ACAPT Innovation Award

The Innovation Award honors a physical therapist who has shown innovation in delivery of educational content that has made a significant impact in learning opportunities for students.

Innovations may include, but are not limited to:

• Creative means to deliver remote content;
• Alternative lab activities that provide interdisciplinary collaboration;
• Development of course resources that allow for increased access for those students with learning differences, or
• Collaborative efforts with education partners outside of his/her academic unit.

Eligibility Criteria

• Individual member of an ACAPT member institution who is currently engaged in physical therapy education.
• Current member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Selection Criteria

• Recipient will have demonstrated innovation in delivery of educational content that has made a significant impact in learning opportunities for students.
• Areas of innovation may include, but are not limited to:
  • Creative means to deliver remote content;
  • Alternative lab activities that provide interdisciplinary collaboration;
  • Development of course resources that allow for increased access for those students with learning differences, or
  • Collaborative efforts with education partners outside of his/her academic unit.

Procedure for Nominations

Nomination packets must include: 

• Written nomination letter addressing the characteristics that distinguish the nominee in the area of innovation in education.
• A formal resume or curriculum vitae of the nominee which includes biographical information pertaining to major professional activities and accomplishments of the nominee.
• Three support letters from APTA members, at least two of which are from ACAPT members. These letters should support the nomination letter by providing a personal account of the teaching activities that distinguish the nominee. The authors of the support letters must document proof of APTA and ACAPT membership.
• Recommended: Submission of supporting artifacts demonstrating innovation in delivery of educational content that have made a significant impact in learning opportunities for students.
• Send one PDF nomination packet to acapt@acapt.org. 

If a nomination was not selected for the award, the nominator may resubmit the same nomination packet one time only in the following calendar year with the option of updating supporting documents. Nominees will not be automatically reconsidered for successive years.

Timeline

The nomination packet must be received by ACAPT by April 30. 

Final decision(s) will be made by the ACAPT Awards & Recognition Committee with recommendations to the Board.

Submission and Review Process

• One award will be given annually.
• There may be years when this award is not given.

Recognition Process

A plaque will be given to the recipient at Educational Leadership Conference (ELC), along with a $300 sponsorship towards registration to the APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) or ELC the following year.