ERIKA FERNANDES, PT, MS, DPT, PhD, ABD
Kalamazoo, MI
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Fernandes is a physical therapist at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Michigan. She is actively involved in research and is completing the final phase of her PhD education in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at Western Michigan University. She specializes in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, vestibular disorders, and concussion management. Her research focuses on analyzing patient-centered outcomes in therapy, while examining demographic trends using statistical analysis and data science. She advocates for the physical therapy profession through her healthcare policy writings, which are in the publication phase. She has a special interest in assessing vestibular disorders, biomechanics of abnormal movement patterns, and customizing treatments, which she has been actively practicing for over 15 years. She is a strategic thinker driven to collaborate and consistently grow, leading by example through her pursuit of knowledge.
STATEMENT
I am excited to collaborate with APTA ALI and submit my candidacy for the Director of Research and Development position. My clinical experiences of over 15 years in India and the USA, research, and consistent academic pursuits since 2009 reflect my passion for advancing PT. As an immigrant PT, diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to my personal and professional belief system. Knowing that diversity plays a role in helping the profession have a widespread reach, I aim to travel around the world to recruit, teach, and diversify the physical therapy workforce in America. My leadership qualities and vision align with APTA's core values of accountability and excellence as I aspire to be an entrepreneur and innovate products to advance PT. I aspire to be a part of APTA in a leadership role, leverage my expertise in advocacy and healthcare policies acquired during my PhD, and add value to its members. My expertise in healthcare policy writing is an asset for advocacy efforts. My PhD has influenced my mentorship, helping students understand the importance of diversity, interdisciplinary expertise, the role of data science, and research in advancing the PT profession. My genuine efforts to promote diversity and foster innovation in academia resonate with APTA's focus on advancing the profession to have a global reach. My intensive education through my PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences will be a great resource for me to be successful in this role.
