Careers in Physical Therapy
Become a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant to enjoy a rewarding career helping people maximize their quality of life.
Carmen Elliott
Jun 3, 2020/Author
Carmen Elliott, is vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and executive director of the Physical Therapy Fund as of April 2021. Elliott is a longtime member of the APTA staff team, having been with the association since 2006. Previously she served as APTA’s vice president of insurer relations,
Kate Gilliard, JD
Mar 14, 2022/Author
Kate Gilliard was director of Health Policy & Payment within APTA's Public Affairs Unit from Jan. 2022 to Mar. 2024. Before joining association staff in 2018 as a senior regulatory affairs specialist, she was a regulatory analyst with Centene Corporation, focusing on Affordable Care Act-compliant health
Anita Bemis-Dougherty, PT, DPT
Jun 3, 2020/Author
Anita Bemis-Dougherty, PT, DPT, is vice president of practice at APTA. She has been involved in APTA initiatives including clinical documentation and peer review; fall risk reduction and prevention; scope of practice; PT practice in acute care, the ICU, and the emergency department; revisions to the
Justin Elliott
Jun 3, 2020/Author
Justin Elliott is vice president of government affairs at APTA, where he has led the association's legislative, public policy, and political efforts on Capitol Hill since 2015. He has held several positions at APTA since joining the association in 2002, serving as APTA's director of state government
Alice Bell, PT, DPT
Jun 3, 2020/Author
Alice Bell, PT, DPT, is a senior specialist, health policy and payment at APTA. She is a board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy. Before joining APTA in 2017, she was a practicing clinician for 35 years and involved in Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation demonstration
Wanda K. Evans PT, DPT, MHS
Jun 3, 2020/Author
Wanda K. Evans, PT, DPT, MHS, is a senior payment specialist at APTA. Her responsibilities include communicating with members and insurers on inquiries regarding third-party, billing, CPT coding, and payment policies; providing resources in policy development; monitoring trends; and assisting in association
Kara Gainer, JD
Jun 3, 2020/Author
Kara Gainer was director of regulatory affairs at APTA from 2017-2021. She has extensive knowledge and experience working on policies related to Medicare, Medicaid, health care reform, and provider billing and reimbursement. Before joining the association in 2017, she was a health care consultant with
Brad Cooper, PT, MSPT, ATC, MBA
Jun 3, 2020/Author
Brad Cooper, PT, MSPT, ATC, MBA, is the founder of the Catalyst Coaching Institute, which provides the only wellness coach certification (CWC) to earn the approval of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, the National Athletic Trainers Association, the National Consortium for the Credentialing