APTA Washington, 208 Rogers Street NW, Olympia, WA (2026)

02/15/2026

More Photos from APTA CSM 2026!

We’re excited to see everyone’s photos from the APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) 2026 — Feb. 12–14, 2026 in Anaheim, California!

Keep them coming!
Please continue to tag APTA Washington in your posts, or send your photos directly to info@aptawa.org.

Thank you for sharing your memories and helping highlight our vibrant community at this year’s conference!

02/15/2026

What an incredible time at American Physical Therapy Association CSM!

From powerful education sessions and thought-provoking discussions to meaningful connections with colleagues from across the country, this year’s APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) truly delivered. The energy in every room — and especially throughout the exhibit hall — was a reminder of how strong, innovative, and collaborative our profession continues to be.

We’re especially proud that over 40 PTs, PTAs, and students from Washington shared their knowledge and research on the national stage — representing our state with excellence and advancing our profession through education, innovation, and leadership. We also took time to celebrate accomplishments, milestones, and the incredible impact our colleagues are making across the profession.

We learned.
We connected.
We networked.
We celebrated.
We explored the exhibit hall and discovered new ideas, tools, and partnerships to bring back to our communities.

Grateful for the conversations, the inspiration, and the shared commitment to advancing physical therapy. Until next year, CSM. Please continue to share and tag APTA Washington with your photos so we can share.

02/13/2026

CSM Presenter Spotlight: Washington Edition (4 of 4)

Closing out our CSM spotlights with another outstanding group representing Washington PT! Their work highlights the strength, innovation, and diversity of our profession.

• Dr. Jennifer (Jenny) Jordan – Board-Certified Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Specialist and Assistant Professor at Tufts University DPT – Seattle. 2020 APTA Washington Physical Therapist of the Year, focused on hospital-based PT, early mobility in critical illness, cardiopulmonary performance research, and acute care education.

• Dr. Karin Steere – UPS faculty specializing in human neurophysiology and systemic disease. Teaches cardiopulmonary PT, pharmacology, pathology, and neuroscience. Researches autonomic, endocrine, and neuroimmune changes in chronic immune conditions and maintains clinical work with performing artists.

• Dr. Eliza Szymanek – Board-certified orthopedic and sports PT and certified strength and conditioning specialist. Completed the Keller Army Community Division I Sports PT Fellowship and retired from the U.S. Army in 2025 after extensive clinical leadership, specializing in sports performance and injury management.

• Zoe Chang, SPT – Third-year student passionate about neurorehabilitation and emerging technologies that enhance independence and restore autonomy in rehabilitation.

• Robert Stratton, SPT – UW DPT student, ASL user, and advocate for equitable healthcare access. Developed a provider toolkit to improve communication and outcomes for members of the Deaf community.

• Andy Jenkins – UPS PT student preparing for a career grounded in evidence-based, patient-centered care.

• Katherine Podoll – UPS PT student committed to developing strong clinical skills and contributing to the profession’s future.

• Jacob Mizrahi – UPS PT student dedicated to advancing clinical training and representing Washington PT at CSM.

Congrats to this outstanding group of presenters! Check out their posters and presentations as we wrap up our final spotlight celebrating Washington PTs, faculty, and students.

02/12/2026

CSM Presenter Spotlight: Washington Edition (3 of 4)

We’re back with more outstanding Washington PTs, faculty, and students presenting at CSM this year!

Meet today’s featured presenters:

* Julia Looper, PT, PhD – UW Professor and Dean of Graduate Affairs. Researchesmotor development in infants with developmental delays, especially children with Down syndrome, focusing onwalking and mobility milestones. Published widely and presented nationally and internationally.

* Holly Roberts, PT, DPT, NCS – Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic PT. Researcher focused on patient-reported and performance-based outcome measures for older adults and individuals with neurologic conditions. Subject matter expert in TBI and concussion management for the U.S. Army Office of the Surgeon General and consultant in vestibular rehabilitation. Currently treats individuals with acquired brain injuries and vestibular disorders.

* Daniel McMillian, PT, DSc – Orthopedic-sports clinician and faculty member at the UPS. Former Army PT who developed human performance optimization training programs for the U.S. military. Teaches therapeutic exercise and gait, leads community health initiatives, treats Puget Sound athletes, and collaborates with students on the Movement Stories Project.

