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

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.

01/19/2026

Today, APTA Washington honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His commitment to justice, equity, and service inspires us to advocate for access to care and health equity in our communities.

01/19/2026

Call to Action: Please sign in PRO by 9:30 AM TODAY to show your support for SB 6152.

One of APTA Washington’s 2026 legislative priorities, SB 6152, is scheduled for a hearing today. This bill allows physical therapists to serve as attending providers for injured workers.

SB 6152 is the Senate companion to HB 2243, which was heard last week.

🗓 Hearing: Monday, January 19
🕥 Time: 10:30 AM
📍 Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Please sign in PRO by 9:30 AM to show your support. APTA Washington will be testifying in favor of the bill.

🔗 Sign in PRO: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=33651&aId=168580&caId=27309&tId=3

🔗 Learn more: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=6152&Year=2026

01/12/2026

Great news!
One of APTA Washington’s legislative priorities is scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday! HB 2243 allows physical therapists to be attending providers for injured workers.
HB 2243 will be heard in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee on Tuesday, January 13th at 10:30am. Please sign in PRO by 9:30am on Tuesday! APTA Washington will be testifying in support of the bill.
Here's the link to sign in PRO! https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=House&mId=33618&aId=167993&caId=27134&tId=3
Here's the link to learn more about HB 2243 https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=2243&Year=2025&Initiative=false

01/12/2026

Meet Your Mentor | Mentorship Open Hours

We’re excited to introduce Megan Thomas, PT, DPT, our featured mentor!

Megan is the Clinic Director at RET Physical Therapy in Burlington, WA, with 6 years specializing in pelvic and women’s health physical therapy and over 20 years of clinical experience. Her professional journey includes 15 years as a PTA before earning her DPT from the University of Washington.

She is known for her compassionate, evidence-based approach to care and her dedication to helping patients restore function, confidence, and quality of life. Megan is also actively involved in APTA Washington advocacy and local community organizations, and she is passionate about mentoring clinicians as they build confidence and expertise in pelvic and women’s health physical therapy.

📅 January 14
⏰ 7:00–8:00 PM
💻 Virtual via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86383461312?pwd=is5gQ7BoCjWZv7FjdGZYUKT5iyXg4U.1
🎯 Topic: Pelvic / Women’s Health

Open to all Washington PTs, PTAs, and students

APTA Washington

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