Charge

The Scientific and Practice Affairs Committee provides strategic advice, recommendations, and counsel to the APTA Board of Directors regarding: (1) how APTA can be responsive to and advocate for members’ needs related to the delivery of quality care; (2) current and emerging practice issues impacting the provision of physical therapist-provided patient and client management, including, but not limited to, professional scope of practice, unwarranted variation in practice, implementation of innovative practice models, and timely patient access to physical therapist services; and (3) how to advance the profession through a contemporary research agenda, and effective knowledge translation, dissemination, and implementation.

The Board's determined charge for SPAC is to:

• Identify and recommend practice and research priorities to the Board.
• Recommend and maintain a research agenda for the profession to the Board.
• Annually advise and counsel the Board on proposed practice- and research-related policies and positions coming before the APTA House of Delegates, as needed.
• Identify and provide advice to the Board regarding innovative practice models and strategies to successfully implement such models.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other APTA appointed groups and stakeholders, when doing so can further the work of the committee.
• Report to the Board annually and as needed.

All APTA appointed groups will conduct their work with APTA's Commitment to Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in mind and in the context of (1) APTA's Mission, Vision, Strategic Plan and House of Delegates and Board of Directors adopted positions and policies; and (2) the potential for their work to have implications related to physical therapist assistants, women, diversity, and risk management.

Size of Appointed Group

One Board chair, selected by the APTA President; 13 members (one who is a member of the APTA Board of Directors as selected by the APTA President); and the APTA President as ex-officio (APTA bylaws: Article VI, Section 4, A).

View Committee and Appointed Group Rosters

Qualifications for Appointees

SPAC seeks individuals who have experience and expertise in areas relevant to science and practice within the physical therapy profession. The goal will be to include individuals representing various practice settings managing patients and clients across the lifespan, and those involved in various levels of scientific inquiry promoting evidenced-based practice.

Meetings

SPAC has one in-person meeting and up to six virtual meetings via webinar annually.

Term of Appointees

Committee members will serve three-year terms; no individual shall serve more than two consecutive terms.

Additional Information

For additional information regarding this and other APTA volunteer opportunities, email appointedgrouppool@apta.org.