May 2025 marks the celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a time to highlight the personal and professional journeys of individuals who have carved unique paths, demonstrating excellence in academic physical therapy and inspiring future generations. Join us in honoring Sam Pak, PT, DPT, ACHIP, ACAPT Data Advisory Committee vice-chair and Associate Professor at University of California, San Francisco. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in this field?

Believe it or not, PT is my second career. Prior to pivoting to physical therapy, I held several different positions, including my first job out of college as an auditor for a public accounting firm, then moving on to IT consulting. While I enjoyed solving problems and creating innovative solutions in the tech space, it didn't quite resonate with my deeper interest in working with people, especially within rehabilitation science, which I had some exposure to in high school but still knew little about. My experience with a physiotherapist, who provided my post-operative rehab after a knee injury, really made me consider whether this could be a viable career path. Making this career shift required convincing my parents, who had very little knowledge about physiotherapy, that pivoting to this new field was a better long-term decision. What I didn't realize was that I would come full circle with healthcare and technology through health informatics in physical therapy, where I was fortunate to leverage my previous experience with my clinical work in PT. It's been a fun journey, and I'm really fortunate to have experienced both worlds.

Can you share a defining moment in your professional journey?

I was transitioning from clinical work to health technology right when the government was incentivizing EHR adoption across healthcare (through the HITECH Act). While actively practicing clinically, I became very interested in how things worked on the backend of these super expensive EHR systems - primarily because I wanted to find ways to improve our data collection, reuse it, and ultimately make these tools work for us. At the time, I wasn't familiar with the term "informatics"; rather, I was labeled as that "PT IT guy" in the clinic where I would help colleagues with EHR training materials and troubleshoot their IT problems while still working as a PT. I realized that to truly understand how EHRs work, I needed to understand the whole spectrum of data processing, related policies, and how it impacts patient outcomes - all of which led me to study health informatics. Shortly after this epiphany, I decided to pursue post-graduate education in bioinformatics as one of the very few PTs enrolled in an Informatics program at that time, transitioning to a full-time Healthcare IT team. That was a major pivoting point in my career.

How has your heritage influenced your approach to work and leadership?

A lot of it stems from my mom's act of service and incredible resilience. As an immigrant, I saw firsthand her relentless work ethic despite facing countless barriers beyond just language - navigating a new culture and learning new skills by going to night school while working two different jobs AND raising us. She modeled what she preached – looking for opportunities to keep learning and pursuing a life of service to others. She has exemplified this throughout her life, and she is truly my hero. Her strong sense of humor helps too!

Why do you think Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is important in our profession?

Beyond the rich historical significance of Jeanie Jew, who advocated for AAPI month in honor of family members who worked on the Transcontinental railroad, I think it gives us a moment for reflection and celebrates all those who came before me, paving the way (directly and indirectly) for us. There's so much to discuss about the rich history of AAPI communities, but one key significance is the opportunity for us to pay forward the privilege of being in the US and serving the communities I'm part of, whether through my work, committees, personal activities, or other volunteer organizations. It's really about remembering those who went before us and advocated for inclusion and representation.

Have you faced challenges related to representation in your field? How did you navigate them?

Not as much as others probably have. Being in the Bay Area, where cultural diversity is abundant, I'm fortunate to connect with many people who may or may not share the same heritage but understand that we're all part of an important and growing tapestry of diverse people serving the greater good of one another. I’m super fortunate about that.

What advice would you give to young professionals from underrepresented backgrounds?

Remember your roots, as many have gone before you. And during times when you feel stuck in your career or life decisions, know that there are people - some whom you may not even know yet - who genuinely care for you and are willing to support you simply because they live a life of service.

What are some projects or initiatives you’re most proud of?

I'm proud of all the informatics projects in our department and health system. These include studying telehealth implementation, integrating patient outcome measures to develop personalized dashboards for residents, and quality improvement projects that we've been extending to our orthopedic residents as part of their learning systems experience. These initiatives truly take a village, and I'm grateful to our supportive leadership and the amazing people I get to work with.

How has your role in ACAPT shaped your perspective?

As vice-chair of the data advisory committee, working closely with Ken Kosier, the current chair, I get a box-seat view and the privilege of working with an incredibly talented and humble team. Those who served on the data task force before my time on the committee helped pave the way to develop a culture of excellence in data use in our academic programs. They're truly a data all-star team, and I'm grateful to be part of it.

What impact do you hope to leave on the profession?

We're at an exciting time with the explosion of data use and artificial intelligence. With so many innovations emerging, I hope many in our profession will take more risks and ground themselves in the field of informatics. I would love to see more PTs involved and leading in this space!

Who has been a mentor or role model for you?

There are too many to list, but three people immediately come to mind. Dr. Kim Topp exemplifies lifelong learning and has a big heart for the profession and for the growth of her students and mentees. Plus, we share the same interests in informatics! Dr. Amber Fitzsimmons is another strong advocate for the profession, innovation, and delivering care in a humanistic way using data and technology. I've learned (and continue to learn) about intentional inclusiveness in our practice from her. And last but certainly not least, Dr. Julia Chevan - I've been incredibly fortunate to collaborate with her on different projects. She's one of a kind - visionary, thoughtful, sharp, and always challenging the norm.

What does community mean to you, and how do you build connections in your work?

Community goes beyond finding people with the same interests. It's about working with people who may not share the same perspectives but respect each other's differences because we share the same values. This notion has been somewhat challenged in recent years, but I believe a strong community is where you can agree to disagree yet still enjoy time together over happy hour. That's what makes my community unique. I've been fortunate to make connections both within and outside my profession through systems improvement opportunities and research collaborations, especially related to health service research projects.

Are there cultural traditions or values that you integrate into your career?

Besides the golden rule – treating others as you would like to be treated – Korean culture emphasizes deep respect for elders. Obviously, "elders" doesn't simply mean someone older in age, but respecting your colleagues and peers as such, while keeping the golden rule in mind. This principle has kept me grounded over the years, though, as my kids would say, I still have lots of room to grow!