APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation

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APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation is a component of the American Physical Therapy Association

🦈 Think Your Idea Could Change the Future of Physical Therapy?It's time to dive in! The 4th Annual Physical Therapy Shar...
10/15/2026

🦈 Think Your Idea Could Change the Future of Physical Therapy?

It's time to dive in! The 4th Annual Physical Therapy Shark Tank is officially accepting submissions!

Hosted by the APTA Academy of Leadership & Innovation's Technology in PT Special Interest Group, this competition gives innovators, entrepreneurs, clinicians, and researchers the opportunity to showcase ideas that could transform physical therapy practice and patient care.

Have an innovative product, service, technology, or solution? We want to hear from you!

Three finalists will be selected to pitch their ideas LIVE at APTA CSM 2027 in Philadelphia, where they'll have three minutes to present their innovation, followed by a five-minute Q&A with judges and the audience.

Submission Deadline: October 31, 2026

Whether your idea is in the early stages or ready to make an impact, this is your opportunity to share your vision and help shape what's next for physical therapy.

Don't just imagine the future of PT. Help create it!

Submit your idea: https://loom.ly/_jL9cTE

10/14/2026

Your PT degree is not the destination. It's the starting point.

As we celebrate Physical Therapy Month, Kristen Walls, ALI's Education Committee Chair, has an important message for the next generation of PTs and PTAs: Think bigger than your job description.

Your education prepares you for more than clinical practice. It builds skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, leadership, and innovation that can open doors you may not have even considered.

From education and research to advocacy, technology, and leadership, the opportunities to make an impact extend far beyond traditional roles.

Don't limit your future to the jobs that exist today. Build the skills to help shape the opportunities of tomorrow.

At ALI, we're celebrating the PTs and PTAs who are expanding what's possible and moving our profession forward.

WE MOVE. WE LEAD. WE INNOVATE.

Happy Physical Therapy Month!

ALI MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Michael Blizniak, PT, DPT, OCS, COMT, CSCSWhat happens when a passion for physical therapy meets a...
10/13/2026

ALI MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Michael Blizniak, PT, DPT, OCS, COMT, CSCS

What happens when a passion for physical therapy meets a commitment to health equity?

For ALI member Michael Blizniak, it means expanding access to care, creating opportunities for future physical therapists, and making a meaningful impact in underserved communities.

As an Assistant Professor at Pacific Northwest University, Michael is helping prepare the next generation of physical therapists while expanding access to care through pro bono clinics and community partnerships in Yakima, Washington.

His work reflects the power of leadership, innovation, and service to strengthen our profession and the communities we serve.

We're proud to spotlight Michael and the difference he's making through his work and involvement with APTA's Global Health Special Interest Group!

Swipe through to learn more about Michael's journey and impact.

Read his story: https://loom.ly/GNw4udI

October is in full swing, and there’s still plenty happening at ALI! Whether you're looking to connect with fellow membe...
10/12/2026

October is in full swing, and there’s still plenty happening at ALI!

Whether you're looking to connect with fellow members, strengthen your leadership skills, explore new management strategies, or get involved in shaping the future of physical therapy, we have opportunities for you!

Don't miss out! ALI Shark Tank submissions close October 31! Have an innovative idea that could move our profession forward? Now is your chance to share it.

Check out our upcoming events, mark your calendar, and get involved with your ALI community!

Learn more and register at www.aptaali.org

Shark Tank: https://loom.ly/_jL9cTE

World Mental Health Day | October 10Mental health matters. For our patients, our colleagues, our communities, and oursel...
10/10/2026

World Mental Health Day | October 10

Mental health matters. For our patients, our colleagues, our communities, and ourselves.

At APTA Academy of Leadership & Innovation (ALI), we recognize that meaningful leadership includes creating environments where people feel supported, valued, and empowered to prioritize their well-being.

As physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, educators, students, and healthcare leaders, we have an opportunity to help reduce stigma, encourage open conversations, and recognize the important connection between physical and mental health.

Looking for resources to support yourself or others?

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Education, support groups, and resources for individuals and families.
https://loom.ly/clyt5Ao

Mental Health America
Mental health screenings, educational tools, and wellness resources.
https://loom.ly/G7_N5iU

988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline
Free, confidential support available 24/7 for anyone experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis.
Call or text **988** or visit https://loom.ly/Sxyz3VM

World Health Organization
Global mental health information, awareness initiatives, and resources.
https://loom.ly/q5aCWoo

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
Resources and information on physical therapy, health, and well-being.
https://loom.ly/siaTQJE

Small actions can make a meaningful difference:
- Check in on a colleague, friend, or family member.
- Create space for honest conversations about mental health.
- Take time to rest, recharge, and prioritize your own well-being.
- Encourage someone who is struggling to seek support.
- Promote a workplace culture that values mental health as much as physical health.

Leadership isn't just about supporting others. It's also about recognizing when we need support ourselves.

Today and every day, let's work toward healthier, more compassionate communities.

Global PT Day of Service | October 10Leadership starts with service. How will YOU make a difference?Today, physical ther...
10/10/2026

Global PT Day of Service | October 10

Leadership starts with service. How will YOU make a difference?

