APTA/Colorado Chapter 2004 Election

Download Sample 2004 Ballot Here
(Not for voting purposes, voting will take place
at Chapter Business Meeting on 4/17/04)

 



CHIEF DELEGATE ELECT CANDIDATE


Greg McCall, PT, BS 
President/Owner,
ALL PRO Physical Therapy, PC, Denver

1)  Why do you feel qualified to serve in the above position?

Having been a member of the board of directors for over ten years and a member of the executive committee as the current chief delegate for the past year, I have acquired insights into the forces acting upon the profession from within and from without. These are insights I don’t believe I could have gained without being involved in the association to this degree.  Also, I have worked in virtually all arenas of PT at one time or another and this allows me to have personal knowledge of what matters to PTs and PTAs in a multitude of settings.

2)  Why do you want to serve in the above position?

After 18 years of practicing as a PT, I realize what the profession has given me and what the association has given the profession.  I truly believe that without the APTA, both national and state chapters, what we have come to call physical therapy would not exist. The extraordinary efforts of individuals and groups that have come before me have caused the profession to grow and mature rather than erode away. I would like in some small way to make my own contribution to this very worthwhile cause.

3)  List committees / projects that take up your time.

My only other involvement in the APTA is as an orthopedic section member and secretary of the state’s private practice special interest group.

4)  What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Colorado Chapter? Are there any improvements you would like to make?

These are difficult questions. I am constantly impressed by the incredible efforts of the volunteers on the various committees and in the districts.  I see people who are excited about this profession, willing to give of their precious time to contribute their talents. I consistently give the same answer to what are the strengths of the chapter: its member volunteers, and its superb executive director Ellen Caruso. Participating in national events make these two points abundantly clear. However, we sometimes spend too much time reinventing the wheel (and ourselves). But what I have seen as a member of the executive committee this last year has impressed me a great deal. We have vision and keep making efforts to take the Chapter into the twenty first century as national leaders. So, as always, I think the only real weakness of this chapter is too few members becoming really involved.
 



TREASURER CANDIDATE

 

Amy Stone, PT, DPT, CSCS 
Physical Therapist, PRO Physical Therapy, Boulder

1)  Why do you feel qualified to serve in the above position?

I am uniquely qualified for the position of Treasurer after receiving a Bachelors degree in Business including a double major in Finance and Accounting.  I spent several years working for Ernst & Young LLP as a Public Auditor in which I worked on financial reports relating to small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. 

2)  Why do you want to serve in the above position?

The position of Treasurer on the Colorado APTA Board of Directors attracts me not only because of my financial background and accounting experience, but also my continued interest to serve in my professional association.  I have a deep sense of commitment to the mission of the APTA.  My involvement stems from the belief that the participation of our members will create a strong and unified force for the profession of physical therapy.

3)  List committees / projects that take up your time.

I am currently serving as Director at Large on the Colorado APTA Board of Directors.  In addition, I am an Affiliate Faculty at Regis University’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy program in Denver, Colorado.  My interest in the APTA started in graduate school when I had the opportunity to serve as Treasurer of the National Student Assembly Board of Directors.  This experience enabled me to participate in many of the national conferences for several years such as Component Leadership Seminar, Government Affairs Forum, Annual Conferences, Combined Sections, and Student Conclaves.  From these experiences I was able to assist with the formation of the APTA Colorado Chapter’s Student Special Interest Group where I served as Vice President.  I currently work full time in an outpatient practice in Boulder, Colorado.  In December 2003, I graduated from Regis University in the first transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy class in Colorado.

4)  What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Colorado Chapter? Are there any improvements you would like to make?

I would like to give Colorado APTA Chapter members more information and opportunities to get involved with their professional association.  The organization is a wonderful vehicle for networking with peers.  I believe this professional socialization must start from an early entry point into the profession.  I recognize the importance of physical therapists networking within the profession as well as in the healthcare field.  Another area where the Colorado APTA Chapter needs growth is in the involvement of the many discipline areas of physical therapy such as acute care, pediatrics, neurology, and rural/home health.  The diversity of the professionals in physical therapy makes this task difficult yet not unattainable.  With a diverse member base, we can better represent the needs and interests of physical therapists in Colorado.

 

DIRECTOR AT LARGE CANDIDATE

 

Andy Purcelley, PT, MSBA, MPT
Physical Therapist,
United Medical Center, Cheyenne, WY

1)  Why do you feel qualified to serve in the above position?

