ACAPT was a proud sponsor of the second Lynda D. Woodruff Lecture on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Physical Therapy in June 2021 -- featuring speaker Charlene Portee, PT, PhD and dean of the College of Health Sciences at ACAPT member institution Alabama State University. 

The title of the lecture was "The Road to Success: Are we ready to change direction?"

"Our profession has been slow in traveling the road toward diversity, equity, and inclusion," Portee said. "We cannot go back in time to change our past, but we can certainly change our future."

Viewing the lecture & panel discussion

You can read a recap of the lecture on APTA's site. 

A live panel discussion also featured:

• Kai Kennedy, PT, DPT (moderator), associate professor, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of California, San Francisco.
• Tiffany Adams, PT, DPT, MBA, board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy, and clinical assistant professor at Winston-Salem State University.
• Leon Anderson III, PT, MOMT, president of Sports and Spine Physical Therapy, Ohio and North Carolina.
• Rachel Herron, PT, DPT, chair of the APTA Washington Special Committee for DEI and physical therapist at Northwest Wellness, Federal Way, Washington.

There is no fee to watch the lecture and no registration required. However, the cosponsoring organizations ask that viewers donate at least $10 to one of the following:

• Lynda D. Woodruff Endowed Research Grant for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Physical Therapy.
• American Academy of Physical Therapy.
• APTA's Campaign for Future Generations, which supports the Minority Scholarship Fund and the Dimensions of Diversity Fund.
• National Association of Black Physical Therapists.

About the lecturer

Charlene Portee, PT, PhD, is the dean of the College of Health Sciences, interim director of the Physical Therapy Department, and a tenured associate professor in the Physical Therapy Program at Alabama State University. She is a charter member and fellow of the American Academy of Physical Therapy and served as their president for nine years.

About the lecture

The Lynda D. Woodruff Lecture is cosponsored by the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT), Physical Therapy Learning Institute, American Academy of Physical Therapy, National Association of Black Physical Therapists, the APTA Academy of Education, and APTA. This lecture is held annually around Juneteenth.

The inaugural lecture was delivered by Gregory Hicks, PT, PhD, FAPTA, on July 1, 2020, and featured a related panel discussion.

• Watch the 2020 Lynda D. Woodruff Lecture: Who do we want to be? Responsible stewardship of our profession.
• Watch the 2020 panel discussion.
  
  

Access more diversity, equity, and inclusion resources.