2023 ANPT Annual Conference Keynote Speaker

Patrick Ford, PT, DPT

Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist

The Power of Empathy: A Stroke Survivor's Journey as an Inclusive Clinician.

Dr. Ford earned his DPT degree from Creighton University in 2018. He has been recognized as a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist since 2020 and has spent his clinical career practicing in the outpatient private practice setting. With his colleague Elijah Muhammad, Dr. Ford co-founded Project Onyx, a non-profit organization whose goal is eliminating the barriers that BIPOC teens face in health and fitness. Dr. Ford developed a continuing education course “Antiracism and DEIB for Clinicians”. He was the keynote speaker at the 2022 APTA Massachusetts Annual Conference.

In the summer of 2022, Dr. Ford sustained a vertebral artery dissection and subsequent cerebellar and medullary stroke. He quickly went from provider to patient. His experiences have provided him with a unique perspective on life that he hopes to share with his PT colleagues.

Dr. Ford will share his journey as a stroke survivor, PT, and DEI educator.  He will discuss how these roles have shaped his perspective on the power of empathy and how empathy plays a critical role in clinical practice.  He will offer his thoughts on how we can achieve a more inclusive and effective approach to patient care. The audience will be challenged to think critically about their own practice and work towards creating a more inclusive and compassionate clinical environment.