Page 3 - OPTA Access Spring 2021

WE MADE IT!
As we let 2020 get dimmer in the rearview and look forward to a brighter 2021, I continue to be proud to be a physical therapist and OPTA member and hopeful of the future. My deepest gratitude to all of the PTs and PTAs who have stayed focused on excellent care to their patients during this time have continued to teach, conduct research, innovate, mentor, lead and provide hope during this challenging year. I’m in
awe of our students who adjusted to changes and disruptions in their learning, adapted to online education, modified their clinical education experiences, kept their eye on the prize, and learned the importance of flexibility! My deepest sympathies to those who lost loved ones and patients this past year.
In 2021, we are celebrating the 100th year of the APTA! If you weren’t able to partake in the events during Founder’s Day weekend, I would encourage you to find them online as they were inspiring! We welcome our OPTA Centennial Scholar, Caroline Brunst. She will be working with OPTA leadership, the SSIG and the EPSIG on a mentoring initiative as her capstone project. There will be many ways to commemorate the 100th year milestone in our history through engagement, sharing of memories, service opportunities, events, and celebrations. Stay tuned!
At OPTA, we have many initiatives and projects this year
as well. Some highlights include welcoming a new L.I.F.E. Series Leadership Academy cohort, passing our PT compact legislation that didn’t quite get to the finish line last year due to the pandemic, continuing our virtual conferences (for now!), adding some advocacy opportunities this year, growing our Early Professional Special Interest Group (EPSIG), reaching out to our seasoned members with member value opportunities such as the Outside the Boundaries series, and many more!
I am looking so forward to being able to get together soon
to celebrate our achievements and toast our bright future.
COVID-19 has presented both challenges and opportunities. We have worked together to ensure telehealth is reimbursable for our services, shown that PT is an essential service, and leveraged our online platform to reach more individuals than ever before. We will keep innovating and finding new ways to inform, inspire and lead through this crisis.
If you would like to get involved or have ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me! We are definitely #bettertogether and I’d love to hear from you!
For more information, contact Tonya at:
apke.5@osu.edu
President’s Message Tonya Apke, PT, DPT
OPTA | March 2021 | 3
OPTA Executive Committee Tonya Apke, PT, DPT
President
Christine Schulte, PT, MBA Vice President
Gregory Kline, PT, DPT, EdD, MBA Treasurer
Dawn Bookshar, PT, DPT Secretary
Jane Keehan, PT, PhD Director I
Deborah Riczo, PT, DPT, MEd Director II
Kim Doolittle-Koran, PT, DPT Director III
Association Staff Victoria L. Gresh, CAE Executive Director
Patti Geary
Director of Professional Development
Mack Calhoun
Marketing and Communications Manager
Vicky Humphrey, PT, MS CE Reviewer
Jessica Lewis, PT, DPT CE Reviewer
The Ohio Physical Therapy Association magazine is published biannually by the Ohio Physical Therapy Association Inc. 1085 Beecher Crossing North, Suite B, Gahanna, OH 43230-4563.
Copyright Notice: The Ohio Physical Therapy Association magazine is copyright ©2021
by the Ohio Physical Therapy Association, Inc. All rights reserved.
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614-855-4109
Email: opt@ohiopt.org
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