In this episode of PTA+ (Physical Therapist Assistant), Katie talks with Ryan Elsass, PTA, CSCS, owner of Ace Sports Performance in Pittsburgh. Ryan shares how failing forward—PT school rejection and an early setback in PTA school—pushed him into a niche bridging rehab to real-life performance for golfers, tennis players, and pickleball athletes.

We cover:

• Why patients often get re-injured after discharge—and how to close the gap
• The mindset shift: don’t demonize pickleball (or deadlifts)—train for the demands
• How TPI screens reveal mobility/stability needs that show up in the swing
• PTA career growth: mentorship, certifications, and building a role that fits you
• “Assess, don’t guess” training—why cookie-cutter exercise lists fall short

00:00 Intro: bridging rehab + performance

01:04 Sponsor: MedBridge

01:24 Katie & Ryan history

04:00 What Ryan does now (PTA + performance)

07:13 PT school rejection → new path

09:04 The discharge-to-gym injury gap

13:40 Closed-loop care + collaboration

17:20 Pickleball + “don’t demonize the movement”

20:15 TPI screens + prevention

22:35 PTAs boxed in + building a niche

27:50 Failure stories + growth

34:10 Student panic + safety nets

36:01 “My name is Linda” (rapport + confidence)

38:24 Advice for PTAs who don’t fit the mold

41:45 Game: screen or swing?

44:38 Live mini-screen demo + regional interdependence

51:17 Ryan’s plus points + mentorship

53:00 Where to find Ryan

Where to find Ryan:

Website: https://www.aceperformancepgh.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AceSportsPerformancePGH/

Ryan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elsassrt/ (bio references @aceperformancepgh)

Follow PTA+:

Website: https://www.ptapluspodcast.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ptapluspodcast/videos

Instagram (show): https://www.instagram.com/pta_plus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/PTA-Podcast-100093326902910/

LinkedIn (Katie Sutton): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-sutton-0725

MedBridge —

Katie’s affiliate discount is available via:

https://www.medbridge.com/pricing?utm_source=PTA+Plus+Podcast&utm_medium=Affiliate+Link

https://www.ptapluspodcast.com/

(code:PTAPLUS, also mentioned in episode).

Feeling overwhelmed about CSM? You’re not alone. In this episode, Katie flips the format and lets Macy Frederick Rogers (first-time attendee) ask the questions every PTA is thinking—so you can walk into CSM with a plan.

You’ll hear practical tips on:

• How to build a schedule you can actually follow (without burnout)
• What first-timers miss in the exhibit hall (including activations + APTA pavilion moments)
• Networking that doesn’t feel cringey—and why talking to presenters matters
• Packing and travel strategy (time change, snacks, shoes, coffee hacks, and more)
• Posters, overflow rooms, and how to support other PTAs in the space

Affiliate: MedBridge

Use code PTAPLUS, find the discount link at ptapluspodcast.com

Katie’s affiliate discount is available via:

https://www.medbridge.com/pricing?utm_source=PTA+Plus+Podcast&utm_medium=Affiliate+Link

https://www.ptapluspodcast.com/

Subscribe & Follow

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ptapluspodcast/videos
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-sutton-0725
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pta_plus/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/PTA-Podcast-100093326902910/
• Website: ptapluspodcast.com

Your Physical Therapist Assistant career can be bigger than a job title—and Sara Conrad is living proof. Sara shares how she built a career blending outpatient ortho, sports performance, ethics, leadership, and education while staying rooted in patient care.

You’ll hear:

• How Sara found the PTA path through a truly nonlinear journey
• What licensure boards actually do (and how they differ from association work)
• How FSBPT involvement can open doors for PTAs
• Why ethics and leadership aren’t “extra”—they’re part of practicing well
• How to take the first step if “boards and legislation” sounds intimidating

Guest

Sara Conrad, PTA, ART — Twin Cities Orthopedics Twin Cities Orthopedics

Resources Mentioned

• Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy — Sara’s bio mn.gov // Minnesota's State Portal
• Paradis Sport — Sara’s feature Paradis Sport+1
• APTA — Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapy Profession (effective Jan 1, 2026) American Physical Therapy Association+1
• Afton Trail Run interview (2019 Afton 50K Winner) Afton Trail Run

Connect with Sara

• LinkedIn: LinkedIn

New York’s move to general supervision for PTAs is a major win—and a powerful case study in why advocacy matters.

