Announcing the 2024 APTA ALI Award Winners

The APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Awards. The following recipients will be honored during the 2024 APTA ALI Business Meeting, February 16 in Boston, MA.

APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation Outstanding Service Award

Robert Latz PT, DPT, CHCIO, CDH-E, FCHIME, FHIMSS

The Outstanding Service Award is presented to an Academy member who has demonstrated outstanding contributions and leadership to our profession and the Academy of Leadership and Innovation and has contributed to the advancement of the Academy’s mission, vision, and goals.

Dr. Robert Latz’s contributions have helped keep APTA ALI and its members appraised of the positive impacts of technology on the physical therapy profession.

Dr. Latz has been a significant contributor to the APTA Telehealth Certificate Program which became critically important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the current chair of APTA’s Frontiers in Rehabilitation Science and Technology Council, Dr. Latz has added value and outstanding leadership contributions to promote scientific and technological innovation in physical therapy.

He was among the first physical therapists to bring awareness of technology to the collective membership of APTA, leading the APTA ALI’s Technology SIG as a two-term President and Director.

As a leading visionary, co-creator and co-leader of TechnoPalooza, Dr. Latz has served the event for over a decade. TechnoPalooza which has become a centerpiece of CSM where conference attendees can interact with innovators and have hands-on learning experiences with new technologies.

Dr. Latz embraces true servant leadership as he mentors others to grow in leadership roles for ALI’s Beyond Clinical Practice Group, ALI’s learning management system, informatics rehab collaborative group, and FiRST council, just to name a few. 

R. Charles Harker, Esq. Policy Maker Award

Chris Edmundson PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

The R. Charles Harker, Esq. Policy Maker Award is presented to an APTA member who has demonstrated state or national level policy influence and leadership, has influenced significant policy change, or has initiated a policy shift of broad magnitude for the profession of physical therapy. 

Despite being a practice owner of six clinics and an affiliate faculty member at Regis University and Hawaiian Pacific University, Dr. Chris Edmundson has worked tirelessly to advance the field of physical therapy through legislative advocacy at the national and state level.

Over the last ten years, Dr. Edmundson's contributions to the APTA Colorado Government Affairs Committee (GAC) have been instrumental. As Co-Chair, he has demonstrated leadership and dedication to advancing the profession at the state level, including introducing a bill that establishes a schedule for provider rate reviews within the Colorado Medicaid program.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he successfully advocated for the adoption of emergency state rules securing the right for PTs to provide and be paid for telehealth services, and to be classified as essential workers, ensuring clinics remained open.

On the national level, Dr. Edmundson has been an integral part of APTA as the Federal Affairs Key Contact since 2016. Dr. Edmundson has met with federal legislators, attended numerous Capitol Hill days in Washington, and participated in the APTA Leadership Congress/Federal Affairs Forum on five occasions.

LAMPLighter Award

Constanza Aranda PT, DPT, MSPH

The LAMPLighter Award is presented to an APTA member who has demonstrated innovative and transformative leadership that expands the spirit of leadership throughout the physical therapy profession.

Dr. Constanza Aranda ignites the spirit of leadership in others through mentorship, education, state and federal advocacy, student programming, strategic planning and conference planning in her home chapter, Florida APTA, where she is also highly involved in the Early Professionals SIG.

Dr. Aranda has successfully completed LAMP 101, 102 and 103, and has created an innovative program that inspires others to complete LAMP 103. This program led to her appointment to APTA’s Centennial Scholar program, where she continued to focus on improving the transition from student to early professional to professional.

She has also served her home chapter on its Board of Directors and as a Delegate to the House of Delegates. Her role as Director of Membership places her in direct responsibility of student mentorship within the Student SIG.

Finally, although it is clear Dr. Aranda is only getting started in her leadership journey, she has been appointed to lead a board committee at Florida APTA to revise the organization’s mission and vision, leading to organizational transformation inspired by her leadership. Her nominations describe her as “innovative, a catalyst for change, inspiring, lighting a fire…” Dr. Aranda captures the true spirit of a LAMPLighter.

Global Health SIG Dr. Ronnie Leavitt Award for Leadership in the Promotion of Social Responsibility

Jennifer Audette PT, PhD

The Ronnie Leavitt Award for Leadership in the Promotion of Social Responsibility is presented to a Global Health Special Interest Group member whose contribution and actions have demonstrated leadership in the promotion of social responsibility, locally and/or globally, through service, scholarship, and/or advocacy.

Dr. Jenny Audette has been a member of APTA since 1986 and began her journey in what is now the Academy of Leadership and Innovation in 1989. She has played many pivotal roles in the Global Health Special Interest Group over her ALI tenure, including the role of Programming Chair for 4 years, Vice Chair for 4 years, and then as Director of Social Responsibility and Chair for an 5 additional years -- wrapping up 15 years of active responsibility and leadership within the Global Health SIG.

While in these roles, Dr. Audette promoted the integration of global health initiatives into academic and clinical practice. She focused her energies on social justice, social responsibility and professional engagement in the planning of nearly 100 international experiences for DPT students.

Dr. Audette continues her work as a Futures Network Mentor for World Physiotherapy, extending her global reach and service as an Executive Board member for the North American Caribbean Region, and continues with rigorous academic activity in her positions of leadership at the University of New England.

Her enthusiasm and positivity is evident in her many achievements and her ability to engage others in opportunities to promote social responsibility. It is an honor to present the Ronnie Leavitt Award to Dr. Jenny Audette.

APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation Technology and Innovation Award

Sheryl Flynn PT, PhD

The Technology and Innovation Award is given to an APTA Member who has demonstrated substantial contributions to Technology and Innovation in Physical Therapy. 

Just a note or clarification that we look beyond the Tech SIG and even beyond our Academy for individuals deserving of this award. This year, we find Dr. Sheryl Flynn is most deserving of this Award.

Dr. Flynn has served and represented our PT profession in many ways: as a researcher, author, business owner, and a leader. One example is her work as an NIH reviewer for determining the value of NIH grants to develop technology for clinical practice. 

Another example is her leadership on the ALI Tech SIG’s Technopalooza planning committee and as co-chair of the event from its inception to the present.

Yet another is her role as the CEO and founder of Blue Marble Health where she develops mobile "gamified," assessment and treatment applications to track human performance and improve the human experience. 

Yes, Dr. Sheryl Flynn is a stellar example of a PT entrepreneur/innovator who has advanced practice, research, and education in digital health in physical therapy.

The ALI Technology SIG is proud to present the Technology and Innovation award to Dr. Sheryl Flynn.