BIRMINGHAM, AL, September 3, 2008 – More than 200 area physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students attended the Alabama Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association Fall Conference at the Doubletree Hotel in Birmingham from August 22-23, 2008. The meeting included business networking, professional development, and the 2009 chapter Board of Directors elections.
 

            “This meeting allows our members and leadership the opportunity to discuss goals for the physical therapy profession and our chapter” David Morris, PT, PhD Chapter president said. “This meeting had record-breaking attendance, and many were able to participate in goal-setting, so I am confident our chapter will continue to achieve great successes in the months and years to come.”
 

The conference hosted more than 28 exhibitors and nearly 300 attendees. On Friday evening, the chapter recognized five members for their professional accomplishments.  The award recipients were: Chapter Leadership Award – Dennis Fall, PT, MD; PT Advocate Physical Therapy Advocate Award – Dave Upton Government Affairs Award – Emmett Parker, PT; Innovations in PT Award – Select Physical and Hand Therapy of Montgomery; and the Marilyn Gossman Award for Professionalism in Physical Therapy – Janet Nesin, PT.
 

A new Board of Directors was elected and the results are as follows: David Morris, PT, PhD – President; Physical Therapist Representative at Large – Lane Blondheim, PT, CWT, MT; Physical Therapist Assistant Representative at Large – Mary Orr, PTA; Physical Therapist Assistant Caucus Representative – Christina Wilson, PTA; and Nominating Committee Member – Pam Wehner, PT.  
 

            Throughout Friday and Saturday conference speakers included Phil Page, PT, ATC, MS, CSCS who lead a course titled “Bands, Balls & Balance”; Venita Lovelace-Chandler, PT, PhD, PCS and Margret McGee, PT, PhD, BSN, PCS who spoke on “Pediatric Differential Diagnosis: Red Flags and Referrals for Children Birth – Six”; Ellen R Strunk, PT, MS, GCS who covered “Documentation and Clinical Outcomes in Post Acute Care Setting: Making It Work in the Real World.” American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) board member Laurita M Hack, PT, DPT, MBA, PhD, FAPTA along with physical therapy student Nate Thomas, SPT, Amy Smith, BA, PTA, Sheree Chapman York, PT, MS, PCS, and David M Morris, PT, PhD lead “Advocacy in Physical Therapy: Chart your Course to Success.” Jennifer Rondon, associate director of public relations for APTA, and Stephanie Block, assistant director of public relations at APTA, spoke about the difference between public relations and advertising, and the necessary steps to take when developing a message and reaching out to media.
 

Physical therapists are health care professionals who diagnose and manage individuals of all ages, from newborns to elders, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Physical therapists examine each individual and develop a plan of care using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. Physical therapists also work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles. 
 

The Alabama Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association is a statewide professional organization representing almost 790 members who are physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education throughout Alabama. For more information, please visit http://ptalabama.org.

 

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