Meet the change-makers. The APTA Future of Rehab Therapy Summit brings together a powerful lineup of innovators, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders across rehab disciplines. From groundbreaking uses of AI and data to transformative leadership and real-world business strategies, our speakers aren’t just imagining the future — they’re building it.
Co-Founder, SORSOAP
Dan Staats is a physical therapist specializing in orthopedic musculoskeletal dysfunction. He owns and operates an outpatient physical therapy clinic in Brick, New Jersey, and serves as an adjunct professor at Rutgers University and Kean University. Staats is also an entrepreneur and co-founder of SORSOAP, a product that earned a winning deal on "Shark Tank". Read more.
Senior Business Development Specialist, American Physical Therapy Association
Judy Lewis is the senior business development specialist at the American Physical Therapy Association, where she manages member benefit partnerships and coordinates programming for student events such as the Knowledge Bowl at APTA CSM. Since joining APTA in 2017, she has helped secure funding for special initiatives, including Fit for Practice and APTA Centennial events. She also lends her theater background to creative projects, including voice-over work for the Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program and the APTA Honors & Awards Program.
Instructor and Director of Clinical Education, Stark State College
Katie Sutton is an instructor and the director of clinical education at Stark State College, where she mentors future physical therapist assistants. With more than 20 years of experience, she is a committed leader in clinical education and professional service. Sutton holds a Master of Arts degree and has served in many state and national roles within the American Physical Therapy Association. She was the first PTA elected as a delegate for the Ohio Physical Therapy Association. She also hosts the "PTA+ Podcast," which highlights stories that inspire growth beyond the job title.
Melissa Gill is the owner and CEO of On-Site Solutions Physical Therapy, specializing in on-site injury prevention and wellness education. She holds a doctorate in physical therapy from St. Catherine University and a master’s in physical therapy from the University of Mary. With a clinical focus on orthopedics and work-related injuries, Gill is dedicated to helping workers address health concerns early.
Jamar Haggans is the director of quality at the American Occupational Therapy Association, where he ensures that occupational therapy is represented in national quality initiatives and helps members demonstrate their value to stakeholders. He holds a Master of Science degree and is a certified professional in healthcare quality. Haggans has experience as both a physical therapist assistant and occupational therapist, and has worked in post-acute care, rehabilitation management, and Medicare improvement.
Alice Navarro is the founder and CEO of Opening Doors Therapy, a staffing company that provides therapy services to K-12 students. She holds a Master of Arts degree in speech-language pathology and audiology from Temple University. After transitioning from clinical practice to leadership roles, Navarro now leads her company while volunteering for senior fitness programs and environmental causes.
Harrison Segall is the program manager for the Office of Population Health at Johns Hopkins Health System. With more than nine years of experience in health care, Segall has worked in strategic planning, consulting, rehabilitation, and program management. He earned a doctor of physical therapy degree from Long Island University–Brooklyn and a master’s degree in health care management from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
Drew Contreras is vice president of strategic affairs at the American Physical Therapy Association. A board-certified sports clinical specialist, he served over 20 years as a U.S. Army physical therapist, including a role as the White House physical therapist. He earned a doctor of physical therapy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Vicki Deal-Williams is the chief executive officer of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, with more than 30 years of experience in association management. She is a certified association executive, holds a certificate of clinical competence in speech-language pathology, and an ASHA fellow, specializing in leadership development and strategic alignment. Deal-Williams is known for fostering collaborative relationships to advance ASHA’s mission and achieve lasting impact.
Katie Jordan is the chief executive officer of the American Occupational Therapy Association, representing more than 250,000 occupational therapy professionals. She holds a doctor of occupational therapy degree and a Master of Business Administration degree, and she is a fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association. With more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Jordan specializes in health policy and strategic initiatives. Prior to AOTA, she was chief administrative officer for USC Clinical Services and has held leadership roles in various health care organizations.
Justin D. Moore is the CEO of the American Physical Therapy Association. He has served in various roles within APTA, including executive vice president of public affairs and lobbyist. Moore holds a doctor of physical therapy degree from Simmons College and a master's degree in physical therapy from the University of Iowa. He has received several awards for his contributions to physical therapy policy.
Carol Passarelli is a physical therapist and product consultant specializing in elite sports medicine, digital health, and AI-driven rehabilitation. She advises clinical strategy at Hinge Health and leads research collaborations with the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Building H. An avid endurance runner and mountaineer, Passarelli partners with Mammut and contributes to Fast Talk Labs, USA Track & Field, and the USA Mountain and Trail Running Teams.
Anang Chokshi is a physical therapist with dual board certifications in sports and orthopedics. He is the founder of Digital Healthcare Consulting, specializing in go-to-market strategies, product development, and clinical approval for digital health companies. Anang has held leadership roles in organizations like Reflexion Health and IncludeHealth, where he integrated technology into musculoskeletal care and telehealth.
Caroline "CJ" Morrow is a clinical quality senior analyst at Hinge Health, where she develops AI-powered tools to enhance clinical data analysis, quality monitoring, and patient experience. A certified professional in healthcare quality, Morrow advocates for physical therapists practicing at the top of their license and integrates AI into clinical practice to improve patient care. She also serves as co-chair of the Frontiers in Rehabilitation, Science and Technology Member Engagement Group.
Pedro Teixeira is the Co-Founder and CEO of PredictionHealth, an AI company focused on improving clinical documentation. He leads the development of an AI platform that transforms patient-provider conversations into compliant documentation. He holds a master’s degree in biomedical informatics from Vanderbilt University and a bachelor’s degree in biochemical sciences and computer science from Harvard University.
