The 50th Annual American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting (APTA CSM) recently brought together more than 15,000 physical therapy professionals, including faculty and students from PCOM Georgia, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX. This milestone event, held Feb. 13-15, featured more than 400 educational sessions in addition to research presentations and networking opportunities.
PCOM Georgia faculty members Drs. Alaina Bell, Shelley DiCecco, Carol Miller, Teresa Pierce, and Jeanne Welch, along with students Lucas Haaren (Class of 2025), Sarah Grady (Class of 2025), and Gabriela Ba (Class of 2026), attended the event.
PCOM Georgia contributed significantly to the conference through research presentations and educational sessions.
PCOM Georgia DPT program faculty and students at the APTA CSM 2025 - (from left to right) Dr. Alaina Bell, Dr. Jeanne Welch, Dr. Shelley DiCecco, Lucas Haaren (DPT' 25), Sarah Grady (DPT' 25), Dr. Carol Miller, Gabriela Ba (DPT' 26) and Dr. Teresa Pierce.
Beyond research, PCOM Georgia students were actively involved in conference activities. Student Gabriela Ba volunteered three hours each day at the conference’s “Bark Park”, an area where event attendees could play with adoptable dogs from a local animal shelter.
“APTA’s CSM 2025 Conference was an amazing experience,” Ba said. “It was the place to be for everything PT! I had the opportunity to network with incredible physical therapists in the field and meet students from across the U.S.”
Ba’s favorite part was the exhibit hall where she had the chance to explore innovations from tech companies. She also enjoyed seeing faculty outside the classroom environment and participating in educational activities showcasing the latest research and clinical practice.
“I can’t wait to attend next year, and I definitely recommend the conference to any physical therapy student who has never been!" she added.
Grady described the experience as invaluable.
“We had the opportunity to present our research, get feedback from professionals, and network with experts in the field,” she said. “The conference really helped me grow as a student and gave me a better understanding of how to contribute to the future of physical therapy.”
For Haaren, the conference was particularly inspiring.
“Having the opportunity to sit in on excellent lectures given by some of the best in our field has ignited a part of me that wants to do more,” he said. “One day, I hope to stand up in front of an audience and be the same inspiration to others.”
For those unable to attend in person, APTA CSM is offering an on demand program, allowing participants to access more than 300 recorded sessions from March 14 through April 14, 2025. This initiative ensures that physical therapy professionals can continue their professional development remotely.
The APTA CSM serves as a platform for members to exchange knowledge and collaborate in advancing physical therapy research and practice. PCOM Georgia’s involvement in this event underscores the Doctor of Physical Therapy program’s commitment to networking, research, and continuous education.
For more information about APTA CSM 2025 and future events, visit csm.apta.org.
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