website doesn’t just look different — we’ve added new functionality to improve our service to our members.    Engage    APTA Live: Fostering Allyship in DEI: Part 1 On the June 7, 2020, APTA Live event, Michael Cromartie, PT, DPT, Mark Agholor, PT, DPT, and Briana Scott, PT, DPT, joined host Yusra Iftikhar, PT, DPT, to discuss allyship in diversity, equity, and inclusion. June 28 we'll be hosting Part 2 of this discussion on the APTA Student Member Facebook page, with students from the LGBTQIA+ community in honor of Pride Month.  Student Spotlight: American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy APTA sections are your link to the resources you need to stay current in expertise areas, and the best way to connect with others who share your interests. The APTA sections, focus on a wide range of areas, from specific types of physical therapy to sections focused on broader policy areas and patient populations. No matter your interest, there's probably a section for you. Each month, we will highlight one of the 18 APTA sections. APTA Virtual NEXT Conference APTA is offering Virtual NEXT to provide outstanding continuing education at greatly reduced rates to support the physical therapy community during the COVID-19 pandemic. APTA members get access to more than 20 courses with related CEUs, plus several special recorded sessions and live online events, for only $20. Registration closes July 31. Sign Up for APTA Engage Your engagement in the conversation and the work of our association is how we move our profession forward. Build your community by volunteering.     APTA Student Core Ambassador Spotlight New to our APTA Core Ambassador email updates, we will begin to feature CAs doing great things for the students in their state and the profession. If you have something you'd like us to highlight, email us!    APTA Nevada Core Ambassador Katie Stone has been spearheading a virtual lecture series in an effort to keep students informed and engaged during these uncertain times. Katie, along with APTA Nevada Student Special Interest Group President James Anderson hosted a virtual information session on student involvement and leadership with members for the APTA Student Assembly Board of Directors and Advocacy Project Committee. Students from Nevada, Arizona, and California were present. Congrats Katie!    For more information on their virtual information session, contact Katie.     Note From the Vice President As I reflect on the first six months of this year I recall feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, fear, and pain. Although these feelings are the ones that come to mind first, I also see evidence of joy and hope.     I think about the dedication that faculty members demonstrated in continuing to strive for excellence in education during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the support of my #PTFam across the country as we exemplified being better together while we were apart, and APTA’s commitment to improving society by advocating for our patients and communities and speaking up against injustice.     It’s officially summer. With the start of a new season I encourage you to reflect on how recent events in the world and in our country have impacted you in your role as a SPT or SPTA and a future professional.     The physical therapy profession is ultimately about improving the human experience. As students and the incoming members of the profession, we have a tremendous opportunity to continue to shape the future of physical therapy and how we interact with and serve our communities.     As your APTA Student Assembly vice president, I am here for you and the students in your state. Please don't hesitate to contact me or the rest of my APTA Student Assembly Board colleagues, now or in the future.     Kayla Harris, SPT Vice President APTA Student Assembly Board of Directors

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A Statement from TPTA President Mike Geelhoed Concerning Racism and Inequality

Hello Texas PTs, PTAs, and students, I have struggled over these last few days with what to say or think about the unrest and crisis our state and country are going through this week. I, like most of you, was sickened and saddened watching footage of the murder of George Floyd, our cities burning, and clashes between police and protesters. My initial reaction was to echo the words of APTA President Sharon Dunn, who I thought was eloquent in her statement (http://www.apta.org/PresidentLetter/2020/5/31/), and I was concerned anything I said might dilute her message. But that isn’t enough. I am very thankful to those who have kindly nudged me to do the right thing and make a statement on behalf of TPTA. I am a parent of twin 18 year-old boys. It has been difficult but necessary for my wife and I to have nuanced conversations with them about what is happening in our country. It has been challenging but also rewarding to talk about our own life experiences that are colored by our implicit biases. But that is not enough. I must also challenge them to seek out and have more conversations with people who think and look different than us to hear their stories and opinions. This is also personal for me because I have a brother who is a police officer. I fear for his safety and respect and appreciate all that our men and women in uniform do for us, and at the same time recognize the long-standing and deep-seated inequities that infect the culture of our law enforcement community and criminal justice system. Black (and Brown) Lives Matter. I am saying it, and I mean it. This is not just a hashtag, it should be a statement that we can all make with no addendums, caveats, or hesitation. The sad reality is that we must say that because we live in a society that has not acknowledged that our people of color are equally valued by our institutions and systems. How can anyone view the events of the last week and think our country and state has adequately dealt with the underlying racism that infects our people, customs, systems and laws? It is past time for action, and some of that anger and resentment has boiled over into what we have witnessed this past week. Words and statements feel inadequate today: we must act. Look how quickly we mobilized into action against the COVID-19 pandemic—a similar opportunity presents itself to us right now. Let us capture the momentum of this crisis and use it for positive change.  Luckily for us in the PT community, we have specific instructions on what to do: APTA Code of Ethics, Principle #1: Physical therapists shall respect the inherent dignity and rights of all individuals. (Core Values: Compassion, Integrity) 1A. Physical therapists shall act in a respectful manner toward each person regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, religion, ethnicity, social or economic status, sexual orientation, health condition, or disability. 1B. Physical therapists shall recognize their personal biases and shall not discriminate against others in physical therapist practice, consultation, education, research, and administration. Take a moment to reflect and acknowledge your own implicit biases. For those of us in a position of privilege or power, when you see injustice, speak out, and communicate with your elected representatives today that action must be taken to right the wrongs of our past. Be an advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in your workplaces and communities (see what APTA is doing here: http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/News/2020/5/8/DEIInitiativesUpdate/). Seek out and talk to someone today who thinks or looks different than you. Our profession must reflect our society, which is a melting pot of cultures and ideas. While here in Texas our PT community is ahead of the national curve on this, there is still significant work to be done. It is time for Texas PTs and PTAs to stand up and lead, and be the change we want to see in our world.   Thank you, and as always, we are stronger together, Mike Geelhoed, Texas Physical Therapy Association President