APTA Conference Special Events & Lectures

NEW THIS YEAR! You're invited to kick off the conference at the Opening Reception. Before the Exhibit Hall officially opens, you have an advance opportunity to meet with exhibitors and network with colleagues at this special event. Take this time to preview the latest products and services, and to connect with other conference attendees in a relaxed, social environment.

Dave Barry is a humor columnist. For 25 years he was a syndicated columnist whose work appeared in more than 500 newspapers in the United States and abroad. In 1988, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.

Barry has also written a total of 30 books. Two of his books were used as the basis for the CBS TV sitcom Dave's World, in which Harry Anderson played a much taller version of Dave.

Barry plays lead guitar in a literary rock band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, whose other members include Stephen King, Amy Tan, Ridley Pearson and Mitch Albom. Barry has also made many TV appearances, including one on The David Letterman Show.

Evolution is a word that can evoke passionate debate, signal development, or inspire innovation. The evolution of physical therapy will accelerate as we identify and meet patients' needs. When asked why they want to become PTs, students often answer: "I want to help people." This outward focus can prepare PTs for the dramatic changes on the horizon, including new models of patient care, better patient access to information, a greater emphasis on cost containment, and an increased demand for evidence-based practice. This talk will highlight a vision for the profession's next evolution.

A set of structural and attitudinal attributes independently and collectively contribute to the growth of a clinical profession. Residency education aims to build on the foundation of clinical and professional education. As such, it has a tremendous potential either to enhance or suppress the trajectory of growth in the physical therapy profession. This lecture will reflect on the current and past experiences and identify the existing untapped opportunities that need to be strategically addressed by our profession in residency, fellowship, and preprofessional clinical education.

Debate Chair:  Charles D. Ciccone, PT, PhD, FAPTA

 Debaters: 
Con Team: Ira Gorman, PT, PhD, MSPH (Team Captain); Eric Robertson, PT, DPT, OCS; Jason Craig, PT
Pro Team: LeeAnne Carrothers, PT, PhD (Team Captain); Thomas G. Walters, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS; Brad Cooper, PT, MS, MBA, MTC, ATC, CWC

*The teams will present the best argument for their side of the debate, however, not all statements made by a speaker necessarily represent the true opinion of the speaker.

An Oxford debate is a formulated, interactive debate in which audience participation is a key feature of the occasion, providing a rare opportunity for the public to voice their opinions. The debate focuses on a challenging, sharply defined motion over which 2 debate adjudications teams, both pro and con, dramatically address the motion in a systematic process. Voice your opinion and challenge those of the 2 teams of debaters.

Celebrate PT-PAC's 40th anniversary with your friends. You may buy your PT-PAC tickets when registering for conference online or call 877/585-6003.

Celebrate with the Foundation as we recognize leaders supporting physical therapy research. Tickets are available when you register for the conference online or contact Erica Sadiq at EricaSadiq@foundation4pt.org for more information.