Congratulations to our New SIG Leaders

Steve Allison, DPT, CME
Dr. Allison is CEO and managing partner of a small private practice specializing in occupational health services located in Bossier City, Louisiana. Dr. Allison graduated from Louisiana State University Medical Center with a BS in Physical Therapy in 1991, and subsequently a MHS in Physical Therapy in 1998. He went on graduate from the University of St. Augustine with a DPT in 2007. Dr. Allison is a doctor of physical therapy, certified DOT (Department of Transportation) medical examiner for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and a certified occupational health practitioner under the Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy. Dr. Allison has served as the Vice-President/Education Chair for the Occupational Health Special Interest Group since 2019, and he was appointed by the Governor of Louisiana to serve as a member on the Medical Advisory Council of the Louisiana Workforce Commission in 2023 . Dr. Allison served as the lead author of the FCE best practices guideline adopted by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in April 2018. He has also authored and/or contributed to other articles and monographs related to FCE, job analysis, medical fitness for duty, and a clinical practice guideline for work rehabilitation. He has been recognized in various federal courts and district courts in Louisiana and Colorado as an expert in FCEs, functional job analysis, functional test validation, and orthopedic physical therapy.

Cory Blickenstaff PT, MSPT, OCS
I am a Physical Therapist practicing in Southwest Washington State and Northwest Oregon. A graduate of the University of Indianapolis PT program in 2001, I have worked in occupational health for over 20 years, primarily in on-site roles. I am a board-certified specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy. I have owned and operated my own practice, Forward Motion Physical Therapy, since 2006. I was in the inaugural cohort to complete the Occupational Health Practitioner certificate series, and I currently serve as the Practice Committee chair for the OHSIG, which has allowed me the opportunity to work with the network of State Resource Liaisons across the country. .

Emily Sandow, DPT, OCS
Dr. Emily Sandow, DPT, OCS is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist in Physical Therapy. She graduated from NYU with a Bachelors degree in Mathematics and Economics, and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons with a Masters of Science and Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She is in her 22nd year working at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital - Harkness Center for Dance Injuries and served in the roles of supervisor, program manager, clinical specialist. She is on the medical team for many major dance companies and Broadway shows such as Hamilton and Martha Graham Dance Company. She is an Adjunct Professor at Hunter College teaching Anatomy, and at NYU teaching Orthopedic Foot and Ankle lectures in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Curriculum and Orthopedic Residency program. She conducts biomechanical research on topics such as plyometrics and return to sport, and has implemented performance improvement programs in professional dance companies, pre-professional dance academies, and youth soccer teams. She has published articles in peer-reviewed medical journals, has been an invited speaker to national and international medical conferences, and has been a consultant on health topics in journals such as CNN, Family Circle, Pointe, Dance Teacher, and Dance Magazine.

Ryan Pontiff, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Ryan Pontiff, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT is a former clinic director and current Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education for the Hybrid DPT program at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. He obtained his DPT from Texas Woman’s University as well as his PhD which focused on Stress and Burnout in Physical Therapist Clinical Instructors. His teaching focuses on orthopedic conditions and assessment along with therapeutic modalities while integrating pain science into the curriculum. His primary research interests include the assessment of physical therapy interventions for the improvement of chronic pain. His current research projects include systematic reviews focused on interventions for chronic pain and conducting a clinical trial utilizing dry needling for those with chronic low back pain. He has been a member of the APTA for over 10 years, serving as a co-programing chair for the Residency and Fellowship SIG for a portion of that time. He maintains membership in several national organizations focusing on orthopedics and pain conditions along with having had the opportunity to attend the World Congress on pain by the International Association for the Study of Pain.