* Julia Johns, SPT– Physical therapy student at the University of Puget Sound.

* Brenna Smelt, SPT– Physical therapy student at the University of Puget Sound.

* Ian Antonio, SPT – Physical therapy student at the University of Puget Sound.

* Teri Lake-Coblio, SPT – Physical therapy student at the University of Puget Sound.

* Kristin Hultgren, SPT– Physical therapy student at the University of Puget Sound.

* Daniel Jose, SPT– Physical therapy student at the University of Puget Sound.

* Abigail Koehn, SPT– Physical therapy student at the University of Puget Sound.

* Layla Santos, SPT – Physical therapy student at the University of Puget Sound.

Congratulations to this incredible group representing Washington at CSM!

Be sure to check out their posters and presentations, and stay tuned for our final spotlight as we continue celebrating Washington PTs and students

02/11/2026

CSM Presenter Spotlight: Washington Edition (2 of 4)

Next up, we’re excited to highlight more of the incredible Washington PTs, faculty, and students presenting at CSM this year!

Meet today’s featured presenters:

* Abby Gordon, PT, DPT, SCS – Board-Certified Sports PT at Seattle Children’s Hospital, specializing in adolescents and teens with musculoskeletal injuries or chronic pain. Founder of Kavod PLLC, serving women with CRPS or chronic pain with a history of disordered eating. Former Team PT for the Seattle Storm WNBA for eight seasons, UW Weight Inclusive Care advocate, and past State Delegate for Washington.

* Dora Varsa – UW 2nd-year DPT student passionate about pediatrics, advancing her learning through the START-Play study.

* Liam Ratcliffe, SPT– Washington native and EWU DPT student with a dance and weight training background, interested in sports performance, orthopedics, and holistic care.

* Benjamin Aguila, SPT – Originally from Arizona, loves soccer, tennis, and disc golf, planning a career in orthopedic/sports PT with residency training to follow.

* John Williams Jr., SPT – Loves cooking, sports, and stargazing, excited to learn and grow at CSM.

* Lauren Vasquez, SPT – Physical therapy student at University of Puget Sound, bringing passion and energy to PT education and practice.

* Christina Hospodar, SPT – University of Puget Sound PT student focused on clinical growth and patient care.

* Heather Feldner, SPT – PT student at Puget Sound, committed to learning and contributing to the PT community.

* Kari Kretch, SPT – University of Puget Sound PT student, excited to explore clinical practice and research opportunities.

* Julia Looper, PT, PhD – UW Professor and Dean of Graduate Affairs. Researchesmotor development in infants with developmental delays, especially children with Down syndrome, focusing onwalking and mobility milestones. Published widely and presented nationally and internationally.

Congrats to this talented group! Don’t miss their posters and presentations at CSM. Stay tuned for the next spotlight as we continue celebrating Washington PTs and Students!

02/11/2026

CSM Presenter Spotlight: Washington Edition (1 of 4)

We’re proud to highlight 10 of over 40 Washington PTs, faculty, and students presenting at CSM this year! Their work spans health policy, pediatrics, neurorehabilitation, sports medicine, education, and more—showing the depth and impact of our Washington PT community.

Meet our featured presenters:

* Dr. Rachel Prusynski – UW faculty, researching on impact of health policy on rehab care and patient outcomes in post-acute care.

* Dr. Sean Rundell – UW faculty advancingrehabilitation research and education.

* Dr. Cheryl Kerfeld – Pediatric PT with 30+ years of experience, focusing on family-centered care, global health, and reducing disparities for children with disabilities.

* Dr. Kathleen Cummer – Sports & ortho PT expert studying diabetes and musculoskeletal health.

* Miles Tibbits, SPT – UW DPT student with 10+ years of healthcare experience, passionate about improving care for patients and providers.

* Dr. Brett D. Neilson – Hawai‘i Pacific University faculty exploring sleep–pain relationships while practicing clinically in WA.

* Samantha McHugh-McGlothin, SPT – First-generation student with interests inPT, birding, rock climbing, and skiing.

* Aislinn Knight, SPT – Dance background, UW IMPACT researcher, passionate aboutpediatric mobility, orthopedics, and performing arts medicine.

