AOPT Leadership

Vice President: James Spencer, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
jspencer@orthopt.org
Dr. James Spencer, DPT, OCS, owns Ajax Physical Therapy, an in-home, out-of-network PT practice in Aspen, Colorado. Previously he and his wife Kate were traveling Physical Therapists for 12 years working across 7 different states in a wide variety of settings and practice models. James is a 2006 graduate of Northeastern University's Physical Therapy Program and enjoys spending his free time outdoors with his family.

Treasurer: Judith Hess, PT, DHS, OCS, CMPT, Cert. DN
jhess@orthopt.org
Dr. Burton Hess completed her Master of Physical Therapy degree at Duke University and received a Doctor of Health Science from Midwestern University. Dr. Hess has more than 28 years of clinical physical therapy experience, primarily in the outpatient orthopedics, as well as many years as a hospital administrator and academic faculty member. Dr. Hess is certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OSC) and a Certified Manual Physical Therapist (CMPT). She also holds a certificate in dry needling and is a Fellow-In-Training in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy through NAIOMT. Dr. Hess is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the Academy of Physical Therapy Education and the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (AOPT). She served on the AOPT Finance Committee from 2014 to 2020, and has been an East Central District Representative to the Illinois Physical Therapy Association Assembly since 2015.

Secretary: Taylor Adkins, PT, DPT, Cert DN
Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists  
tadkins@orthopt.org
Taylor Adkins, PT, DPT, Cert. DN is a servant leader striving for clinical excellence daily. After completing her Doctor of Physical Therapy at Mercer University, Dr. Adkins began practicing in the outpatient orthopedic setting. She continued her educational endeavors by completing Mercer University’s Residency in Orthopedic Physical Therapy at Human Performance and Rehabilitation Centers (HPRC) in Columbus, Georgia. Upon completion, she entered the role of Clinic Director for HPRC’s Stockbridge location. In orthopedics, Dr. Adkins enjoys treating all musculoskeletal conditions and movement dysfunctions.

As a student and early in her professional career, Dr. Adkins served the American Physical Therapy Association of Georgia. Serving as Delegate and Vice Chair of the Minority Mentoring FIN, Dr. Adkins placed an emphasis on inspiring and preparing the next generation of physical therapists. She has served as a mentor and tutor for students enrolled in DPT programs across Georgia. In her spare time, she enjoys playing with her dog and maintains a consistent volunteer role with Good Samaritan Health Services to provide diabetic foot care for clients.

Director: Annette Karim, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS
Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists  
akarim@orthopt.org
Dr. Karim is the Director of the PhD in Rehabilitation and Movement Science & Post-Professional Programs at Azusa Pacific University, in Azusa, CA where she also serves as an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy. She received her BA in Physical Education from the University of California at Berkeley in 1988, her entry-level MS in Physical Therapy (2006), DPT (2009), and PhD in Physical Therapy (2016) at Texas Woman’s University-Houston. Her goal is to develop diverse leaders in equitable and inclusive clinical, research, and teaching environments, and by doing so, shape the future of physical therapy practice. An active member of AOPT, she has served on the AOPT nominating committee, AOPT DEI Taskforce, PASIG outreach and public relations committees, and PASIG Fellowship Taskforce which lead to the creation of the Performing Arts Description of Fellowship Practice. Annette has also served as the PASIG President for 6 years, and PASIG Research Chair for 2 years. As a researcher, her focus is driven by questions developed in dialogue with the dance community. She investigates movement patterns and motor control among dancers with the goal of performance improvement and occupational sustainability. Her studies involve health-related quality of life and functional change in a wide range of ages of the population with degenerative and idiopathic neuromusculoskeletal conditions.

Director: Nancy Bloom, PT, DPT, MSOT
nbloom@orthopt.org
Dr. Bloom, PT, DPT, MSOT, is an associate professor of physical therapy and orthopaedic surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. She received both her master’s degree in occupational therapy and her clinical doctorate in physical therapy from Washington University. Nancy teaches in a wide variety of courses and treats multiple types of musculoskeletal problems but the primary focus of her teaching, clinical practice, and research is the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the hip. Nancy has taught numerous continuing education courses on the topic of Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement System Impairment Syndromes and has made several national and international presentations.

