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Professionalism and Ethics in Physical Therapy: Advanced Series

  • Register
    • Non-Member - $50
    • PT Member - $25
    • PTA Member - $25
    • Student - Free!
    • Post-Professional Student - $25
    • Staff - Free!

Join us for Courses 3 and 4 of the Professionalism and Ethics in Physical Therapy: 4-Part Course Series. 

Designed for:
Faculty - Directors of Clinical Education (DCEs) - Site Coordinators of Clinical Education (SCCEs) - Clinical Instructors (CIs) - Residents - Fellows - Clinicians - Students

Key Features:

  • Cost: Free for students, $25 for members, and $50 for non-members.
  • Earn CEUs: 0.8 CEUs (8 contact hours)
  • Learning Format: Asynchronous, available now for on-demand access.

What You’ll Do

  • Complete Modules 1 and 2 (Pre-requisites)
  • Complete one option in Course 3
  • Complete one option in Course 4

(You're welcome to explore additional tracks if interested.)

Course Details

  • Modules 1 & 2 (Prerequisites)
    • Covers foundational ethics and professionalism concepts
  • Course 3: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas by Role (0.4 CEUs)
    • Choose one role-specific track: 
      • Faculty - DCEs - SCCEs - CIs - Clinicians
  • Course 4: Ethical Practices Across Practice Settings (0.4 CEUs)
    • Choose one setting-specific track:
      • Orthopaedics - Acute Care - Pediatrics - Neurology

Each track includes case-based examples and actionable strategies for addressing ethical challenges.

Led by expert speakers with extensive clinical and research experience, this series helps learners apply ethical principles in a range of professional and clinical contexts. 

For other purchase options, please click here.

Sarah Caston

PT, DPT

Dr. Sarah Caston is physical therapist who is board- certified neurologic and geriatric PT.  She is an Associate Professor within  Emory University’s Division of Physical Therapy. Dr. Caston received her BS in Rehabilitation Science from University of Pittsburgh in 2008 and her DPT in 2011 from Emory University. She recently completed a Master’s degree in Bioethics and Emory’s Center for Ethics. Dr. Caston’s passion for ethics in physical therapy was cultivated as a clinician where she witnessed both the gifts and limitations of the biomedical approach to care, and grew at the intersections of humanism justice and a desire for greater flourishing for patients and clinicians.

Becca Ditwiler

PT, DPT, PhD

Dr. Rebecca Edgeworth Ditwiler, an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida, is a board-certified orthopaedic specialist in physical therapy. With a PhD in Ethical Leadership, her research and teaching focus on ethics, professionalism, and leadership in the field. She also serves on the APTA Ethics and Judicial Committee.

Full Bio

 Rebecca Edgeworth Ditwiler, PT, DPT, PhD is an Associate Professor and board-certified orthopaedic specialist in physical therapy. She is a practicing physical therapist and educator in the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Dr. Ditwiler is DPT Curriculum Coordinator and oversees interprofessional education in that role.  Becca Ditwiler received her DPT from Washington University in St. Louis in 2011 and completed a BS in Movement Science from the University of Michigan. Becca also completed a PhD in Ethical Leadership with a focus in higher education. Her research focuses on ethics, professionalism, and leadership. Dr. Ditwiler has also participated in clinical research and clinical service throughout her career.  She currently serves on the APTA Ethics and Judicial Committee and is an active member of the Florida Physical Therapy Association. She is part of USF’s Academy of Distinguished Educators.

Sarah Luna

PT, DPT, PhD

Dr. Sarah Luna is a physical therapist and an Associate Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at University of the Incarnate Word.  Dr. Luna earned a bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science from Texas State University in 2001, a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Regis University in 2004, and a PhD in Translational Science from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2024.  Dr. Luna has taught ethics and professionalism in physical therapy education since 2013, and she promoted humanities, ethics, and professionalism in physical therapy education through her leadership committee work within ACAPT’s former Consortium for Humanities, Ethics, and Professionalism.  Dr. Luna has presented and published class activities that address difficult ethical and professional topics, such as academic dishonesty and communicating about sexuality and disability with patients and clients.

Seth Kress

PT, DPT, DHSc

Seth Kress, PT, DPT, DHSc, an Assistant Professor and Co-Director of Clinical Education at Midwestern University, brings over two decades of experience in clinical education and outpatient orthopaedic physical therapy. A credentialed clinical instructor and APTA Level 1 CCIP trainer, Dr. Kress is actively involved in advancing clinical education at both the state and national levels through his work with the APTA and the Illinois Physical Therapy Association.

