Page 32 - OPTA Access Spring 2021

Early Professional SIG Report Kelsey Biller, PT, DPT – Chair
My name is Kelsey Biller and I would like to introduce myself as the new chair of the Early Professional Special Interest group, or EPSIG for short. I graduated from Ohio University’s DPT program in 2018 and since then, have been working in outpatient orthopaedics for TriHealth in Cincinnati. I also currently serve as the Southwest District’s Membership Coordinator.
The EPSIG is composed of a Chair, three Pillar Leaders (Membership, Mentorship, and Leadership), and six District Representatives. Each of the Pillar Leaders and many of the District Representatives recently underwent leadership transition and while we have many new faces, I am excited to share that I believe the EPSIG is full of excited, talented, and dedicated leaders.
We are working to develop the pillars and their teams through the formation and development of committees to support our pillar leaders as they work under each of their names:
• Membership is working to develop the EPSIG’s presence and engage students as they transition to early professionals, developing a video to recruit and retain EPSIG members as well as help market what role the EPSIG performs, as well
as develop opportunities for EPs to engage and interact with other members.
• Leadership is working to develop webinars
and virtual events targeting the growth and development of our early professionals, providing an outlet and mechanism in which leadership skills can be further developed in those first years out of school.
Sports SIG Report Jeffrey Swiers, PT, DPT - Chair
Greetings members of the OPTA Sports SIG and Happy New Year! 2021 is here and we are looking at new opportunities to continue to expand this special interest group. The Sports SIG continues to post weekly articles from multiple sources such as JOSPT, BJSM, AJSM, and other sports sites. We are nearing completion of creating an OPTA Sports SIG Podcast.
• Mentorship is putting out a call for OPTA mentors and mentees for our mentorship program: OPTA CONNECT. This program pairs an early professional with a “seasoned professional” in their area of interest. We are developing webinars and virtual events in which mentors and mentees can experience and further develop a shared experience while learning together throughout their time in the program. Please check the website for updates!
Upcoming in 2021, the EPSIG plans to have quarterly meetings via Zoom. These meetings will take place Mondays @ 8 pm on the following dates: March 15, June 14, September 13, December 13.
If you are an early professional (0-5 years post-graduation) or a student graduating soon and interested in joining the EPSIG, you can go to OhioPT.org > About Us > Committees & SIGs > SIGs > Early Professional SIG. You can also find us on social media, on Facebook as the OPTA Early Professional SIG or Twitter and Instagram
as @OPTAEPSIG.
For more information, contact Kelsey at:
kbiller12@gmail.com
We look forward to sharing this information when it’s available on our Facebook page. Until then take care and be safe.
Please remember to check out our Facebook page:
Ohio Physical Therapy Association: Sports SIG for continued updates and please stop by and “Like” the page to continue to obtain new and updated information regarding sports physical therapy from the OPT.
For more information, contact Jeff at: jswiers11@gmail.com
32 | March 2021 | OPTA