🎙️ Podcast Episode Summary

Recorded live at CSM in Anaheim, this episode of the S2N Podcast features a dynamic conversation with Tiffany Treis, Program Director of the PTA program at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in Fresno.

Tiffany shares her 20-year journey as a Physical Therapist Assistant turned educator and program director, helping launch Gurnick’s first PTA program in California’s Central Valley. With healthcare facing a shortage of nearly 30,000 clinicians nationwide, the need for innovative education models has never been greater.

Key highlights from the conversation:

✅ Launching a new PTA program in the Central Valley

🚀 An accelerated 11-month pathway to licensure

🎓 Serving students from 19-year-olds fresh out of high school to second-career professionals

📈 Addressing the growing workforce shortage in physical therapy

🤝 The power of mentorship and clinical partnerships

🧠 Continuing education insights from CSM sessions on O2 desaturation, diabetic neuropathy, and Parkinson’s interventions

Beyond the professional conversation, there’s culture, connection (yes — Azores shoutout 🇵🇹), and a shared passion for elevating the next generation of clinicians.

If you care about the future of physical therapy education, workforce development, and building strong clinical leaders in the Valley — this episode is for you.