Congratulations to ACAPT's 2024 award recipients!

Learn more about ACAPT's awards

Emerging Educator Award: Derek Liuzzo, PT, DPT, PhD, MBA - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Dr. Liuzzo is an assistant professor and assistant program director in the department of physical therapy at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is a national professional leader in the APTA Academy of Education Academic Faculty SIG, currently serving as chair with multiple prior offices. He also serves on the APTA Academy of Education Network Community Task Force. Within his program, Dr. Liuzzo is leading the charge to overhaul their DPT admissions process to involve a more wholistic review of each candidate. 

• He has six published peer-reviewed articles, one book chapter, and 30 peer-reviewed professional presentations at regional and national levels.
• He has established two podcasts: Truth or Hype: PTs Reading Beyond the Abstract and Office Hours with a Physio.
• Annually, Dr. Liuzzo leads a lab that brings together DPT and OTD students for neuro rehab cases. He coordinates DPT and PTA students working together in a spinal cord injury simulation lab and organizes a troupe of skilled actors for simulation from area clinicians, retired PTs, and PTs working part-time or who have temporarily stepped away from practice. 
• His innovative pedagogical techniques such as team and case-based learning, Socratic seminars, flexible learning environments, un-grading and creative encouragement foster active learning and cultivate critical thinking skills.

Innovation Award: Ian Rheault, PT, DPT, OCS - Lincoln Memorial University

Dr. Rheault consistently demonstrates a commitment to innovation as evidenced by the development of unique experiences that foster growth in the effective domain of learning as well as the inspired delivery of interprofessional education content. 

• He spearheaded the development of creative means to deliver interprofessional education content in a remote and enduring way that allows for the participation of hundreds of student learners. Nearly 600 participants joined from osteopathic medicine, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician associate/assistant, and pharmacy.

A unique and rewarding experience that Dr. Rheault pioneered is the partnerships forged with education, community, and healthcare organizations such as homeless shelters, community hospitals, and community college COTA and PTA programs to create immersive and meaningful learning experiences in which students participate in the care of homeless and/or underinsured patients bridging the gap between academia and real-world practice.

Friend of PT Award: Janet Stevenson - University of Southern California (USC)

Janet Stevenson is the Director of Student Services for the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California (USC). Starting as the sole student affairs specialist within the Division, Janet built the team to six staff FTEs and is the only staff member of the executive committee. 

Janet is also one of the very few non-PT members who:

• Member of the ACAPT Institute for Teaching & Learning Programmatic Strategies for Ensuring Student Success task force
• Has presented strategies for excellence in DPT education as co-author of educational session at 2023 ELC
• Has co-authored educational research abstracts at ELC & CSM

As a fierce advocate for students, Janet tirelessly works on the student's behalf to ensure they have access to the full range of services they need to be successful. In her pursuit of anticipating and meeting student's needs, she has become a true asset to the academic community providing critical mentoring, modeling exceptional student communication, delivery, and advocating for optimal management of the students by other health care professionals.