Happy New Year from your APTA Virginia SSIG! We hope you all had a joyous holiday season! With that being said, we have a lot of exciting information to share with you.
ELECTIONS: APPLICATION OPEN NOW!!!
Are you interested in being more involved with the APTA Virginia? Do you want to help students from around Virginia get more connected and make an impact on the future of our profession? The APTA Virginia Student Special Interest Group (SSIG) is holding elections this spring!
Applications are open now through Monday February 10 at 12 p.m. For more information on the various positions, please utilize the links below, or contact the current Executive Committee member serving in that position. Please contact any of the current members of the Nominating Committee for more information about the election process!
Nominating Committee Chair: Bethany Bayles baylesb@mymail.vcu.edu
Nominating Committee Chair-Elect: Luke Coupland lcouplan17@su.edu
Nominating Committee Member: Brooke McDermott bmcdermott@email.radford.edu
Link to application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1N1t1OFBkgVjKnLoe7BqnDSKGhOzkYLj05uQ4R18UB6w/edit
Link to description of SSIG positions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_EpZ0EYOy4fKfLQpxeQRW5Fs4dBWbc73xEt7RJm9K_Q/edit
Link to elections FAQs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13DVgv9XH8g20_Y-gRrH0HIQtqo-o_ieIQKBq6jbB5rQ/edit
SCHOLARSHIPS…
That’s right! You read that correctly! The APTA Virginia SSIG is happy to announce the availability of two scholarships to cover registration to the Federal Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C. The three-day event runs from Sunday, March 29, through Tuesday, March 31. This is an opportunity to join fellow PTs and PTAs for talks and discussion regarding regulatory affairs and federal priorities impacting the physical therapy profession. Attendees will be able to not only network with one another, but also meet members of Congress and/or legislative staff and have the opportunity to speak about legislation impacting our profession.
Applying for the scholarship is easy!
Registration closes Monday, March 16!
Look out for an email in February on how to apply for a scholarship!
NATIONAL ADVOCACY DINNERS ARE BACK!
National Advocacy Dinners will be held across the country from April 1, 2020 - May 10, 2020.
A message from the APTA Student Assembly Advocacy Project Committee: The National Advocacy Dinner (NAD) initiative was established in 2015 to facilitate conversation about physical therapy (PT) advocacy and encourage student involvement. NADs are a local platform that complement existing advocacy efforts, such as Federal Advocacy Forum, by inspiring students to develop connections in the PT and legislative communities. NADs are community-based forums that empower students to engage in dialogue and collaborate with federal and state policymakers to progress the PT profession. Networking with clinicians and PT leadership turns education into action. At the conclusion of each event, students will be informed and ready to advocate for patients and the PT profession.
If you have any questions about hosting a National Advocacy Dinner, or you plan on hosting a National Advocacy Dinner, please reach out to Sarah Strong at sstrong17@su.edu for information on resources and support for hosting a National Advocacy Dinner!
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT CALL FOR INFORMATION…
The APTA Virginia SSIG would like to recognize students and their programs who take pride in their community service and outreach. We are compiling a database of all of the amazing things students are doing across the state! You guys ROCK! If you would like your school or project featured, please reach out to Director Ashley Humphries at ahumphries2@email.radford.edu. Students should be prepared to write a short description highlighting the project and include any pictures from the experience. These experiences will be shared on the SSIG social media platforms in order to recognize the hard work and service Virginia students are doing outside of the classroom! We can’t wait to see what amazing work Virginia PT and PTA students are doing!
APTA Virginia SSIG STUDENT SPOTLIGHT…
Want to be featured in our Student Spotlight? The SSIG encourages all PT and PTA students to fill out the Student Spotlight Google Form to share your leadership experiences and why you value your APTA Virginia membership. Students who participate are also encouraged to submit a photo along with their information on the form to be featured on our social media accounts. Through this effort, we hope to provide students with a better understanding of the benefits of being a APTA Virginia/APTA member and improve membership carryover upon graduation.
Contact Ashley Humphries at ahumphries2@ehmail.radford.edu with any questions.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE DATES…
Federal Advocacy Forum - March 29-31
CSM Denver - February 12-15, 2020
NEXT Phoenix - June 3-6, 2020
National Student Conclave TBD
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA…
APTA Virginia Student Special Interest Group (SSIG) Facebook Page
Join the APTA Virginia Student Facebook Group!
Virginia Physical Therapy Association - APTA Virginia