Director: Kathleen Geist, PT, DPT, OCS
Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists  
kgeist@orthopt.org
Dr. Geist is a clinician and educator in Atlanta, Georgia. She is an Associate Professor at Emory University in the Division of Physical Therapy and is founder and Director of Emory’s Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency program. Dr. Geist has over 25 years of orthopedic clinical experience and is a practicing clinician in a hospital-based orthopedic clinic. She participates in academic and clinical teaching at Emory, serves as a reviewer for multiple orthopedic journals, has published several book chapters and multiple publications in peer reviewed journals on orthopedic topics. She is recognized by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) as a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT). Dr. Geist serves as an orthopedic subject matter expert for the ABPTS. She has presented at state and national conferences and has presented internationally on evidence-based orthopedic topics. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and served as Vice President (2018-2020) and President of the Georgia chapter (2021-2023). She has served in leadership positions within AOPT to include the Practice Committee, Education Work Group, and the Orthopedic Residency and Fellowship Special Interest Group (SIG). As Vice Chair of the ORF-SIG, she worked with leadership to develop and implement strategic initiatives that would support the growth, development, and structure of the SIG to promote the expansion of residency and fellowship education and the value of orthopedic physical therapy.

Director: Derrick Sueki, PT, PhD, DPT, GCPT, OCS
Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists  
dsueki@orthopt.org
Dr. Sueki is the Program Director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Azusa Pacific University, the owner of two physical therapy clinics in Southern California, and author of two orthopedic textbooks and multiple publications. Over the past 20 years, he has served in leadership capacities at both the national and local levels. Nationally, he has served as Council member and then as the Chair of the Orthopaedic Specialty Council and currently serves as the Public Relations Chair of the Pain Special Interest Group. He has also represented the APTA and Academy at the Joint Commission Task Force on Non-Pharmacological Management of Opioids, at the Integrative Pain Care Policy Congress, and currently leads workgroups tasked to explore pathways to clinical specialization, residencies, and fellowships in pain. As a researcher, he is a behavioral scientist with his primary area of study in the relationship between memory, learning, and chronic pain.

Research Committee Chair: Amee L Seitz, PT, DPT, PhD
amee.seitz@northwestern.edu
I am a clinical research scientist and physical therapist specializing in orthopaedic disorders. My research seeks to optimize patient treatment outcomes and the health of individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. In my research lab, I employ an integrative approach exploring the interaction between neuromuscular and biomechanical mechanisms and body structure and function to improve the evaluation, classification, and intervention efficacy and effectiveness of musculoskeletal shoulder disorders. Rich collaborations with orthopaedics, engineering, emergency medicine, sports medicine, and radiology enhance our ability to develop novel methods to advance the examination and treatment of patients seeking care for musculoskeletal shoulder pain and low back pain.

Practice Committee Chair: Matthew R. Hyland, PT, PhD, MPA
mhyland@orthopt.org
Matthew R. Hyland, PT, PhD, MPA, is a physical therapist with 30 years of experience as a clinician, private practice owner, educator, researcher and advocate. Dr. Hyland was co-founder and owner of Rye Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation a private outpatient physical therapy practice in Westchester County for 23 years.

Dr. Hyland is committed to preparing the next generation of physical therapists and is an Associate Professor at Mercy College. He has also had the opportunity to lecture all around the country in the areas of leadership, health policy, and advocacy.

His research has been presented at CSM, as well as NEXT and published in peer-reviewed journals, including JOSPT, Physical Therapy, Journal Geriatric Physical Therapy, the Journal of Teaching & Learning, and the Journal of Musculoskeletal Science and Practice.

Dr. Hyland is a Past- President of the New York Physical Therapy Association and in 2014 he was elected to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Board of Directors and in 2018 was elected Vice President of the APTA where he served through 2021.

Currently he is the Practice Chair for the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and is the President of the Mercy College Faculty Senate.

Education Committee Chair: Eric Folkins, PT, DPT, DHSc
ericfolkins@yahoo.com
Dr. Folkins is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Specialist and Associate Professor at Saint Joseph’s University, in Philadelphia, PA. He earned his BS in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota, MPT at the University of Southern California, DPT from Western University and DHSc in Rehabilitation Science at Drexel University. His passion for education is evident from service on the CPTA Education Task Force, California Academic and Residency Collaborative, CPTA Annual Conference Task Force, PA SED Program Committee and 5 years of service with the AOPT Education Committee. He has organized and taught multiple orthopaedic and vestibular continuing education courses. His research interests are in the area of orthopaedic pathologies involving the cervical and lumbar spine, manipulation, pedagogy, strength and conditioning and student wellness. He is an active member of the APTA at the local, state, and national levels. He served as San Jose, CA District Chair and Treasurer, CA and PA House of Delegate for 10 years. He currently is a member of the Orthopaedic and Education Academies. Dr. Folkins’ has been recognized for his research at the local, state, and national levels.