Melissa Strzelinski, PT, MPT, PhD
Melissa Strzelinski, PT, PhD has been a practicing physical therapist specializing in orthopedics, sports medicine and dance medicine since 2009 and completed her PhD in Orthopedic and Sport Science in 2018. She has served as the PASIG Vice President/Education Chair since 2022. Working as a clinician, researcher and educator has given Dr. Strzelinski robust experience in the performing arts world. She has worked with numerous professional dance and theater companies, mentored novice clinicians, investigated hip issues in dancers, and instructed DPT students. She has presented internationally and nationally through her associations with the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, Performing Arts Medical Association, the Chicago Sports Medicine Symposium and the American Physical Therapy Association. She is a peer reviewer to the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science and Medical Problems of the Performing Artists. Dr. Strzelinski currently serves as a part time Staff Physical Therapist to the Colorado Ballet and runs a concierge-style PT practice in Denver, CO and is an adjunct faculty member in the Tufts University-Phoenix DPT program.

Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS
Dr. Alyssa Arms, PT, DPT, OCS, is the owner of Back in Step Physical Therapy, where she specializes in working with dancers. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Arms is a Clinical Senior Instructor at the University of Colorado's Doctor of Physical Therapy program and a guest lecturer at the University of Northern Colorado’s Master of Arts in Dance Education program. She is actively involved in numerous professional organizations, including the American Physical Therapy Association's Orthopedics Section – Performing Arts Special Interest Group, Doctors for Dancers, International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, The Bridge Dance Project, National Dance Education Organization, and the Performing Arts Medical Association. Dr. Arms is also the creator and host of the podcast "Dance Med Spotlight," which focuses on dance medicine and science. She regularly presents at conferences, provides on-site coverage for dance competitions, and contributes to the broader performing arts community through her clinical expertise, educational leadership, and deep involvement in dance medicine.

Sasha A. Foster, MSPT, CCRT
I grew up in Craig, Colorado where I learned small town values like hard work, humor, forgiveness, and resilience (can you get a 48’ Willies Jeep out of a foot of mud with nothing but a stick?). After traveling the world, I wisely chose to become a physical therapist. I completed by my degree at Arcadia University before returning to Colorado to start my career. After working for 8 years in human healthcare, I became a licensed Animal Physical Therapist (APT). As an avid entrepreneur, I received the first method patent in the field of canine rehabilitation, wrote two award winning books, and authored many others. I have owned and operated canine rehabilitation outpatient clinics and currently own and operate Canine Rehab Shop® Resources for Rehab Professionals and GoGoCharlie™ PT Home Programs for Pets. For the last ten years, I have been the Rehabilitation Coordinator at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, collaborating with veterinarian specialists in Sports Medicine, Orthopedics, Neurology, Oncology, and Internal Medicine to return patients to their highest level of function. I am an advocate of the veterinary + physical therapy team model, promoting respectful collaboration and shared work-flow systems resulting in team level self-care habits that support the highest level of patient care. I am passionate about teaching evidence-based rehabilitation and have done so with Canine Rehabilitation Institute and in my position at CSU. More information and links to publications follow this link: www.artofcaninept.com. .

Denise Mayhew, MS PT, CCRT
I have been a Physical Therapist for over 20 years and have had my CCRT (Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist) for the past year. My experience includes orthopedics, aquatic and home health. I was a clinic manager for an out-patient orthopedic clinic for 3 years. I recently have received the “Great Catch Award” for ensuring patient safety and well being and the “Bee Award” for exceptional patient care. I have volunteered at the local county animal shelter for the past 2 years and was named volunteer of the month.