I have held this position since 2002 and, in that time, I have never missed a meeting of the Board of Directors. I feel that I have contributed to the Board by adding a different voice. I am from northern Colorado and have many physical therapy friends and acquaintances that are not as concerned with the nature of the reimbursement environment as I am. I feel that I can serve the Board by adding that element of informing others of what APTA is doing in Colorado as well as bringing back to the Board those concerns that face physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs).  I also feel that I am a strong advocate of persuading those PTs and PTAs I know of who are not members with membership information so that they may become members.

2)  Why do you want to serve in the above position?

I want to be a part of the energy that is APTA. There is such an educational experience that occurs at all of the Board meetings. I learn something every time I attend. I also want to add what I can to furthering the cause of physical therapy in Colorado. We are such a diverse group that we often forget that we still have to compete for the attention of legislators, insurance providers, and other health care providers. We do that best with a unified voice—that comes from the Colorado Chapter of APTA.

3)  List committees / projects that take up your time.

I have three areas that concern me:  Family, work, and the transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy program I am enrolled in. I have had these three areas for at least the last two years and do not feel that they will hinder me in working with the Colorado Chapter if I am re-elected.

4)  What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Colorado Chapter? Are there any improvements you would like to make?

The Colorado Chapter already has dedicated and able leadership as well as an intelligent membership. The major weakness of our chapter is that there simply are too few of us. In any professional organization, more members allow a stronger voice. It is difficult to judge what would build up our numbers except for mandatory continuing education for physical therapy professionals. This is a weakness of physical therapy in Colorado, not of the Colorado Chapter. The improvement I would like to make is to communicate how important our organization is to all of the Colorado PTs and PTAs. Without the Colorado Chapter, we would have no voice to the legislature, insurers, and other health care providers.
 
 

NOMINATING COMMITTEE CANDIDATES

 

Pat Grenz, PT
Senior Physical Therapist, HealthSouth, Englewood

1)  Why do you feel qualified to serve in the above position?

I am a long-standing PT with good organizational skills.

2)  Why do you want to serve in the above position?

I know a number of PTs from either working with them or through committees.

3)  List committees / projects that take up your time.

I am continuing to increase my hand therapy knowledge.

4)  What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Colorado Chapter? Are there any improvements you would like to make?

Not sure.

 

Wendy Mathewson, PT, MSPT, BS
Physical Therapist, Site Coordinator, Regional Clinical Coordinator, HealthSouth,
Aurora

1)  Why do you feel qualified to serve in the above position?

I have been serving on the nominating committee for the last 3 years and chairman for the last 2.

2)  Why do you want to serve in the above position?

I feel that it is a privilege to be apart of the nominating committee.  It is an awesome responsibility to provide the chapter with qualified individuals that will help lead the chapter in it’s vision.  It is my way of staying active in the organization while maintaining my busy work/home life.

3)  List what committees/projects take up your time.

My number one time commitment right now is my family ( 3 yr old, 4 month old).  Besides that I spend the majority of my committee time organizing the slate and thinking of new ways to create a pool of nominees.

4)  What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Colorado Chapter?  Are there any improvements you would like to make?

I think the biggest strength of the organization right now is it’s strong leadership team who is defining a clear objective for our future.  Coming up with a plan and then making steady progress to reach their objective for our association.

 
 

DELEGATE AT LARGE 
(OR ALTERNATE) TO HOUSE OF DELEGATES 2005
CANDIDATE

 

Ira Gorman, PT, MSPH, BS 
Assistant Professor,
Regis University, 
Denver

1)  Why do you feel qualified to serve in the above position?

I have been a physical therapist for over 24 years and have been passionate about my profession from the beginning. I have maintained my membership in APTA since I initially joined as a student in 1977. Listed are examples of my APTA service involvement over the years:

            APTA Federal Affairs Liaison for Colorado Chapter APTA
            Colorado Chapter Government Affairs Committee
            Worker's Compensation PPO Task Force
            Physical Therapy Assistant School Committee 

            Strategic Plan Committee

            Competencies Task Force Chairman
            Clinical Educators Forum Chair
            Intermediary Advisory Committee, TrailBlazer Health Enterprises

            Colorado Department of Labor, Division of Worker's       
            Compensation Shoulder and Closed Head Injury Medical
            Treatment Guideline Task Forces

2)  Why do you want to serve in the above position?