Carol Passarelli is a physical therapist and product consultant specializing in elite sports medicine, digital health, and AI-driven rehabilitation. She advises clinical strategy at Hinge Health and leads research collaborations with the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Building H. An avid endurance runner and mountaineer, Passarelli partners with Mammut and contributes to Fast Talk Labs, USA Track & Field, and the USA Mountain and Trail Running Teams.
Paul Rinne is a neuroscientist and entrepreneur focused on creating digital health solutions that improve healthspan and longevity. He leads GripAble, a neurorehabilitation technology company spun out of Imperial College London, and Able Care, which brings personalized, preventative care to the U.S. market. His mission is to deliver home-based tools that enhance patient outcomes while supporting providers and payers with scalable, value-driven solutions.
Dan Staats is a physical therapist specializing in orthopedic musculoskeletal dysfunction. He owns and operates an outpatient physical therapy clinic in Brick, New Jersey, and serves as an adjunct professor at Rutgers University and Kean University. Staats is also an entrepreneur and co-founder of SORSOAP, a product that earned a winning deal on Shark Tank.
Ben Cooksey is an assistant professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Findlay, COO of Torchward LTD, and a practicing clinician at Old School Iron Gym in Brook Park, Ohio. He is passionate about helping students and patients unlock their potential.
Ryan Ward works with startups, universities, and corporations to secure and protect intellectual property across emerging technologies. He has drafted and prosecuted hundreds of patents in areas including AI, medical devices, software, and telecommunications. Ryan brings a strong technical background to his work in due diligence, right-to-use, and infringement analysis, helping innovators safeguard their ideas and navigate complex IP challenges.
Lauren Roth advises clients on regulatory, legal, and compliance matters across all FDA-regulated industries. With nearly two decades of experience, including as FDA’s Associate Commissioner for Policy, she has been involved in shaping major initiatives at the intersection of law, science, and policy. Lauren now helps life sciences clients navigate FDA requirements and accelerate innovation in a complex regulatory environment.
Todd Roberts is the CEO and co-founder of ATDev, a company developing assistive technology to support independence for people of all physical abilities. Since founding the company in 2020, he has led research and development, fundraising, and business strategy. Roberts has served as principal investigator on federally funded grants and previously held roles at SuitX, Lyndra Therapeutics, and Tesla. He holds several patents and has completed graduate work in biomechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.
Todd Roberts is the CEO and co-founder of ATDev, a company developing assistive technology to support independence for people of all physical abilities. Since founding the company in 2020, he has led research and development, fundraising, and business strategy. Roberts has served as principal investigator on federally funded grants and previously held roles at SuitX, Lyndra Therapeutics, and Tesla. He holds several patents and has completed graduate work in biomechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.
Travis Egli is director of clinical development at Athletico Physical Therapy, where he leads clinical excellence initiatives across more than 930 clinics. A fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists, Egli has more than 18 years of experience and has developed nationwide programs in onboarding, mentorship, and specialty care. He also advances innovations in remote monitoring and outcomes tracking. Egli brings expertise in clinical operations, talent development, and quality improvement.
Sejal Gajarawala is the director of clinical operations and client success at Limber Health, where she leads implementation and engagement strategies for remote therapeutic monitoring. She holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science degree. A physical therapist with expertise in operations and change management, Gajarawala helps optimize care delivery through scalable processes and cross-functional collaboration.
Donovan Campbell has served as CEO of Medbridge since June 2023. A former Marine, Donovan has over 20 years of extensive leadership and technology experience, and he is passionate about combining the power of digital technology with top-tier medical expertise to democratize access to healthcare across America. A proud APTA partner, Medbridge is leading the change in digital patient care with best-in-class online education, smart home exercise programs, and progressive digital hybrid care pathways that improve access & outcomes, drive engagement, and reduce MSK costs.
Sarah Clampett is the head of clinical operations at Origin Physical Therapy. She earned a doctor of physical therapy degree from the University of Southern California, where she also studied kinesiology and psychology. Specializing in women’s health, Clampett is passionate about helping prenatal and postnatal patients navigate physical challenges related to pregnancy and childbirth.
Shawn Shivdat is the co-founder and CEO of Penciled, an AI-powered front office assistant for physical therapists. The platform uses conversational AI over SMS to help patients manage appointments and fill schedule gaps. Shivdat holds a degree in computational neuroscience from Harvard University and previously worked as a data scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Inspired by his own physical therapy experience, he launched Penciled with support from Y Combinator and Initialized Capital.
Jill Anderson is vice president for Ambulatory Care and Therapy Network at MedStar National Rehabilitation Network. A physical therapist for over 40 years, she oversees therapy services across seven MedStar hospitals and more than 60 outpatient clinics. Anderson earned a physical therapy degree from Ithaca College and a master’s degree in administration from Johns Hopkins University.
Pedro Teixeira is co-founder and CEO of PredictionHealth, an AI company focused on clinical documentation. He leads development of a platform that turns patient-provider conversations into compliant notes, helping clinicians focus more on care. He holds a master’s degree in biomedical informatics from Vanderbilt University and a bachelor’s degree in biochemical sciences and computer science from Harvard University.
Daniel Hague is a board-certified orthopaedic clinical specialist and sports clinical specialist, and a certified dry needling practitioner. He is a sports physical therapist at MedStar Health and Coppin State University. A residency mentor and recent graduate of MedStar’s sports residency, Hague focuses on evidence-informed rehabilitation and is committed to mentoring future clinicians and advancing performance-based care.
Nick Rittersbach is a physical therapist and clinical solutions specialist at VALD, where he helps clinicians integrate human measurement technology to improve outcomes and efficiency. With experience supporting more than 200 organizations, Rittersbach focuses on delivering data-driven tools to empower decision-making in rehabilitation care.
