2020 Annual Report 2021 Annual Report 2022 Annual Report 2023 Annual Report 2024 Annual Report
Menu
pexels-fauxels-3184398
Diversity & Equity Inclusion

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI)

The National Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Commission (NEDIC)

Though ACAPT's Federation of Association of Schools of the Health Professions (FASHP) membership & ACAPT Advocacy Committee, ACAPT also followed important diversity, equity and inclusion legislation throughout the country. In 2024, legislation was created that would prohibit colleges from having DEI offices or staff, ban mandatory diversity training, forbid institutions to use diversity statements in hiring and promotion, or bar colleges from considering race, sex, ethnicity, or national origin in admissions or employment. See The Chronicle of Higher Education's DEI tracker to learn about the bills.

Purpose

  • To utilize the data and information gathered during the NEDIC Summit and examine how systemic discrimination influences the ability of individuals from historically marginalized and excluded racial and ethnic groups from successfully entering and staying in the physical therapy profession, this may include but is not limited to application review processes, admission practices and guidelines.  

The task force built a strong foundation and has worked countless hours on a scoping review. They agreed on two conceptual frameworks for the organization and presentation of data. From the 1,641 titles and abstracts, 1,479 were excluded from review. They reviewed 160 full-text articles and excluded 92. They extracted data from 68 of the articles. Their scoping review protocol paper was submitted July 2024. They are continuing to finalize the writing of the scoping review paper, complete data analysis, and work with ACAPT staff on dissemination.

 

NEDIC is currently working on:

  • Development of white papers identifying problems and solutions, ways to access information, and recommendations for more transparency
  • Develop proposal and use of nudge technology and mobile-based communications

Task Force
The Systemic Discrimination and Racism Mitigation

 

Chair: Tara Dickson, PT, DPT, PhD - Tufts University - Phoenix

Commissioner Liaison: Ndidiamaka (Didi) Matthews, PT, DPT - University of Southern California

  • Laurel Daniels Abbruzzese, PT, EdD, FNAP - Columbia University
  • Tiffany Adams, PT, DPT, MBA - Duke University
  • Anita Campbell, PT, DPT - University of Missouri
  • Prisca Collins, PT, PhD - Florida Southern College
  • Ellen Wruble Hakim, PT, DScPT, MS, FACCWS - University of Delaware
  • Michael Harris-Love, PT, MPT, DSc, FGSA, FAPTA - University of Colorado – Denver
  • Diana Lautenberger, MA - Association of American Medical Colleges

 

  • The task force built a strong foundation and has worked countless hours on a scoping review. They agreed on two conceptual frameworks for the organization and presentation of data. From the 1,641 titles and abstracts, 1,479 were excluded from review. They reviewed 160 full-text articles and excluded 92. They extracted data from 68 of the articles. Their scoping review protocol paper was submitted July 2024. They are continuing to finalize the writing of the scoping review paper, complete data analysis, and work with ACAPT staff on dissemination.

Task Force
Physical Therapy Education & Career Advancement Pathways

 

Chair:  Paula Johnson, PT, DPT, MBA - Messiah University

Commissioner Liaison: Elizabeth Locke, PT, PhD, MS - Kean University

  • Vaneeda Days - KIPP Forward in Philadelphia
  • Jaime Gonzalez, PT, DPT - Midwestern University-AZ 
  • Quinton Huguley, SPT - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
  • Neva Kirk-Sanchez, PT, PhD - University of Miami
  • Nancy R. Kirsch, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
  • Rupal M. Patel, PT, PhD - Texas Woman’s University

Purpose

  • To utilize the data and information gathered during the NEDIC Summit to examine, create, and implement pathways for historically marginalized and excluded racial and ethnic groups to join and advance within the physical therapy profession’s leadership positions and roles (e.g., faculty, advocacy, research, service positions), inclusive of institutional and national level resources that support the ongoing development and advancement opportunities for these groups. 

The task force is working on the development of white papers identifying problems and solutions, ways to access information, and recommendations for more transparency. They will develop proposal and use of nudge technology and mobile-based communications.

Purpose

  • The purpose of the Key Driver #1/Economic Resources (Students) Task Force is to examine the economic resource issues influencing the ability of individuals from historically marginalized and excluded racial and ethnic groups from gaining admission to and successfully completing a DPT degree.  

 

Since ELC 2023, the task force has submitted an IRB to conduct focus groups with current DPT students from historically marginalized and excluded racial and ethnic groups to answer the question: "What are the students' perspectives, experiences, and awareness of financial resources utilized prior to and during the completion of a DPT program?" The focus groups began in March 2024 and three students have been interviewed. The themes from the focus group will guide the best approach to sharing these resources. The study will be summarized by fall 2024.

The group has gathered PTCAS vouchers, a financial literacy toolkit, and established financial resources for students. These resources will be housed in the most appropriate location and promoted through ACAPT.

The group will bring a motion to ACAPT regarding DPT students' personal financial literacy. In this proposal, they will provide recommendations for the sustainability of the deliverables from this task force and the continued work required, including legislative activities to reduce the financial barriers that students from historically excluded racial and ethnic groups may face.

 

Task Force
Economic resources for students

 

Chair:  DeAndrea Bullock, PT, DPT - Emory University

Commissioner Liaison: Matthew Nuciforo, PT, DPT, PhD - Rosalind Franklin University

  • Amber Brown, PT, DPT - ANB Legacy, LLC 
  • Lori M. Bordenave, PT, DPT, PhD - A.T. Still University of Health Sciences
  • Gustavo Kennedy Martinez, PT, DPT - FisioSSN
  • Bridget Ochuko, PT, DPT, MPH - Washington University
  • Rob Tilman, PT - The American Academy of Physical Therapy

Task Force
Culture of belonging within the PT profession

 

Chair: Kimberly Varnado, PT, DPT, DHSc, FAAOMPT - College of Saint Mary

Commissioner Liaison: Dawn S. Brown, PT, DPT, EdD - Governors State University   

  • Julian Magee, PT, DPT, ATC - Washington University in St. Louis
  • Keshrie Naidoo, PT, DPT, EdD -  MGH Institute of Health Professions
  • Charlene Portee, PT, PhD, FAAPT - Alabama State University
  • LaDarius Woods, PT, DPT, PhD - Alabama State University

Purpose

 

  • To find mechanisms to ensure that students and faculty from historically marginalized and excluded racial and ethnic groups in physical therapy experience (a sense of) belonging.

The task force started by focusing on the experience of students from historically marginalized and excluded racial and ethnic groups in physical therapy. The group identified areas of focus as social isolation, belonging, acculturation, measurement, and interventions.

Using the Journal of Physical Therapy Education (JoPTE) to highlight their work, the group published:

 

Celebrating ACAPT's 10 years of excellence