The APTA Association Leadership Scholars Program, an innovative project that aims to develop future leaders of the association, announced this year's cohort of members selected to participate in a curriculum designed to hone their skills. The 25 PTs, PTAs, and students come from 18 states and represent diverse backgrounds, practice settings, and experience levels.
This year's scholars are:
- Taylor Adkins, PT, DPT (Georgia).
- Blair Fretche, PT, DPT (Colorado).
- Jasmine Blocker, PT, DPT (Virginia).
- Alyssa Bush, PT, DPT (North Carolina).
- Lindsay Clark, PT, DPT (California).
- Kaitlyn Cutler, PTA (North Carolina).
- Allison Daly, PT, DPT (Louisiana).
- Noah DeHart, PT, DPT (Alabama).
- Ruby Dixon, PT, DPT (North Carolina).
- Jon Duellman, PT, DPT (Minnesota).
- Kelley Farley, PT, DPT (Wyoming).
- Ebony Jackson Clark, PT, DPT (Maryland).
- Riley Luetkenhaus, SPT (North Carolina).
- Tyler Luke, PT, DPT (Colorado).
- Maria Elena Luna Espinoza, SPT (Texas).
- Carolina Marrero Rodriguez, PT, DPT (Pennsylvania).
- Silke Mildenberger, PTA (Arizona).
- Kassidy Pehrson, PTA (Alaska).
- Samantha Pietrzak, PT, DPT (Illinois).
- Glen Saldanha, PT, DPT (North Carolina).
- Shannon Scanlan, PT, DPT (Pennsylvania).
- Rachel Seals, PT, DPT (Georgia).
- Laura Siviter, PT, DPT, BS (Florida).
- Noah Watson, PT, DPT (Missouri).
- Christopher Wilson, PT, DPT (South Carolina).
During the one-year program scholars participate in a curriculum that covers association leadership and management topics, with activities that can include group projects and engagement opportunities. Throughout the program, scholars are connected with experienced leader-mentors who enrich their understanding of the profession and the association's role. This year's mentors are Amber Gadow, PT, DPT; Nancy Kirsch, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA; Karen McCulloch, PT, BSPT, MS, FAPTA; Lori Pearlmutter, PT, MPH; and Kristen Vick, PT, DPT.
Now in its fourth year as the APTA Association Leadership Scholars Program, the initiative has its origins in the APTA Centennial Scholars program offered in 2021 in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the association. That program earned an American Society of Association Executives Gold Circle award for its excellence in member engagement. Many of the elements of the Centennial Scholars program have been adopted in the current curriculum.