Special Interest Groups

Members need to click here and log in for the Leadership Roster. Non-members please reach out to our ANPT general email.

Assistive Technology/Seating & Wheelchair Mobility

The intent of this SIG is to raise the awareness of the impact of neurologic impairments in falls and fall prevention and improve our understanding of assessment and interventions for balance dysfunction and fall risk and prevention in neurologic disorders. 

Chair
Ginger Walls, PT, MS*

Chair Elect
Tricia Garven, PT, ATP

Vice Chair
Jacob Long, PT, DPT

Secretary
Deborah A. Jones, PT, DPT, CEEAA, ATP⁺

Nominating Committee 

Wendy Koesters, PT  (Chair)
Christopher McGuffey, PT, DPT, APT/SMS*
Kathleen Fitzgerald, PT, DPT

*All the Physical Therapists above are Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialists.

Balance and Falls

The intent of this SIG is to raise the awareness of the impact of neurologic impairments in falls and fall prevention and improve our understanding of assessment and interventions for balance dysfunction and fall risk and prevention in neurologic disorders.

Chair

Debbie Espy, PT, PhD

Chair Elect

Jennifer Nash, PT, DPT*

Vice Chair

Michele Colins

Secretary

Nathan Casey, PT, DPT*

Nominating Committee 
Laura Jacobs, PT, DPT* (Chair)
Anjali Savaramkrishnan, PT, PhD
Marissa Lyon, PT, DPT, PhD

* The Physical Therapists above are Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist.

Brain Injury

The purpose of this group is to provide an avenue of communication and networking for clinicians, educators, and researchers working with or interested in acquired brain injury. The SIG provides a forum for discussion of topics related to brain injury at physical therapy national meetings.

Chair

Carolyn Tassini, PT, DPT*

Vice Chair

Kim Miczak, PT*

Secretary

Amanda Wu, PT, DPT*

Nominating Committee
Natalie Anzures, PT, DPT* (Chair)
Laura Stephens, PT, DPT*
Hannah Foster, PT, DPT*

*All the Physical Therapists above are Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialists

Degenerative Diseases

The SIG updates members regarding current research and treatment through the SIG newsletter and provide a forum for discussion of topics related to neurodegenerative diseases at APTA meetings. We aim to support and develop educational materials about degenerative diseases and provide an avenue of communication and networking for clinicians, educators, and researchers working with or interested in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. 

Chair

Rebecca Martin, PT, DPT*

Chair Elect

Vice Chair
Jeannie Stephenson, PT, PhD*

Secretary
Sara Crandall Zoeller, PT, DPT*

Nominating Committee
Elizabeth Nixon, PT, DPT* (Chair)
Gregory Brusola
Herbert Karpatkin, PT, DSc, MSCS*

*All the Physical Therapists above are Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialists.

Residency and Fellowship

Chair

Dana Lott, PT, DPT

Vice Chair

Christina Platko, PT, DPT

Secretary

Laura Martin, PT, DPT

Nominating Committee

* The Physical Therapists above are Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist.

Spinal Cord Injury

The purpose of this group is to provide an avenue of communication and networking for clinicians, educators, and researchers working with or interested in SCI. The SIG provides a forum for discussion of topics related to SCI at physical therapy national meetings.

Chair

Casey Kandilakis, PT, DPT*

Vice Chair

Christi Hutchison, PT*

Secretary

Sara Hobbs, PT, DPT *

Nominating Committee

Kristen Cezat, PT, DPT, ATP/SMS*
Kaci Handlery, 
Andrew Smith, DPT, PhD

*All the Physical Therapists above are Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialists.

Stroke

The SIG creates a forum for the discussion of rehabilitation issues associated with stroke survivors and form liaisons between APTA and the medical community through the support of research and through national organizations such as the National Stroke Association. Integrate into the community and provide information to the public about the risk factors of stroke and about living with the sequela of stroke.

Chair

Heather Hayes, DPT, PhD*

Chair Elect

Chitra Lakshmi Balasubramanian

Vice Chair

Michelle Sawtelle, PT, MPT, PhD

Secretary

Anne Boddy, PT

Nominating Committee
Virginia Little, PT, DPT* (Chair)
Mackenzie Wilson, PT, DPT
Jessica Straughn, PT

*All the Physical Therapists above are Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialists.

Vestibular Rehabilitation

The goal of the SIG is to facilitate exchange of information that would impact the treatment of the vestibular patient between researchers and clinicians. Act as a liaison between SIG members and organizations with interest in vestibular rehabilitation. Monitor and share information on reimbursement systems and the coverage policies for vestibular rehabilitation.

Chair 

Rachel Wellons, PT, DPT*

Vice Chair

Lisa Heusel-Gillig, PT, DPT

Secretary

Holly Roberts, PT, DPT, PhD, GCS*

Nominating Committee

Chia-Cheng Lin, PT, MSPT, PhD
Dawn Fitzgerald, PT, DPT
Heidi Roth, PT, MS, DHS*

Advisory and Practice Liaisons

Lisa Dransfield, PT, DPT, MA

Newsletter Editor

Deborah Struiksma, PT*

*All the Physical Therapists above are Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialists.

SIG Awards Coordinators 

Assistive Technology / Seating & Wheeled Mobility  

Tammy Johnson 

Balance & Falls

Hina Garg

Brain Injury

Natalie Anzures

Degenerative Diseases

Herb Karpatkin

Christina Burke

Spinal Cord Injury

Andrea Stump

Stroke

Margie Roos

Vestibular

Karen Skop

*All the Physical Therapists above are Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialists.