Fifty years ago today, equity for women took a historic step forward when Title IX was signed into law as part of the Education Amendments Act.

Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities for entities that receive federal financial assistance, and its impacts are far reaching, from improving protections related to sexual harassment to increasing women’s participation in sports.

The 50th anniversary creates an opportunity to celebrate progress and to explore where more improvement is necessary. APTA will participate on June 29 in “Celebrating Title IX and Women in Health Care,” an event hosted by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association as part of the 73rd NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in Philadelphia.

At the event, NATA will unveil the results of a survey designed to measure the current state of equity in sports medicine. APTA distributed the survey to its members on behalf of NATA.

Jill Thein-Nissenbaum, PT, MPT, ATC, DSc, will represent APTA and the APTA Academy of Sports Physical Therapy. She will be joined by NATA President Kathy Dieringer, EdD, LAT, ATC (event host, moderator and participant), and others, representing the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Academy of Physician Associates, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine, and the Black Women in Sport Foundation.