Today, physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, students, and supporters around the world are coming together to give back to their communities!

At APTA Academy of Leadership & Innovation (ALI), we believe leadership isn't just about the roles we hold. It's about the impact we make.

Looking for ways to serve? Here are some ideas and organizations to help you get started!

Give Back to Your Community
- Volunteer at a local food bank through Feeding America: https://loom.ly/xkQDAIE
- Help build or repair homes with Habitat for Humanity: https://loom.ly/k3-PmZE
- Find a local volunteer opportunity through Idealist: https://loom.ly/zieWiPk

Promote Movement & Inclusion
- Volunteer with Special Olympics to support athletes of all abilities: https://loom.ly/MI04bPA
- Organize a free community movement or fall prevention workshop.
- Support a local adaptive recreation or wellness program.

Make a Difference in Other Ways
- Visit a senior living community and organize an activity.
- Mentor a student or emerging healthcare professional.
- Participate in a neighborhood cleanup.
- Support a community project through United Way: https://loom.ly/k6F4oGE
- Volunteer with the American Red Cross: https://loom.ly/2JIqcCk

Remember: You don't need to organize a major event to make an impact. An hour of your time, a helping hand, or sharing your expertise can make a meaningful difference.

We want to see ALI members in action!

How are you giving back? Share your service projects, post a photo, and tag ALI so we can celebrate the impact our members are making across the country!

Learn more about the Global PT Day of Service movement: https://loom.ly/yNhNSII

Together, we can lead through service, inspire others, and strengthen our communities.

10/08/2026

Say yes to new opportunities. Stay true to your core values.

For PT Month, Alan Lee, ALI’s Director of Innovation, shares a simple but powerful message for the next generation of PTs and PTAs: embrace the opportunities that come your way while staying grounded in what matters most.

Innovation doesn’t always begin with a big idea. Sometimes it begins with being willing to say yes - to a new opportunity, a new challenge, a new way of thinking, or a chance to lead.

Throughout PT Month, ALI is celebrating the people and ideas moving our profession forward.

We move. We lead. We innovate.

Happy PT Month! 🧡

Join us this month for our next APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation Physical Therapy in Mental Health Lunch Bite s...
10/07/2026

Join us this month for our next APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation Physical Therapy in Mental Health Lunch Bite session, a focused 30-minute webinar on practical topics at the intersection of physical therapy and mental health.

This month’s session will focus on sleep, health, and physical therapy practice.

Sleep is a critical part of overall health, yet it is often under-addressed in physical therapy practice. This Lunch Bite introduces the role of sleep in cognitive, mental, and physical well-being, with special attention to sleep concerns in older adults. Participants will explore how PTs can screen sleep habits, recognize when additional assessment or referral may be needed, and use practical sleep hygiene education to support patient outcomes, sleep quality, and mental health.

What you will explore:
• How sleep affects cognitive, mental, and physical health, including its relevance to older adults
• How to screen sleep habits, use sleep-related assessment tools, and recognize when referral may be appropriate
• How PTs can apply practical sleep hygiene education to support sleep quality, rehabilitation outcomes, and mental health

Speaker:
Alexandra Alexander, PT, DPT, GCS is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy. Dr. Alexander graduated from the Creighton Geriatric Residency Program in 2018 and currently works in the home health setting in Nashville, TN where she is a preceptor for her region and works as the hospice PT at her agency. She chairs the APTA Geriatrics Cognitive and Mental Health SIG and co-chairs the Geriatrics SIG for APTA TN. She is a big proponent of older adults and optimal/healthy aging and is passionate about hospice care.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026
12:00–12:30 PM CT
Live on Zoom | Free to Attend

Register here: https://lnkd.in/exN7jvJy

Hope you can join us. Feel free to share with colleagues who may find this topic helpful

10/06/2026

Celebrating PT Month with the people who move our profession forward.

We’re kicking off our PT Month spotlight series with Natalie, ALI’s Membership & Awards Director, sharing her perspective on physical therapy and the profession we’re proud to be part of.

Throughout October, we’ll be hearing from members of the ALI community about what physical therapy means to them, how PTs are leading and innovating, and where they see our profession going next.

Because being a PT is about more than helping people move - it’s also about moving our profession forward.

We move. We lead. We innovate.

Happy PT Month!

TOMORROW!What if the same technology affected every therapist differently?Join Kelly Brown, PT, DPT, OCS and Chris Hoeks...
10/06/2026

TOMORROW!

What if the same technology affected every therapist differently?

Join Kelly Brown, PT, DPT, OCS and Chris Hoekstra, PT, DPT, PhD, FAAOMPT for an exploration of real clinician behavior data and what it reveals about documentation habits, burnout, compliance, coding, and AI adoption.

This webinar will introduce four therapist archetypes and examine what happened when ambient AI scribing was introduced. You’ll also learn why simply turning on new technology isn’t enough and how leaders can better monitor adoption, set expectations, and support their teams.

October 7 | 6:00–7:00 PM CST
Online via Zoom | CE credits offered*

Register today and join the conversation.

*Verify CE acceptance with your state.

Register: https://loom.ly/0RwQgvs

Address

90 Sherman Street
Middleton, WI
02140

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