APTA's innovative PT Moves Me campaign is all about presenting diverse post-secondary, high school, and younger students with the possibility of joining the physical therapy profession — and then helping them focus on making that possibility a reality. Those efforts have now been recognized with two awards from the leading organization supporting future health professionals.
HOSA – Future Health Professionals named APTA the winner of the organization's Outstanding Professional Association Award based on APTA's demonstrated commitment to advancing the future of all health care professionals. In addition, Ryan Bannister, APTA's director of student recruitment, was appointed to the HOSA-100 National Advisory Council, the organization’s most prestigious panel of industry partners providing guidance, resources, professional expertise, and philanthropic support to HOSA. The awards were announced at HOSA's International Leadership Conference in June. That conference includes competitive events for aspiring health care professionals, including those interested in physical therapy.
"As a role model in association and education excellence, APTA is recognized for their partnership to ensure the best possible physical therapy competitive event through reference recommendations, rubric review, judging, and video alignment to help advance the profession of physical therapy," HOSA stated in its announcement of the Outstanding Professional Association Award. "APTA's leadership finds ways for win-win relationships."
In an APTA news release, HOSA Executive Director Sarah Waters said "The partnership between APTA and HOSA provides a unique way to spotlight career opportunities in the physical therapy profession and develop industry-based skills and interest among HOSA advisors and their student members."
APTA's partnership with HOSA began before the PT Moves Me campaign was launched in 2021, but that relationship has since been folded into that more broad effort aimed at enriching and diversifying the physical therapy profession. The campaign is built around a network of volunteers committed to generating interest in becoming a PT or PTA, including participants from DPT and PTA education programs, and APTA chapters, as well as individual physical therapy educators, advisors, and influencers. To find out how to become involved, contact the APTA Student Recruitment Team.
"It has been a privilege to partner with HOSA over the past decade," said Mya Shackleford, manager of student recruitment at APTA. "This partnership continues to open doors and provide opportunities for APTA to connect with future physical therapists and physical therapist assistants while raising awareness of the profession."
