The ACEWM Board 2023 Elections went well. Results will be announced soon. Thank you for taking the time to make this a valid and successful election!
Meet Your Candidates!
ACEWM is proud to introduce your 2023 Slate of Candidates. We have 3 open positions available for the 2023 elections. Those positions are secretary, treasurer and nominating committee member. The slate of candidates will be available to view for 30 days and then our elections will begin. Please see the job descriptions below and those who have been nominated to be a part of our leadership team.
Bachelor of Science in Education, Master of Science in Physical Therapy, Doctor of Science in Clinical Electrophysiology, Board Certified Specialist in Clinical Electrophysiology.
Current Employment Situation:
I work full-time as an administrator and clinician with Integrity Diagnostics in Georgia with a team of 10-12 full-time and contract providers where we provide electrodiagnostic testing across the state. I’ve had dual roles in this capacity for over 20 years.
Experience in Clinical/Research/Teaching:
I’ve been a physical therapist for 28 years, practicing in the area of clinical electrodiagnostic testing for over 20. I’ve participated in several clinical research projects over the years, presented professionally many, many times at various meetings and conferences. I’ve chaired and served on several Master’s theses and Doctoral Dissertation committees, served as associate faculty in Rocky Mountain Universities, DSc in Clinical Electrophysiology and guest lectured at numerous universities to physical therapy and medical students. Additionally, have provided continuing education for PTs seeking ABPTS Board certification by co-teaching an annual course with Dr. Mark Brooks that (I believe) has helped dozens of ECS providers achieve their board certification. My clinical practice also focuses on development of the physical therapist electrodiagnostic provider and have served to personally mentor over 10 ECS PTs.
Professional Contributions:
In addition to regular professional presentations, I’ve authored several chapters on EDX related topics for O’Sullivan and Schmitz’s Physical Rehabilitation and Placzek and Boyce’s Orthopedic Physical Therapy Secrets.
Professional Awards Received:
ACEWM Service Award
Describe how your experience and expertise could be utilized in the desired position to further the objectives of the academy:
Having served the Academy in the EDX arm as Practice Chair and Treasurer as well as serving terms as the Academy Treasurer, I have experience on the Executive Council, specifically during the development and additions of the EDX, NMSKUS and Biophysical Agents SIGs to the Wound Care SIG and was very proud to support the Wound Care arm in achieving the opportunity for ABPTS clinical specialization. Our Academy represents a diverse range of practice specialties and I've always taken the tact that EVERYONES concerns should be heard and valued. Along with countless other selfless volunteers, we authored the vision that PTs be the provider of choice for our respective disciplines. This is a powerful goal and we are making strides. I’ve taken a few years off from offering service to the Executive arm of The Academy and feel compelled to volunteer again.
Describe your perceptions regarding the direction the academy should take in the future and how your goals for the nominated position will affect or impact the academy:
The Academy is chock full of volunteers with full-time clinical and academic careers with a like-minded agenda of ‘helping’ promote and preserve the practice of physical therapy. In EDX, we have done an exceptional job following the leadership of an aging group that has fought intensively hard for payment and legal right to practice our disciplines. Countless professionals (including myself) have testified in front of senate and congressional committees in numerous states for the survival of our practice and without the APTA and the ACEWM, we could certainly have found ourselves without careers doing what we love…what we excel in…who many now see across the country as Providers of Choice. It is important for growing areas of clinical practice to recruit and offer opportunities for younger professionals to engage at the academy and professional association levels and this (I am sure is and) should continue to be a focus. The ACEWM will prosper through membership and education.
Bachelor of Science in Biology, Physical Therapy; DPT Physical Therapy, Graduate Certificate in Pediatrics, Certifications: CWS, WCC, FACCWS, C-MLD, NCS, C/NDT, CSRS
Current Employment Situation:
Tenured Assistant Professor at Tennessee State University in the DPT program in Nashville, TN. Consultant to the TN Board of PT. Sees patients in DPT Pro Bono clinic.
Experience in Clinical/Research/Teaching:
I have 36 years of clinical experience as a PT including wound management in a burn unit, large and small hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient. I have completed scholarly works in a variety of topics and have an interest in wound management modalities as well as light therapy in multiple skin tones and in wound management teaching models. I have 10 years’ experience in full-time teaching at a physical therapy program which includes Integumentary Therapeutics which is a 2-credit course.
Professional Contributions:
Please refer to pages 4-12 in my CV for publications, grants, and presentations. I am a SACE member, writing items for the Wound Management specialist exam. I have written NPTE items and reviewed courses for Procert in the past.
