2021 Dr. Ronnie Leavitt Award for Leadership in the Promotion of Social Responsibility in Physical Therapy

Theresa Spitznagle, PT, DPT

Theresa (Tracy) Spitznagle PT DPT is Board Certified in Women’s Health Physical Therapy, and a Professor in the Program in Physical Therapy and Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis. She is the Coordinator of the Post-Doctoral Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency Training Program.  Through her professional philanthropies, Tracy has been engaging in capacity building in Ethiopia, Niger and Uganda since 2011. Professional contributions include: Board Director for the Worldwide Fistula Fund, Board Director for the Global Women’s Health Initiative and editor for the Journal of Women’s Heath Physical Therapy. She is the 2011 Academy of Women’s Health Elizabeth Noble award winner and the 2018 American Physical Therapy Association’s Humanitarian award winner.

Dr. Spitznagle’s influence both locally and abroad is her dedication to the Dignity Period nonprofit organization. Dignity Period purchases sanitary products from a woman-owned factory in Ethiopia. They distribute “period packs” of sanitary products and education on menstrual health to girls in Ethiopia and St Louis, reducing shame and improving school attendance. Dr. Spitznagle is instrumental in St Louis’s large fundraising efforts and invites co-workers and DPT students to volunteer for fundraisers, providing a fantastic “entry-level” social responsibility activity.

Notwithstanding her achievements and accomplishments, Dr. Spitznagle is humble, kind and an outstanding listener. Within the WUPT community, she has long been involved in Diversity Equity and Inclusion efforts, journal clubs, and tough conversations about how the program can do better. She has made an ongoing effort to recruit and retain therapists of color for WUPT’s credentialed clinical mentorship in Women’s Health. She has been an inspiration to countless DPT students wishing to engage in social responsibility efforts and provides many shining examples and opportunities to get involved at various levels.

She truly embodies the values that are represented in this award from the HPA: “leadership in the promotion of social responsibility, locally and globally, through service, scholarship, and advocacy.” Dr. Ronnie Leavitt Award for Leadership in the Promotion of Social Responsibility in Physical Therapy.  Congratulations Dr. Spitznagle.