Foundation for Physical Therapy Research

Foundation for Physical Therapy Research The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research, formerly known as the Foundation for Physical Therapy.
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Assisting clinicians, researchers, and academicians in their doctoral programs;
Expanding funding for emerging researchers;
Supporting clinically relevant research; and
Strengthening the Foundation's capacity to promote the profession's research agenda.

Meet Matthew Paponetti PT, DPT, OCS, a 2025 Promotion of Doctoral Studies Scholarship awardee. Matt is a board certified...
12/11/2025

Meet Matthew Paponetti PT, DPT, OCS, a 2025 Promotion of Doctoral Studies Scholarship awardee. Matt is a board certified orthopedic physical therapist specializing in pediatric obesity treatment at Nationwide Children's Hospital and a PhD student at The Ohio State University.

He helps youth discover fun and meaningful ways to be active, addresses pain and movement limitations, and builds the confidence needed for lifelong physical activity engagement.

His PhD research focuses on improving physical activity interventions for youth with obesity, with special attention to adolescents who are receiving newer obesity management medications. He is an active community educator, providing training on physical activity promotion to physical therapy residents, health care providers through Project ECHO, and local students and teachers.

Matt has also taken up long distance running in recent years and has completed two ultramarathons, one in Switzerland and one in Ohio!

Watch this video to hear a message from Matt: https://lnkd.in/gytaWj3q

12/03/2025

Thank you to everyone who donated to the Foundation on

Your generosity makes a real difference in advancing physical therapy research. We are truly grateful for our donors who believe in this important work for the profession. Here's a special message of thanks from Sarah, our Manager of Development!

12/02/2025

Physical therapy advances because of the evidence that shows the value of what we do. As Stanley Paris, PT, PhD, FAPTA, reminds us, research is how the profession earns trust and demonstrates effectiveness.

This , support physical therapy research. Your gift helps build the evidence that keeps the profession moving forward.

There's still time give to help us reach our goal: https://ow.ly/xfxn50XAhYP

Today is the day! Your support on this will help provide funding for scholars and researchers who are building the evi...
12/02/2025

Today is the day! Your support on this will help provide funding for scholars and researchers who are building the evidence base that demonstrates the value of physical therapy.

Donate now: https://ow.ly/xfxn50XAhYP

As we step into a season shaped by gratitude and generosity, we’re taking a moment to highlight the scholars whose work ...
11/25/2025

As we step into a season shaped by gratitude and generosity, we’re taking a moment to highlight the scholars whose work reflects the impact of donor support

Meet Kellie Collins, PT, DPT, a 2023 and 2025 Promotion of Doctoral Studies Scholarship awardee. Kellie is a board-certified pediatric physical therapist and PhD student in Clinical Investigation at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her work focuses on understanding how the developing corticospinal tract relates to early motor function in infants with perinatal brain injury, with the long-term goal of supporting earlier and more precise cerebral palsy diagnoses.

Her fun fact captures the determination behind her research journey. In middle school volleyball, she earned the “Hardest and Loudest Fall on the Floor” award for chasing down every off-court ball with more enthusiasm than grace. She says that learning to fall hard and get back up was great preparation for the persistence needed to complete a PhD.

Researcher Highlight!Raine Osborne, PT, DPT, EdD, from the University of North Florida, recently shared his work at the ...
11/21/2025

Researcher Highlight!
Raine Osborne, PT, DPT, EdD, from the University of North Florida, recently shared his work at the Education Leadership Conference. He is the recipient of the 2024 VCU-Marquette Challenge Foundation Research Grant for his study, Factors Shaping DPT Students’ Post-Professional Education Pathways.

This mixed methods, longitudinal project examines the factors that influence DPT students’ decisions to pursue residency and academic doctoral education, offering insight that can help optimize physical therapy education and support the profession’s future.

11/20/2025

Foundation Emeritus Trustee Stanley Paris, PT, PhD, FAPTA, gives us a brief look at how the profession used to work and why building a strong evidence base helped pave the way for autonomy.

Watch his full interview here: https://ow.ly/BaLM50Xuprx

What a time at the APTA Private Practice Conference!Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth to learn more about h...
11/17/2025

What a time at the APTA Private Practice Conference!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth to learn more about how the Foundation is advancing the evidence behind physical therapy. We loved connecting with private practice owners, donors, and supporters who are committed to the future of the profession.

A special highlight was Foundation Trustee Terry Brown, PT, DPT, speaking on opening night. A great chance to reinforce how research and advocacy work together to shape reimbursement, further the profession, and support private practice.

We couldn’t do this work without the generosity of our donors, highlighted right on the boards in our booth. Thanks for making PPS 2025 a meaningful and energizing conference for the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research!

Join us at the APTA Private Practice Annual Conference 2025!Stop by booth #408 to connect and chat with us about the va...
11/12/2025

Join us at the APTA Private Practice Annual Conference 2025!

Stop by booth #408 to connect and chat with us about the value of physical therapy research. We look forward to seeing you there!

We’re thrilled to share that Foundation President Paul Rockar Jr., PT, DPT, MS, FAPTA, recently received the 2025 Presid...
11/06/2025

We’re thrilled to share that Foundation President Paul Rockar Jr., PT, DPT, MS, FAPTA, recently received the 2025 Presidential Award from APTA Pennsylvania! This honor celebrates those whose quiet leadership and often-unseen efforts have made a lasting impact.

Since being elected president in 2020 after three years as a Foundation Trustee, Paul has provided steady leadership through unprecedented times, helping the Foundation expand funding and deepen partnerships with APTA and its components. Over the course of his presidency, the Foundation has awarded over $4 million in grants, scholarships, and fellowships.

Thank you, Paul, for your unwavering commitment to the profession and physical therapy research!

10/31/2025

As National Physical Therapy Month comes to an end, we’re reminded why research matters.

“The reason we do research is to see our work used in clinical practice," says Chris Powers, PT, PhD, FAPTA.

The work of Chris and countless other researchers has shaped, and continues to shape, physical therapy education and practice.

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