Professional Awards Received:
I received the 2023 Excellence in Service Award for the College of Health Sciences at TSU, the 2022 Outstanding Alumna Award at UTHSC, 2022 TN Outstanding District Award, 2017 College of Health Sciences Research Award, 2016 TSU PT Service Award, 2011 Frist Humanitarian Award.
Previous APTA History:
I have been an APTA member since 1985 and a member of several sections. I recently served 7 years as the APTA-Nashville District Chair and Board Member, multiple years as a TN Delegate in the APTA HOD. I currently review courses for APTA-TN and I teach TN Ethics and Jurisprudence for the APTA-TN.
Describe how your experience and expertise could be utilized in the desired position to further the objectives of the academy:
I have enjoyed serving in various capacities throughout my career. As Secretary of the Faculty Senate at TSU for two years, I was able to keep notes of meetings well. As a board member of APTA-TN, I was able to be a team member for the state. As a PT educator, I am interested in helping the academy educate the members on wound management and related topics.
Describe your perceptions regarding the direction the academy should take in the future and how your goals for the nominated position will affect or impact the academy:
The ACEWM should continue to promote itself within the APTA and HOD, have a significant presence at CSM, and advocate for specialists within the academy and in the profession. My contribution to the academy as Secretary will enhance the board and provide a strong team member and advocate.
President & CEO, Professional Rehabilitation Associates, PSC, large multi-location outpatient rehab clinics, hospital contracts for rehab, and EDX testing at multiple hospitals and facilities.
Experience in Clinical/Research/Teaching:
30+ years as a physical therapist, 24 years in practice of EDX, teaching appointments U of KY, RMUoHP, has taught dozens of continuing education courses across the US, multiple presentations at state and national conferences.
Professional Contributions:
APTA and KPTA member 36 years, ACEWM member 20+ years, Orthopedic and PPS member 25+ years, ACEWM treasurer 2020 - present.
Professional Awards Received:
ACEWM Award for Clinical Excellence 2019
Previous APTA History:
APTA and KPTA member 36 years, ACEWM member 20+ years, Orthopedic and PPS member 25+ years, ACEWM treasurer 2020 - present.
Describe how your experience and expertise could be utilized in the desired position to further the objectives of the academy:
I have been a practicing physical therapist for 34 years, the last 31 years in private practice. In 1992 we established our private practice in central KY which has grown to a large multi location practice which includes hospital contracts, our own freestanding outpatient rehab clinics and diagnostic practice, which performs both EDX (EMG/NCS) and sonography (MSK & neural diagnostic ultrasound). We are a large multi-provider practice with a multimillion dollar per year budget and revenue stream. As president of our practice, I am responsible for all aspects of its operations and finances.
Describe your perceptions regarding the direction the academy should take in the future and how your goals for the nominated position will affect or impact the academy:
I am honored to be nominated for a second term as the treasurer of the Academy. Over the last 2 to 3 years our profession has experienced many challenges, including COVID, reimbursement cuts and challenges from outside our profession attempting to infringe, limit or eliminate our ability to practice along with payors who attempt to devalue our services.
Despite these challenges, your Academy board of directors, with help from the member leadership, have led the Academy to achieve the following:
Financial stability. Despite a very challenging environment, the academy has met budget for each of the past 3 years,
Despite challenging financial times, maintained membership at a steady number,
Met ongoing challenges from outside influences. This past summer, the Academy, with leadership from the EDX Sig, was able to finally form an alliance with the biggest physician academy (AANEM) to work together to further EDX practice and to prevent fraud and abuse,
Resurrect the Journal of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management, with the first digital issue published late last year,
Institute a Wound Specialist Certification through the ABPTS,
Provide monthly webinars online,
Approve an EDX laboratory accreditation process administered by the ACEWM to start in the spring of 2024.
Additionally, a major goal is to grow and add new membership. The Academy and its SIGs must be at the forefront of providing value to our membership and one of the major ways this can be achieved is by providing ongoing educational and mentoring opportunities outside the national conferences to its members.
Through both the Academy and its SIGs, ongoing educational opportunities should be available to its members. Whether webinars, clinical rounds or virtual or in-person courses, the Academy should be at the forefront of providing these opportunities to its members. Additionally, the Academy must partner with educational institutions to assist in providing specialized education and training to students and recent graduates. These students, new graduates and members training in a new specialty within the Academy and its SIGs should also have access to a body of mentors. In my opinion, nothing is more important to ensure clinical competency than access to a mentor who can help train and guide therapists, those seeking specialization and new specialists. The Academy can have a major role in ensuring that competent specialized training, mentorship and guidance will be available to students and practicing members. Again, this is only possible if the resources, both financial, educational and personnel, are available to Academy and SIG members.
