In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, PTJ Student Social Media Lead Gaylan Randle interviews Shannon Richardson PT, DPT, EdD, and Kimberly Varnado, PT, DPT, DHSc, about what inspired the transition from traditional grading practices to equitable grading practices at the College of Saint Mary DPT program. Richardson and Varnado discuss what they have learned from the experience, the long-term impact on learner retention, and recommendations for institutions interested in implementing a similar practice. 

Richardson and Varnado are co-authors of the article "Equitable Grading Practices in Physical Therapist Education: A Case Report,” which was recently published as part of the education focus for the PTJ Featured Collection on Health Disparities in Rehabilitation. Read the article on the PTJ website.

J. Kele Murdin, PT, MPT, board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy, discusses why PTs should be leaders in falls prevention efforts. Justin Elliott, vice president of government affairs at APTA, shares what APTA is doing to improve access to PT-led falls prevention for Medicare Beneficiaries and veterans.  

The following were discussed in this episode. For the full list of links mentioned and a transcript for this episode, visit apta.org/podcasts.

Jasmine Blocker, PT, DPT, learned perseverance and determination after failing out of — and subsequently being reinstated into — PT school. Access the article on the APTA Magazine webpage for photos and to learn more about this episode’s speaker.

In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Steven George talks with Jason Silvernail about his perspective paper on defining orthopaedic manual physical therapy (OMPT) as a subspecialty of the profession. Learn about the “all-star” author team behind the article, what it was like to publish in PTJ: Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal, and why now is the time to classify OMPT for future studies. Silvernail is co-author of the article "Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy: A Modern Definition and Description." Read the article on the PTJ website.

Moral spaces provide a safe harbor in perilous waters. 

In this podcast, APTA Ethics and Judicial Committee member Becca Edgeworth Ditwiler, PT, DPT, interviews Ruth Purtilo, PT, PhD, FAPTA, and Gail Jensen, PT, PhD, FAPTA, about the importance of building moral communities to guide decision-making in today’s challenging health care environment.

Read Purtilo’s McMillan Lecture about ethics in a shifting landscape. 

Read more about common and emerging ethical issues facing PTs, PTAs, and students in APTA Magazine’s Ethics in Practice series, written by EJC members. 

A brief introduction from the president of the academy. 

Faith Majors-Culp, SPT, interviewed APTA Geriatrics President Cathy Ciolek, PT, DPT, FAPTA, at APTA CSM in Boston. Learn what Ciolek says makes this specialty unique and how to reframe thinking about older adults. 

Visit the APTA Geriatrics website to learn more about the academy.

Watch a video of this interview on the APTA Magazine website.

This pelvic health PT is on a mission to make pelvic health care a reality for all.

Meet two PTs supporting athletes at the Summer Games.

A brief introduction from the president of the academy.

A PT’s journey with rock climbing and movement science.