Rizing Tide Foundation

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Rizing Tide Foundation

Our vision is to broaden the reach, impact, and accessibility of physical therapy by advancing diversity and inclusiveness in the PT workforce.

Empowering a new generation of leaders in the PT profession through scholarships and community. 💪🏽🧡

2026 Crest Scholarship application window now open!
🌊https://rizing-tide.com/apply-now Rizing Tide is a charitable foundation that offers scholarships, mentorship, and networking connections in an effort to empower a new generation of BIPOC leaders in the physical therapy profession. Founded in 2020 by Dr. Heidi Jannenga, physical therapist and co-founder of WebPT, Rizing Tide is working to build a better, more inclusive healthcare landscape for patients and providers alike. Want to learn more about our scholarships? Here's the most important info:

🌊Crest Scholarship🌊
Awarded to students of underrepresented racial or ethnic descent who are entering their first or second year of DPT school. Each Crest scholarship awards up to $14,000 to each student—and may be renewed twice. The 2023 application window runs from April 1 through June 30, 2023.

🌊Surge Scholarship🌊
Awarded to graduating DPT students or licensed physical therapists of underrepresented racial or ethnic descent who are entering a residency program. Each Surge scholarship awards a one-time payment of up to $10,000 to each student. The 2023 application window runs from July 1 through September 30, 2023.

04/07/2026

Cardiopulmonary physical therapy is a specialty where representation matters.

African Americans face the highest risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and Native American and Alaska Native communities experience the highest mortality rates related to cardiovascular conditions. Yet cardiopulmonary physical therapy remains one of the smallest and least diverse specialties in the profession.

As the need for clinicians skilled in complex cardiac and pulmonary care continues to grow, so does the importance of a workforce that reflects and understands the communities most affected.

For Rizing Tide scholars considering their next steps, cardiopulmonary PT offers a chance to enter a niche field, support patients with complex needs, and help shape a more inclusive future for physical therapy.

04/04/2026

Winning a Crest Scholarship is a huge deal financially—but the community and overall support takes this opportunity to a whole new level. For many scholars, Rizing Tide became a space where they found mentorship, unrivaled career opportunities, and lasting relationships that will continue well beyond PT school and their early careers.

The 2026 application cycle is now open, so watch this video, and listen to our scholars reflect on what this community means to them.

04/03/2026

Leadership skills don't magically appear overnight. They're nurtured slowly (and intentionally) over time. What starts the process? When early-career clinicians are invited to join conversations that guide the profession forward.

Through Rizing Tide's conference grants (funded by generous professionals like you!), scholars can open doors and participate in discussions where real decisions are made about the future of physical therapy. Seeing how leaders approach challenges in real time gives scholars a clearer picture of what leadership in this profession actually looks like.

In this video, scholar Dr. Cortez Espinoza, PT, DPT, OCS, shares a key takeaway from the Graham Sessions: an experience that gave him a new perspective on leadership in physical therapy.

04/01/2026

What would you do if DPT school was suddenly free?

It’s a fun question… even if just for a moment.

Watch this.

While it may not be reality, support like the Crest Scholarship is helping make DPT school more accessible for students across the country.

If affordability has been on your mind, this is worth exploring:
https://rizing-tide.com/scholarships/crest

03/31/2026

It's almost time to apply for free money—I mean scholarships! 🎓

The Rizing Tide Crest Scholarship application window opens April 1. Each year, Rizing Tide awards 20 scholarships to underrepresented incoming, first-year, and early second-year DPT students. Ten Crest scholars receive awards of $14,000 (renewable annually up to $42,000), and ten Rizing Star scholars receive $5,000 (renewable annually up to $15,000).

It's a pretty sweet deal—and we're about to make it even sweeter. To help you ace the application process, we compiled advice from previous scholars who totally knocked it out of the park. Listen to their tried-and-true advice in this video.