As ACEWM treasurer I will work diligently to maintain our strong financial position and to assure our precious financial resources are utilized in support of our profession and members and to give value to all of our members.
Full time University Lecturer with Senior Status at Governors State University and Co-Director of Clinical Education.
Experience in Clinical/Research/Teaching:
TEACHING: I have been teaching full time at Governors State University for 9 years & taught adjunctively at three institutions in Chicagoland area for 2-5 years prior to my full-time position began. I served as the Site Coordinator & Clinical Instructor for 14 years prior to academia where my love of teaching evolved.
CLINICAL: Prior to academia, I worked as a full-time PT & wound care specialist for both inpatient and outpatient settings in a hospital in the greater Chicago land area, and also covered inpatient acute care and inpatient rehabilitation units for 16 years. I was mentored by incredible wound care physicians/teams and my love of interprofessional collaboration evolved, and my forever love of wounds was found.
RESEARCH: Prior to academia: I was involved in a few clinical trials testing wound-based modalities & I published a case study on a complex fasciotomy (medial and lateral lower leg wounds). Once in academia, I published a capstone project associated with my tDPT degree on wound outcome measures practices. I presented a poster on wound outcome measures at the Wild on Wounds Conference. I am currently a Doctoral Candidate in the Doctor of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership program with a concentration in Higher Education Administration. My current research interests include wounds, wound outcome measures, wound technologies, mindfulness practices, leadership, interprofessional collaboration, inpatient acute care & ICU simulation, and clinical education.
Professional Contributions:
I authored a chapter in a textbook on basic wound care and specialized interventions in 2022. I published "Survey of wound assessment tools used by physical therapists to document healing progress for patients with open wounds: A research study" as a part of my capstone project for my tDPT degree. I Submitted for funding from National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel Application for $5000.00 via GSU in summer 2022 (June 2022) for a proposed study " Support Surfaces to Prevent Pressure Injury formation in Medically Complex Patients"; Declined October 2022. I have had multiple professional presentations.
Professional Awards Received:
Faculty excellence award recipient, Governors State University 2020; 5 years of Service recognition award, Governors State University 2015; Outstanding Clinical Supervisor Award Recipient, Governor State University, 2014.
Previous APTA History:
Task Force Member: Task Force on PTs in Wound Management, Billing, and Coding Member, The Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management, American Physical Therapy Association, 2015-2016; Membership Committee Member, the Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management, American Physical Therapy Association, 2014-2018; Committee Assistant: House of Delegates for the Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management, American Physical Therapy Association. Specialization Academy of Content Experts, (SACE), Item Writer for the Wound Managements Specialty Council, American Physical Therapy Association 2021-2023; SACE Application Reviewer for ACWEM Certification process; CESIG APTA National placement process task force, 11/22 - present.
Describe how your experience and expertise could be utilized in the desired position to further the objectives of the academy:
I am a deep critical thinker able to analyze problems/situations from multiple perspectives. I am tech savvy and have an eye for data analysis. I strive for progress and excellence and will bring my best towards the betterment of this academy. I am deeply passionate about my niche in PT and I resonate well with others who are just as passionate about their PT niche. I hope to offer my service, skills, and time to meet the objectives for the Nominating committee.
Describe your perceptions regarding the direction the academy should take in the future and how your goals for the nominated position will affect or impact the academy:
I lead with a servant heart and a transformational leadership. I strive to evolve to meet the demands of the present day, for change and progress, and I hope to help instrument the future pathways to this academy. I have been a member of the ACEWM since its inception and I hope to serve this academy to the best of my ability. I am grateful for this opportunity.
Please consider the open positions below or talk with someone that would be a great fit. If you have any questions, please email Christie, executive director, at ckrueger@orthopt.org. Thank you!
Immediate Open Positions
Please consider volunteering for one of our currently open Academy positions.
Membership Chair/Co-Chairs – seeking one or two individuals to serve as Membership Chair(s) for the Academy. 3-year term. Primary responsibilities include building a Membership Committee to focus on member recruitment, retention and appreciation activities. Would attend monthly Academy meetings.
Education Chair – seeking an individual to serve as Education Chair for the Academy. 3-year term. Primary responsibilities include supporting the Academy’s Program Chair in soliciting and assisting development of the Academy’s educational offerings. Would attend monthly Academy meetings.
Communications Chair - see description by clicking HERE.
