LIVE from the Federal Advocacy Forum, Jenna Kantor, DPT guest hosts and interviews Jeremy Curtis on freedom of speech in the APTA. Jeremy Curtis is a Doctor of Physical Therapy student at Tennessee State University and President of the APTA Student Assembly.

In this episode, we discuss:

-Why did Jeremy run for president of the student assembly?

-What Jeremy loves about the APTA

-Things the APTA can look to improve with new leadership

-Words of wisdom Jeremy shares regarding student advocacy

-And so much more!

Taking on a leadership role as a student is a large time commitment however Jeremy found he was passionate and, "The biggest thing for me was just wanting to create change and wanting to be a voice for minority students as well."

Jeremy believes that the APTA can improve their representation as, "The population is becoming more diverse and we need to reflect that as well."

Growing organizations should always strive for excellence and, "As a professional organization, we should be open to critiques and constructive criticism of ourselves."

For more information on Jeremy:

The foundation of any profession is having an effective team to establish a vision, and to have the wherewithal to carry out the vision in an efficient manner. There also must be a productive leader in place that has a clear plan that he believes will have a positive effect on those that he is slated to serve. Virtually, an effective leader must know the way, go the way and lead the way. As class president, I have been able to hone and practice my leadership skills. I focus on open communication, proactivity, and practicing ethical standards. I am also a leader that is involved beyond the status quo. In 2016, I served as the Student Government Affairs Liaison for Tennessee. The opportunity to attend the Federal Advocacy Forum increased my yearning for professional knowledge. These opportunities have molded my communication skills when speaking about the profession. It is imperative to relay the positives about the profession in an understandable manner to outside professionals. Additionally, I hope to aid in the fight against student debt. Soaring costs of education, without linear advancements in income, has the potential to be a deleterious issue. Now is the time to combat this issue, and I plan to continue the fight that the SABoD has initiated. Additionally, I would like to aid in creating initiatives for financial growth for the PT-PAC. We are the future and it is our duty to invest now to ensure the steady growth of the profession. Thank you for your consideration.

For more information on Jenna:

Jenna Kantor (co-founder) is a bubbly and energetic girl who was born and raised in Petaluma, California. Growing up, she trained and performed ballet throughout the United States. After earning a BA in Dance and Drama at the University of California, Irvine, she worked professionally in musical theatre for 15+ years with tours, regional theatres, & overseas (www.jennakantor.com) until she found herself ready to move onto a new chapter in her life – a career in Physical Therapy. Jenna is currently in her 3rd year at Columbia University's Physical Therapy Program. She is also a co-founder of the podcast, "Physiotherapy Performance Perspectives," has an evidence-based monthly youtube series titled "Injury Prevention for Dancers," is a NY SSIG Co-Founder, NYPTA Student Conclave 2017 Development Team, works with the NYPTA Greater New York Legislative Task Force and is the NYPTA Public Policy Committee Student Liaison. Jenna aspires to be a physical therapist for amateur and professional performers to help ensure long, healthy careers. To learn more, please check out her website: www.jennafkantor.wixsite.com/jkpt

Resources discussed on this show:

Email: [email protected]

APTA Student Assembly Facebook

Jeremy Curtis Twitter

Jeremy Curtis LinkedIn

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Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!

Xo Karen