In this episode, Katie sits down with clinic leaders to unpack:

• What general supervision really changes for PTAs
• How advocacy led to meaningful policy reform
• Why rural and outpatient clinics are expanding PTA-led models
• The truth about the PTA modifier and reimbursement
• How mentorship sustains careers—not just clinics

This conversation is essential listening for PTAs, students, educators, and anyone invested in the future of rehab.

Jessica Hochberg proves that being a PTA is not a limitation - it is a launchpad. In this episode, Katie talks with Jessica (former Director of Rehab, certified stroke rehab and fall prevention specialist, and MBA in healthcare management) about the career moves PTAs are not always taught: how to build leadership skills, reframe your transferable strengths, and pursue non-clinical paths like quality, documentation review, and health tech.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why leadership roles often default to PT, OT, or SLP, and how PTAs can still rise
• The evaluation barrier and what it means for career ladders
• Real-world value of documentation, compliance, and quality improvement work
• Health tech roles PTAs can pursue (product, sales, clinical support)
• How to rewrite your resume in business language (numbers, outcomes, impact)
• Using LinkedIn strategically to learn, connect, and find opportunities
• Letting go of guilt: leaving bedside care does not mean you stopped caring
• Myth vs Reality game and Jessicas PTA+ Point hero moment

Links and mentions:

Guest: Jessica Hochberg

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-hochberg-mba-pta-csrs-cfps-b14106220/

Host: Katie Sutton / PTA+

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093326902910

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pta_plus/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-sutton-0725/

Mentioned:

APTA Advanced Proficiency Pathways (APP) and volunteer opportunities

https://www.apta.org/for-ptas/pta-advanced-proficiency-pathways

Mentioned:

The Non-Clinical PT

https://thenonclinicalpt.com/

What does leadership look like for PTAs—and how do you grow into it when the path isn’t always clear?

In this episode of PTA+, host Katie Sutton sits down with Amy Smith Hamel, PTA, a respected leader in physical therapy and Regional Director of Operations at Restore Therapy in Alabama, for a grounded, honest conversation about leadership, growth, and saying yes before you feel ready.

Amy shares her journey into leadership, the moments that shaped her career, and why mentorship, service, and stepping into opportunity matter—especially when the road gets tough. We talk about developing your own leadership style, leading through adversity, and what it really means to weather storms when you’re responsible for more than just yourself.

Beyond her professional role, Amy brings her whole self to the conversation—as a mountain biker, wife, mom, and lifelong learner—offering a reminder that leadership doesn’t happen in isolation from life.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• how Amy stepped into leadership and grew along the way
• the role mentorship and service played in her career
• how to develop a leadership style that fits you
• lessons on leading through adversity and uncertainty
• a special “Plus Point” segment featuring Amy

If you’re a PTA who’s curious about leadership—or already in it and figuring things out as you go—this episode offers practical insight, encouragement, and perspective.

???? Watch the episode:

https://youtu.be/TooenM5CTME

What actually increases your worth as a PTA—and how do you make it happen on purpose?

In this episode of PTA+, host Katie Sutton sits down with Sanaz Holcomb, PTA, BS, to explore the developmental pathways that help PTAs grow their skills, expand their influence, and increase their professional value.

Sanaz breaks down several powerful opportunities available to PTAs, including:

• APTA PTA Advanced Proficiency Pathways (APPs)
• LIFE Series Leadership Academy through the Ohio Physical Therapy Association
• LAMP Leadership through the APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation

As a home health PTA with extensive experience in outpatient physical therapy, Sanaz brings a well-rounded perspective on how leadership, mentorship, and professional development translate across settings.

This conversation goes beyond certifications and titles. Sanaz shares how both giving and receiving mentorship reshaped her career path—and how stepping into leadership roles at the state and national level changed what she believed was possible as a PTA. She also discusses her current role as one of eight members of the newly formed APTA PTA Council Steering Group, helping guide the future of PTA representation.

