Skip to main content

EmbeddedPTs-banner.png

Pictured: Drew Contreras, accompanied by his wife Roseann, is promoted by President Barack Obama to the rank of lieutenant colonel.


Retired Lt. Col. Drew Contreras, PT, DPT, says one reason for his successful career is that he does his best to treat every patient the same.

That skill especially helped him not to be starstruck when he served from 2010 to 2017 at the White House as the first embedded PT in its medical unit. In addition to serving as President Barack Obama's PT (a role he still fills for the now ex-president), Contreras treated members of Obama's cabinet, senior White House officials, Secret Service agents, and the entire resident staff — including chefs, groundskeepers, and repair personnel.

Log in or create a free account to keep reading.


Join APTA to get unlimited access to content.


You Might Also Like...

Article

APTA Launches Campaign Tools for National Physical Therapy Month

October is National Physical Therapy Month, and APTA is using the occasion to amplify an important message: Physical therapy has a role to play throughout

Article

Remembering Joseph Black: An APTA Leader

Joseph Black, PhD, former senior vice president of APTA's education division and an APTA honorary member, passed away on Aug. 15 at the age of 88. Black

Article

APTA Presses for Inclusion of CPT Codes in UHC Prior Authorization Reforms

Following UnitedHealthcare's Sept. 1 announcement eliminating 30% of prior authorization requirements for many of its plans, APTA reviewed the policy and