Physical therapy has the potential to impact public health in historic ways, but that potential will never be reached until the profession better reflects the demographics of the broader society it serves, according to Emmanuel John, PT, DPT, PhD, MBA, MPH, who delivered the 2023 Lynda D. Woodruff Lecture on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Physical Therapy. It's an achievable goal, John said, but getting there is going to require a commitment to holistic change over piecemeal accomplishments, along with a very literal investment in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

And it just so happens that John has some ideas about what those investments could be.