03/25/2026

🚨 The Crest Scholarship application window opens April 1. 🚨

Thinking about applying? We certainly hope so! Get a head start on your application prep by checking out this advice from scholars who have experienced—and totally aced—the process. They share what helped them stand out, how they approached the application, and what made a difference in their interviews.

Mark your calendar! It's almost go-time. 🚥

03/24/2026

Live performers like actors, dancers, and musicians face unique physical demands—performing onstage requires repetition and high outputs of energy for hours at a time. So how can a PT meet these patients' needs?

On Saturday, March 28, at 11:00 AM EDT / 8:00 AM PDT, Rizing Tide will host a live Tide Pool webinar featuring Dr. Hanwen Wong, DPT, OCS, whose work focuses on performing arts physical therapy.

Together, we’ll explore what it means to work with dancers, musicians, and other performers—and how PTs help patients return to the stage when their body is also their livelihood. All members of the Tide Pool are welcome to join! Register for the webinar inside the Tide Pool under "Events."

Hope to see you there! 🩰🎭

03/18/2026

What happens when early-career physical therapists are invited into a room where people discuss the biggest challenges facing the PT profession?

You get candor, transparency, and a whole lot of ideas about how to shape the future of PT!

This year, through the support of the Rizing Tide community, scholars had the opportunity to attend the Graham Sessions where they listened, learned, and contributed alongside experienced clinicians and leaders. In this video, scholar Dr. Lena Parker, PT, DPT, OCS, shares a takeaway from her experience that gave her a broader view of physical therapy and the conversations shaping its future.

03/17/2026

Cardiopulmonary physical therapy is one of the smaller PT specialties, but its impact is anything but.

Cardiopulmonary PTs support individuals living with heart and lung conditions in hospitals, rehab settings, and post-acute care. They work closely with physicians and respiratory therapists, often helping patients rebuild endurance and find their footing after serious heart or lung challenges.

For students exploring specialty paths, cardiopulmonary PT offers an option rooted in teamwork, complexity, and care that stays with patients long after the session ends. 🫀🫁

03/13/2026

Orthopedic physical therapy is the most common specialty within the profession—and it's also one of the most impactful.

Why?

✅ Orthopedic PTs are often a patient’s first point of care for musculoskeletal pain and injury.
✅ Early access to physical therapy can reduce unnecessary imaging, lower healthcare costs, and help many patients avoid surgery altogether.
✅ Across acute and chronic conditions, orthopedic PT focuses on restoring function, building confidence, and improving quality of life.

03/05/2026

Allow us to interrupt your daily doomscroll with a celebration! Major kudos to two of our 2025 Surge scholars who're pursuing advanced training in orthopedic physical therapy:

🎓 Juan Avelino, DPT, who's attending the Brooks Rehabilitation Orthopedic Residency
🎓 Do Kyung Yun, DPT, who's attending the Greater Los Angeles VA Orthopaedic Residency

Orthopedic residency training demands strong clinical reasoning, dedication, and a commitment to lifelong learning. These scholars are stepping into a specialty that sits at the heart of patient-centered, evidence-based care—and we’re excited to support them as they continue to grow as clinicians and leaders! Rock on! 🤘🏼

03/02/2026

This weekend, we hosted our first Sandbar Meetup of 2026, a scholar-exclusive educational session designed to develop their professional and leadership skills. During this quarter's session, Dr. Gene Shirokobrod, PT, DPT, and Dr. Heidi Jannenga, PT, DPT, discussed PT compensation, from how money flows through a clinic to how that can help scholars think strategically about their personal long-term growth.

Opportunities like this are part of what makes the Rizing Tide experience unique. Beyond scholarship support, our scholars gain access to candid industry conversations, real-world education, and perspectives that help them navigate their careers with clarity and confidence!

We're so grateful to our community, and that y'all show up ready to learn, ask thoughtful questions, and grow. 🧡💚

Address

4545 N 36th Street, Suite 109
Phoenix, AZ
85018

Website

http://www.rizing-tide.com/

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