ACAPT's diversity award winner Carmen Capo pushes the boundaries of knowledge in academic PT
To support diversity in academic and clinical PT leadership, the leading voice of physical therapist education programs funded diversity awards to the APTA Academy of Education Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership (formerly
ELI) again in 2023.
ACAPT offers two awards of $7,000 for the Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership (FHEL) annually, plus up to $5,000 for travel and expenses.
Congrats to recent award recipients:
Carmen Capo, PT, PhD
Program Director
Universidad Ana G. Mendez
Below is a recap from Carmen Capo:
Having recently completed the APTA Academy of Education Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership (FHEL), I am compelled to share my experiences and express my gratitude to the community that has supported this transformative journey.
As I embark in this new chapter, I am committed to advancing the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities through transformative practices. I envision our graduates as autonomous movement system experts who offer quality evidence-informed services, equipped with the ethical and moral courage to lead, reflect, adapt, and collaborate. As such, my leadership goals revolve around five key pillars:
- fostering innovation and excellence in education through the continuum of learning,
- building high-performing teams with shared decision making,
- advocating for impactful outcomes (e.g., direct access),
- networking and collaboration to drive positive change on a collective scale, and
- promoting health equity and social justice.
In summary, I envision my next decades in academia as a journey where humility, determination, and collective spirit will result in meaningful impact in the field of PT education locally and nationally.
In recognizing ACAPT as a pivotal platform for advancing my professional goals and seeing the alignment with its vision, mission, and values, ACAPT has already begun to shape my journey. The resources and insights I have already gained from ACAPT, such as the Excellence Framework and the DPT Program Guidelines have not only enriched my understanding of best practices in PT education but also inspired me to explore new avenues for professional growth and development.