I have always felt very strongly that in order for our profession to grow and function in the 21st century, we must have a committed, knowledgeable and sizable representative membership. I feel that a major priority of all the chapters is to increase membership, especially by retaining student members who become licensed physical therapists. I stress to my students the benefits of membership in APTA, and role model with my other faculty the importance of being an involved member of our association. We incorporate APTA activities and resources into their education so that they are exposed to the necessity of being a member early on and therefore, the carryover will continue once they graduate. Events like the recent Capitol Hill rally can only inspire students and the success of our lobbying efforts will motivate students and practicing therapists to join and support APTA. I was able to encourage five students from our program and three students from the University of Colorado to attend the rally and join us on the legislative visits. I hope that these students will also become active members and continue their involvement after graduation. As a delegate it will allow me to participate in APTA HOD activities and represent our chapter at the national level as I have in the Government Affairs area.

3)  List committees / projects that take up your time.

I continue to serve as the chapter representative to the Intermediary Advisory  Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  I have also just been reappointed to the Colorado Department of Labor, Division of Worker's Compensation Traumatic Brain Injury Medical treatment Guideline Task Force. I also serve on the Chapter  Government affairs committee and serve as the chapter's federal affairs liaison to National APTA.

4)  What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Colorado Chapter? Are there any improvements you would like to make?

The strength of our chapter is the committed and experienced leadership we have at the board and staff level. We have a membership that is very involved at the committee level although this we can improve. I feel we need to encourage more licensed PTs in the state to become members and improve our advocacy efforts to obtain and protect the rights and responsibilities we presently enjoy in our practice act. This can be done through outreach to licensed PTs and education of the benefits of membership and the importance of having a larger voice in the state.
 
 

RBNA REPRESENTATIVE 2005 & 2006
CANDIDATE

 


Debbie A. Prather, PTA, BA, AAS 
Physical Therapist Assistant/ GOALS Program Coordinator/ ILST, Interim HealthCare, 
Grand Junction

1)  Why do you feel qualified to serve in the above position?

I feel I am qualified to serve as the RBNA rep for the state of Colorado. I have been an active member of the APTA/Co Chapter since 1990. I have been the PTA Delegate from CO from 1992-1999. I was our representative when the National Assembly received approval to form the RBNA (Representative Body of the National Assembly). I was also part of the group that started the Affiliate Special Interest Group. I have a passion for my role as a PTA and Physical Therapy as a profession. 

2)  Why do you want to serve in the above position?

I want to serve as the RBNA representative for the state of Colorado because I believe that it is my responsibility to participate in my professional association. As the RBNA representative I can take Colorado PTA concerns/issues to the RBNA house and work to promote and improve the role of the PTA within the Physical Therapy profession. 

3)  List committees / projects that take up your time.

I am currently involved with the:  Governors Task Force for Brain Injury Western Slope Brain Injury and Epilepsy support Group

4)  What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Colorado Chapter? Are there any improvements you would like to make?

The Colorado Chapter of the APTA has GREAT LEADERSHIP.  I have always found the Board of Directors, PTs that are delegates to the HOD, and PTs in general  to be very pro-active and supportive of the PTA. I have had many mentors who have helped me in my various roles within our state and when I served as the National Assembly Delegate. I have also found that the Colorado Chapter has a tremendous commitment to the consumer, our patients. Colorado has direct access to Physical Therapy, our members volunteer many hours whether it is doing screens at the 9Health Fair, or for the legislators at the state capital. PTs and some PTAs are always working behind the scenes for us. 

The weakness of the Colorado Chapter is in our districts - I've been on the Western Slope now for six years and rarely receive communication re: district meetings or courses. The ASIG is also a weakness, APATHY, little to no response from PTAs. I have sent out several letters and I have received one phone call and two e-mail responses. That is pretty sad.  I NEED YOUR HELP!  I can't represent you if I don't know your concerns/issues. 

Thank you for this opportunity to serve you and the profession.
 

Download Sample 2004 Ballot Here
(Not for voting purposes, voting will take place
at Chapter Business Meeting on 4/17/04)

 

Return to  Chapter home page

APTA/Colorado Chapter
7853 East Arapahoe Court, Suite #2100, Centennial, Colorado 80112-1361 U.S.A.
Phone 303.694-4728   Fax 303.694-4869   Email apta@assnoffice.com

Copyright 2004, APTA/Colorado Chapter. All rights reserved.