Moral injury occurs when deeply held moral values are violated, resulting in feelings of guilt, shame, and anger, among other intense emotions that lead to ethical challenges. These experiences can be particularly profound in professions grounded in service, such as physical therapy, where practitioners often face difficult decisions that may conflict with their core values. Sociopolitical disruptions – such as policy changes, systemic inequities, and shifting cultural norms – impose significant threats to higher education and health care, including physical therapy. These disruptions can create environments where leaders are forced to make decisions that may compromise their ethical standards or the well-being of those they serve.

For physical therapy leaders, the burden of navigating these challenges is immense. Ethical challenges or temptations may arise from resource limitations, institutional pressures, or conflicting interests of invested parties. These situations can lead to increased stress, moral conflict, and a sense of betrayal – both of personal values and of the teams and communities they lead. The cumulative effect of these experiences can erode professional identity and diminish overall well-being.

This webinar explores the intersection of sociopolitical disruptions and moral injury, with a focus on their impact on physical therapy leadership. It will provide participants with an understanding of how these external pressures affect the emotional and psychological health of leaders in the field. Participants will engage in discussions to explore practical strategies to mitigate moral injury in physical therapy education, clinical practice, and research while promoting ethical practices in leadership. Emphasis will be placed on understanding moral injury, fostering ethical leadership, and promoting resilience in the face of ongoing challenges.

Meet the Presenters

Dawn Brown, PT, DPT, EdD

Nancy Kirsch,PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA

Aaron Embry, PT, DPT, PhD 

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how moral injury arises when core values are compromised.
• Examine the impact of sociopolitical pressures on ethical decision-making in physical therapy.
• Recognize how moral injury affects emotional well-being, professional identity, and leadership.
• Explore strategies to mitigate moral injury in education, clinical practice, and research.
• Learn how to foster ethical leadership and build resilience in challenging environments.

CEUs:

CEUs are not being offered for this webinar.