You’ll hear about:

• how advanced proficiency pathways actually work
• why leadership development increases real-world value—not just résumés
• the role mentorship plays in career momentum
• advocacy, patient networks, and professional visibility
• how PTAs can be intentional about growth instead of waiting to be “picked”

If you’re looking for a clearer roadmap to professional growth—and want to increase your impact, confidence, and worth as a PTA—this episode delivers practical insight and inspiration.

• Follow Sanaz Holcomb on Twitter: @sanaz_armand
• APTA PTA Advanced Proficiency Pathways:
• https://www.apta.org/for-ptas/pta-advanced-proficiency-pathways
• APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation (LAMP):
• https://www.aptahpa.org/page/LAMP
• Ohio Physical Therapy Association LIFE Series Leadership Academy:
• https://www.ohiopt.org/page/LIFESeriesLeadership

Contact the host:

Katie Sutton — [email protected]

Follow Katie on Twitter: @ksuttonpta

What if the PTA career path isn’t a straight line—but a wide-open map?

In this episode of PTA+, host Katie Sutton explores how PTAs are creating new, non-traditional career pathways—inside and outside the clinic. This conversation challenges the idea that there’s only one way to build a successful PTA career and highlights the opportunities that open up when you think beyond the job description.

We talk about:

• why the “traditional” PTA path often feels limiting
• how PTAs are expanding their roles through leadership, specialization, advocacy, and entrepreneurship
• the skills PTAs already have that translate into new opportunities
• how curiosity, initiative, and visibility can reshape your career trajectory
• practical ways to start exploring what’s next—without burning everything down

Whether you’re early in your career, feeling stuck, or simply curious about what else is possible, this episode offers a refreshing, realistic look at how PTAs can design careers that evolve with them.

If you’ve ever asked yourself “Is this all there is?”—this conversation is for you.

What does it take to break through barriers as a PTA—and still build a life that feels full?

In this episode of PTA+, host Katie Sutton sits down with Chris Junkins, PTA, ATC/L, co-owner of Dosher Physical Therapy Associates in upstate South Carolina, for an honest conversation about leadership, resilience, and saying yes to opportunity.

Chris shares his journey as a PTA clinician working with athletes, testing employees for industry roles, and stepping into ownership—along with the real barriers he had to overcome along the way. We talk about what holds PTAs back, how to push past those limits, and what leadership actually looks like in the real world.

Beyond the clinic, Chris opens up about the things that fuel him: outdoor adventure, good food, live music, and his roots in Georgia and South Carolina (plus the unexpected confession of being a Yankees fan).

He also shares a book that deeply shaped his mindset—Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand—and gives a heartfelt shout-out to a group of PTAs who’ve influenced his career and become lifelong friends: David Emerick, Russell Stowers, John Linberger, Debbie Bormann, Juli Robine, Cherie Metz, and Nancy Brox-Koftan, known together as The Barefoot Gang.

Listeners will walk away inspired by Chris’s adventurous spirit, his commitment to growth, and a clearer picture of what’s possible when PTAs lean into leadership—both professionally and personally.

What really happens inside the APTA House of Delegates—and why should PTAs care?

In this Top 5 re-release, Katie Sutton sits down with PTA Council Delegates Brenda Dorman, Jeannie Thompson, and David Harris for a behind-the-scenes conversation on the decisions, debates, and momentum shaping the future of the PTA profession.

You’ll hear:

• how the profession has evolved (and what’s helped propel PTAs forward)
• what it was like casting the first votes on behalf of PTAs in 2022 and 2023
• the strides PTAs have made over the past decade—and what “bravery in the house” really looks like
• where PTA rights and representation stand today
• why being involved in your professional association matters more than you think
• the leadership paths these three PTAs took to get here—and what it means for your next step

If you’ve ever wondered how change actually happens in our profession, this one delivers the real-world, actionable version—straight from the people in the room.

• Brenda Dorman: [email protected]
• Jeannie Thompson: [email protected]
• David Harris: [email protected]
• Host, Katie Sutton: [email protected]

• Facebook: PTA+ Podcast
• Instagram: PTA+ Podcast

URLs:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093326902910

https://www.instagram.com/pta_plus/