Bruno U.K. Steiner, PT, DPT, LMT, RMSK
I am the current President of the Imaging SIG for the APTA’s Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, and I’ve been a member of the APTA for 30 years! I’ve been honored to represent our interests in PT-directed imaging referral and PT-administered ultrasound. I am also the current Physical Therapy and MSKUS Program Manager at the Washington Center for Bleeding Disorders, where I am deeply involved in the care of the many musculoskeletal issues endemic to the bleeding disorders community of Washington State. I use ultrasound imaging daily to detect hemarthroses and hematomas, as well as for joint health monitoring and musculoskeletal differential diagnosis and screening. In my role as imaging SIG president, I can report extraordinary progress in legislative and board ruling initiatives in the past three years. We have added Alaska, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Iowa to the win column, and we are not letting up. Pertinently, we have provided consultation and support for these efforts, and I continue to be active, engaged, and optimistic in several more states that I am keeping under the radar and will divulge in subsequent membership meetings. In my tenure, we have escalated our membership meeting frequency to promote our vision and to invite speakers to report fresh new data germane to PT imaging referral and advocacy to actualize our beloved primary care profession and, with that, accentuate our professional relevance in a nation beset with worsening physician and nursing shortfalls. We have enjoyed significant viewership and interest on our website and our AOPT YouTube channel. With the help and participation of our brilliant membership and licensees, we have devised reproducible and politically expedient strategies to advance imaging privileges and ultrasound imaging. The narrative underpinning our advocacy effectively leverages context, institutional precedent and support, evidence, and the public’s health interests. To this end, we have developed three crucial documents for nationwide advocacy: The PT-directed Imaging Resource Guide, The PT-Administered Ultrasound Imaging Resource Guide, and a document responding to our stakeholding partners/rivals/combatants’ lack of familiarity with our doctoral-level profession and its many deeply specialized fields of concentration. In the realm of ultrasound imaging, we continue to expand the numbers of both PTs with the physician’s RMSK credential and the respectable cert. MSKUS distinction. We continue to deepen our alliance with the gold-standard credentialing body, Inteleos, and their APCA and POCUS Academy registries. We also continue to nurture our extremely important partnership with the American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine, which recognizes physical therapists as licensed medical providers of ultrasound imaging. The AIUM relies on the imaging SIG to select PTs to provide CME awarding webinar content. Our latest wave of webinars included a three-part pediatrics joint ultrasonography, including the elbow, knee, and ankle, and a two-part series for PT-administered cardio-vascular and cardiopulmonary ultrasound applications. I have maintained an open-door policy for members, non-members, and leadership. I actively foster and mentor talent to assume leadership and advocacy roles to expand the numbers of our future ambassadors and standard bearers. By necessity, we must include all interested and entice those who may wish to explore deeper involvement in advocacy.

Ryan Martin, PT, DPT, RMSK
As a Co-Founder of an MSK ultrasound education platform and an RMSK-certified Physical Therapist, I have been dedicated to advancing musculoskeletal ultrasound education and clinical integration. I have implemented MSK ultrasound into six multidisciplinary clinics and have taught courses on MSK ultrasound nationally and imaging to Arizona physical therapists. For the courses held by AZ Directors Group, the proceeds benefit a scholarship fund for physical therapy students. I am also in the process of writing a book, in collaboration with a major publishing group, designed as a resource for physical therapy students to understand imaging and the integral role it plays in clinical practice. In my role on the Arizona Physical Therapy Directors Group, now an SIG under the Arizona Physical Therapy Association, I am committed to supporting the education and professional development of physical therapists. My work spans clinical practice, education, and advocacy, with a focus on elevating the role of imaging in patient care.

Molly Malloy, PT, DPT, OCS
I have been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Arcadia University since December 2019. My primary role within the department is as the program director for the Orthopaedic Residency Program and Sports Residency Program. I have been very involved in residency education since 2006. I successfully developed residencies in Sports Medicine in Colorado at the Vail Valley Medical Center (Howard Head Sports Medicine clinic 2006), in Orthopaedics at the University of Chicago Medical Center (2008) and in Pediatrics at the University of Chicago Medical Center (2008). I have also been very involved with the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy including: practice committee member from 2016-2022, ORFSIG nominating committee member 2021-2022 and ORFSIG president from 2022-2025. I have also had the opportunity to collaborate with other APTA sections specifically the Education and Sports sections for curriculum workgroups and ways to share ideas and resources.

Leda McDaniel, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Dr. Leda McDaniel is a practicing Physical Therapist in Atlanta, GA and is also an adjunct professor at Emory University in the Division of Physical Therapy. Leda earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) in 2019 from Ohio University and went on to graduate from Emory University’s Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency program and obtain her Board-Certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS). Leda then completed Northwestern University’s Fellowship in Advanced Orthopedic Physical Therapy Practice, Research, and Education and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT). Leda has been involved in APTA Georgia since 2019 and has served as a member on the social media committee, research work group, and sports and ortho Focused Interest Network (FIN) and currently leads the sports and ortho FIN monthly journal clubs.