* Jiayi Shen, SPT – Focused on gait training for Parkinson’s disease and neuro/pediatric rehab.

* Alex Johansson, SPT – Interested inneurologic & vestibular rehab and tech-driven care.

Congrats to these outstanding Washington presenters! Check out their posters and presentations! Stay tuned for more spotlights.

02/10/2026

Over 40 PTs, PTAs, and students from Washington are presenting at APTA CSM this year!
From posters to platform presentations, our people are sharing great work and moving the profession forward.

If you’re at CSM, support them—stop by their sessions, check out their posters, ask questions, and show some love.

We’ll be posting spotlights with who’s presenting and when/where you can find them, so stay tuned and come cheer them on

02/09/2026

Meet Your Mentor — Open Mentorship Office Hours

Kyle Crawford, PT, DPT

Kyle is a Washington native who earned his undergraduate degree at Western Washington University before completing his Doctor of Physical Therapy in Utah. After graduating in December 2023, he returned home and has been practicing at Lake Washington Physical Therapy in Redmond since January 2024.

As an early-career clinician, Kyle enjoys supporting others through the transition from school to practice. With a growing caseload of patients experiencing jaw pain, he has pursued continuing education in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) to build confidence and expand his clinical skill set.

Kyle looks forward to connecting with mentees, sharing insights from his early career, and offering support during Open Mentorship Hours.

📅 Wednesday, February 11
🕖 7–8 PM
💻 Zoom
Meeting ID: 863 8346 1312
Passcode: 035296

🔗 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86383461312?pwd=is5gQ7BoCjWZv7FjdGZYUKT5iyXg4U.1

🗣️ Come with questions, learn, and connect.

02/03/2026

APTA Washington Monthly Open Mentorship Office Hours

Join us for a focused session on TMD & Jaw Pain with Kyle Crawford, PT, DPT.

This discussion will help clinicians:
• Differentiate cervical spine vs. jaw-related pain — what overlaps and what doesn’t
• Identify key similarities and differences in presentation and movement patterns
• Learn practical, immediately applicable strategies to treat jaw pain
• Build confidence when addressing clicking and other common TMJ concerns
• Participate in a live Q&A with real-world clinical questions

Open to Washington PTs, PTAs, and students
✨ Completely free — no membership required

Whether you’re a student, new grad, or a seasoned clinician looking to sharpen your skills, this session is designed to be practical, approachable, and clinically relevant.

📅 Wednesday, February 11
🕖 7–8 PM
💻 Zoom
Meeting ID: 863 8346 1312
Passcode: 035296

🔗 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86383461312?pwd=is5gQ7BoCjWZv7FjdGZYUKT5iyXg4U.1

01/26/2026

Calling All PTs, PTAs, and Students Interested in Sports Physical Therapy!

The APTA WA Sports SIG is officially active and looking for members! We’re building a strong Sports PT community across Washington in 2026—and we want you involved.

Our 2026 Goals
✅ Referral network
✅ Education
✅ Community

👉 Join us by scanning the QR code or clicking here
Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sportssig_aptawa?igsh=MXFvMjR4dmkzM2YzeA==
📧 Questions? Email SIG President John Wehrer at jwehrer@ewu.edu

✨ We’re also seeking a Student PTA and a PTA member to join our leadership team!

01/23/2026

Congratulations, Jeremie Laraque - Two Elk, PT, DPT

Jeremie has been selected as one of just 25 participants nationwide for the APTA Association Leadership Scholars Program.

The APTA Association Leadership Scholars Program is shaping the next generation of leaders. Through a yearlong, immersive experience, scholars build leadership skills, deepen their understanding of association governance, and develop a personalized leadership plan to strengthen our profession.

A 2021 Arcadia DPT graduate, Jeremie now serves geriatric populations in home health, is a board-certified geriatric specialist, and a medic in the Washington State National Guard.

We’re excited to follow his leadership journey and wish him a successful year ahead! 👏

🔗 Learn more about the 2026 Leadership Scholars: https://www.apta.org/your-career/career-advancement/leadership-development/apta-association-leadership-scholars-program

01/22/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined APTA Washington’s Legislative Impact Day 2026. Your time, voices, and advocacy with legislators make a meaningful impact for our profession.

APTA Washington

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