Full Bio

Seth Kress, PT, DPT, DHSc, is an Assistant Professor and Co-Director of Clinical Education in the Physical Therapy Program at Midwestern University in Illinois. He earned his master’s degree in physical therapy from Northwestern University in 2001, his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Rosalind Franklin University in 2019, and his Doctor of Health Science in Leadership in Clinical Practice and Education from George Washington University in 2024.

Dr. Kress has more than 20 years of experience in outpatient hospital-based physical therapy, clinical management, and clinical education. He has served as a clinical instructor and Site Coordinator of Clinical Education (SCCE), and is currently a credentialed clinical instructor and trainer for the APTA Level 1 Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program (CCIP). He is a member of the APTA’s Orthopaedic and Education Academies and serves as chair of the Illinois Physical Therapy Association’s Clinical Education Special Interest Group (CESIG).

His research and academic interests include clinical education, professionalism among DPT students, and concussion rehabilitation. He recently published a systematic review on promoting professional behaviors in healthcare students in the Journal of Allied Health.

Tara Pearce

PT, DHS

Tara S. Pearce, PT, DHS an Associate Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is a leader in clinical education in physical therapy. With over 27 years of experience as a clinical instructor, SCCE, and DCE, she is a national trainer for the APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program and serves on the Level 3 Workgroup. Her work focuses on clinical instruction, mentorship, and faculty development.

Full Bio

Tara S. Pearce, PT, DHS is an Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Education in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has over 27 years of experience in clinical education as a clinical instructor, Site Coordinator of Clinical Education, and Director of Clinical Education.  Her bachelor's degree in physical therapy is from Bradley University, and she earned her post-professional Doctor of Health Science degree at the University of Indianapolis. Her clinical background is as a neurologic physical therapist, and she currently practices in an outpatient setting. Academically, she teaches within the professional practice series and neurologic dysfunction and incorporates simulation-based learning experiences.  She is a Trainer for the APTA's Level 1 and Level 2 Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program (CCIP) and serves on the Level 3 Workgroup. Tara has presented internationally, nationally, and at the state level on various topics, including simulation, personal leadership, clinical education, neurological, and professional practice.

Janet Readinger

PT, DPT

Janet L. Readinger, PT, DPT, an Associate Professor at Arcadia University, is a long-standing leader in clinical education with over two decades of experience directing hybrid clinical education. A trainer for APTA’s Level 1 and 2 CCIP and a contributor to the development of Level 3, she brings deep expertise in neurorehabilitation and clinical instruction to her teaching and presentations.

Full Bio

Janet L. Readinger, PT, DPT, is an Associate Professor and the Director of Progression and Professional Development in the physical therapy program at Arcadia University. Prior to this role, she served for 20 years as the Associate Director of Clinical Education and Director of Hybrid Clinical Education. Dr. Readinger received her master’s degree in physical therapy from Temple University and her post-professional DPT from Arcadia University.

Her clinical background includes inpatient acute rehabilitation, with more recent work focused on wellness for individuals with Parkinson disease and multiple sclerosis. She is an author of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Parkinson disease and integrates her neurorehabilitation experience into clinical teaching and mentoring.

Dr. Readinger is a trainer for APTA’s Level 1 and Level 2 Credentialed Clinical Instructor Programs (CCIP) and serves on the national workgroup developing Level 3. She has presented extensively at local, state, and national conferences—including APTA’s CSM and ELC, as well as the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association's annual meeting—on topics related to clinical education and neurorehabilitation.

Dustin Willis

PT, DPT, PhD(c), FAAOMPT

Dustin Willis, PT, DPT, PhD(c), FAAOMPT, an experienced orthopaedic and sports physical therapist, is a fellowship-trained clinician and educator with a focus on ethics in clinical practice. A board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy and Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists, Dr. Willis brings a unique perspective to the intersection of clinical excellence and ethical care in high-performance sports and orthopaedics.

Full Bio
Dustin Willis, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, is a board-certified orthopaedic clinical specialist and fellowship-trained sports and manual therapist. He completed his DPT at Loma Linda University, where he was recognized with multiple honors, and went on to complete an orthopaedic residency followed by fellowships at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, the Movement Performance Institute, and Azusa Pacific University. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists.

Dr. Willis is currently completing his PhD, with research focused on the patient-provider relationship and the healing power of empathy and compassion. His teaching and clinical work explore the ethical dimensions of orthopaedic and sports practice, drawing from both research and real-world experience with elite and recreational athletes. Outside the classroom, he works with The Los Angeles Lakers, Quantum Performance, and Move Lab Los Angeles, supporting athletes in recovery and performance optimization.

