Awards
The Senora Simpson Service Award
PURPOSE:
To recognize and honor an individual who has demonstrated outstanding service to APTA DC and the profession of physical therapy in the area(s) of patient care, supervision, administration, education, and/or research.
This award was established in honor of Senora Simpson, PT, DrPH, for her outstanding contribution to the field of physical therapy.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Current APTA DC PT/PTA Member.
- Has participated and been a dominant force in activities that have significantly affected the growth and development of APTA DC.
- Has positively and substantially affected the shape, scope, and quality of physical therapy practice in the District of Columbia.
- Has had an impact on other physical therapy professionals in a manner that has significantly increased their abilities to practice physical therapy.
PROCEDURE FOR NOMINATION:
- Nominations for this award must be made by an APTA DC member in good standing.
- Support letter(s) addressing the above-delineated criteria must accompany the nomination.
Awardees will be recognized at a future APTA DC event.
Please send nominations to info@aptadc.org by October 1.
PAST RECIPIENTS:
2025 Yvonne Francis, PT, MBA
2024 Olivia Kelly, PT, DPT
2023 Sabrina Altema, PT, DPT
2022 Karen Goodman, PT, DPT
2019 Katherine Larson, PT, DPT
2018 Laura Cohen, PT, PhD
2017 Jason Dring, PT, DPT
2016 Jeff Robinson, PT
2014 Alison Lichy, PT, DPT
2013 Carole Lewis, PT, DPT, MPH, PhD, FAPTA
2008 Gloria Rogers, PT, DPT
2007 Senora Simpson, PT, DrPH
Rising Star Student Award/Scholarship
PURPOSE:
To acknowledge outstanding physical therapy students who exhibit superior potential for future contribution to APTA DC and/or the profession.
AWARD:
A $500 scholarship is given to each Rising Star Student Awardee (one awardee from Howard University and one awardee from George Washington University).
ELIGIBILITY:
- The nominee shall be a student, currently enrolled in an entry-level physical therapy program in DC.
- The nominee must have successfully completed at least one full-time clinical education experience at the time of nomination.
- Past service to APTA DC and/or APTA.
- Evidence of potential future contribution to physical therapy.
- The nominee must be a student or corresponding student member of APTA DC.
- Personal attributes: The nominees shall consistently demonstrate a genuine, caring nature in his/her interpersonal relationships by:
- Being respectful to peers;
- Displaying approachability;
- Demonstrating a sincere and giving nature.
- Professional attributes: The nominee shall demonstrate mature, caring and professional behavior in both the clinical and academic settings as illustrated by:
- Demonstrating dedication to and responsibility for quality patient care;
- Exhibiting an ability to identify areas for continued professional growth;
- Displaying effective communication skills; verbal, nonverbal and written with patients, colleagues and other health professionals;
- Showing sensitivity and genuine concern for others;
- Able to respond to patient’s varying emotional states.
- Scholastic and Clinical Ability: The nominee shall demonstrate sound academic and clinical performance as illustrated by:
- Displaying ability to apply knowledge in the clinical setting;
- Exhibiting self-direction toward education;
- Willing to participate in the learning process.
PROCEDURE FOR NOMINATION:
Students must be nominated for this award by an APTA DC member in good standing, serving in the capacity of Clinical Instructure (CI), Center Coordinator of Clinical Education (CCCE), Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE), or academic faculty.
Support letter(s) addressing the above-delineated criteria must accompany the nomination. At least one support letter must be from a CI or CCE that has had direct contact with the nominee, and one letter must be from an academic faculty member, and one letter from a fellow student.
Only one nominee may be submitted from each school.
Awardees will be recognized at a future APTA DC event.
Please send nominations to info@aptadc.org by October 1.