05/29/2026
APTA North Carolina May, 2026 Advocacy Spotlight: John I. Orta, PT, DPT
WHO?
Dr. Orta earned a BS in Sports & Exercise Science and Physical Therapy from the University of Buffalo (1991, 1993) and has practiced in North Carolina since 1994. He completed his DPT at A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona, in 2014. His experience spans inpatient, skilled nursing, home health, and outpatient care, and he previously served as a rehab director before opening a private practice in Elkin, NC.
For 25 years, he has been a team physician/first responder for a local high school, supporting football and wrestling, contributing to four state football championships and one wrestling title. He has served as an APTA NC Delegate since 2016, is the current Chapter Secretary (second term), and previously held roles as Mountain Region Director and Foothills Chair.
WHAT?
Dr. Orta played a key role in a recent advocacy victory in North Carolina—the inclusion of physical therapists in the Gfeller-Waller Act. This law requires schools to have appropriately licensed healthcare providers available to evaluate student-athletes and support safe return-to-play decisions at all levels. John identified that physical therapists were not included in the Act’s original language, brought this to the attention of APTA NC, and actively participated in lobbying and advocacy efforts to help drive this important change.
WHY ADVOCACY?
“We are on the brink of some fantastic changes within our profession. With the recent additions of dry needling, spinal manipulation, and now concussion management/return to play for NC high school athletes, my hope is that others will see the importance of progressing our abilities of what we are capable of, and volunteer in some manner to help. The impact of volunteers is crucial and we do not want other professions (ATCs, Chiropractors...etc) to lead our future. I have approached this with the question that we should all ask ourselves, ‘If not me, then who will?’”