Jessica Marengo

PT, DPT

Jessica Marengo, PT, DPT, SM is a physical therapist and current Duke University Faculty Development Resident. She is a Visiting Assistant Clinical Professor at Northeastern University and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Marengo earned both her BS in Rehabilitation Science and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Northeastern University. She recently completed her Master of Science in Bioethics at Harvard Medical School, where her research centered on disparate access to solid organ transplant for individuals with physical disabilities. Dr. Marengo has presented nationally at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. Her work in bioethics has been recognized by the International Neuroethics Society and she was awarded an honorable mention for the 2023 Henry K. Beecher Prize in Medical Ethics. Jessica specializes in critical care rehabilitation with a particular focus on the care of patients pre and post heart and lung transplantation.

Babette Sanders

PT, DPT, MS

Babette Seligmann Sanders, PT, DPT, MS, FAPTA is a professor emeritus (2022) from the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. She was involved in DPT courses including ethics in Professional Role Development and Psychosocial Aspects of Human Behavior. She is currently serving as the Ethics Liaison for the Academy of Acute Care Physical Therapy, a delegate to the APTA House of Delegates from Illinois and a member of CAPTE (ASCC-RAI panel). She previously served on the APTA Board of Directors from 1997-2003 and as APTA Secretary from 2004-2010. During this time, she served as the APTA Board Liaison to the Ethics and Judicial Committee and was involved in the development of the APTA Code of Ethics,(2009).

Rebecca Leonard

PT, DPT, PhD

Dr. Rebecca Leonard is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy. She earned her physical therapy degree from the University of Connecticut, a Master's in Physiology from Marshall University, a T-DPT, and a PhD from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She is an adjunct professor at Marymount University, teaching the pediatric course for third-year physical therapy graduate students. She has served as an adjunct professor at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, teaching the Family Studies course.

Dr. Leonard developed, owned, and directed Early Intervention Associates, a private pediatric physical therapy practice, for over 38 years until 2021. She continues as an active practitioner at EIA, pursuing and fostering continual learning to enhance the practice. She has enjoyed APTA activities with the awards committee, reviewing manuscripts and engaging with the Delphi survey for Angelman’s Syndrome Video Assessment for the development of a gross motor exam. For over 20 years, she has participated in Music and Motion, a dance program at Maryland Youth Ballet for children with disabilities.

Dr. Leonard received the Marymount University Physical Therapy Award for Clinical Excellence in 2017 and the APTA recognition for the Henry O. and Florence P. Kendall Practice Award in 2018.

Magdalena Oledzka

PT, DPT, PhD, MBA

Dr. Magdalena M. Oledzka is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy with over 25 years of experience in the field. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Hunter College in 1998, followed by a Master of Business Administration from Baruch College in 2008, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Pediatric Science from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in 2018. Currently, she serves as an adjunct professor in the Pediatric PhD program at Rocky Mountain University and has previously held a position as an assistant adjunct professor at Brooklyn College.

Dr. Oledzka has been a member of the pediatric rehabilitation team at the Hospital for Special Surgery since 2007, where she is now the Clinical Lead at the Pediatric Rehabilitation and Young Athlete Center. Her research on the topic of congenital muscular torticollis has garnered recognition from the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy, earning her the 2020 Dissertation Award.

Dr. Oledzka has traveled to China and Ghana to support and educate local pediatric therapists. She has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals on congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) and has presented lectures across the U.S. and internationally on topics including infant development, cerebral palsy, and fostering motor competence in children of all abilities.

Kristen Snarski

PT, PhD

Dr. Kristen Snarski is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy who earned a Bachelor of Science from Ithaca College in 1987, a Master of Health Science in Pediatric Physical Therapy from the University of Indianapolis in 1994, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in 2018. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Gannon University, where she teaches pediatric content and the evidence-based practice course sequence.   

In addition, Dr. Snarski helped create and teaches in Gannon University's undergraduate Minor in Innovation and Creativity, where she co-teaches a philosophy and ethical reasoning course. Before transitioning into academia, Dr. Snarski spent 25 years in full-time pediatric clinical practice. She maintains a small clinical practice, working with children and families in early intervention, preschool, and outpatient settings.

Course Instructions

  1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
  2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
  3. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
  4. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

Key:

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Instructions
Agree to the instructions to continue.
Agree to the instructions to continue.
Required Pre-requisites
Module 1: Practical Ethics for Anti-Ableist Practice in Physical Therapy
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package.
Module 2: Summary of the Evidence: Review of Professionalism and Ethics
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package.
Course 3: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas with Tailored Training Based on Your Role
Option 1 - Faculty - Faculty Insights: Reframing Ethics and Professionalism in Physical Therapy Education
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package.
Option 1 - Faculty - Assessment
10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass
10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass
Option 2 - DCE - Professionalism and Ethics in Clinical Education: A DCE's Perspective
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package.
Option 2 - DCE - Assessment
15 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  10/15 points to pass
15 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  10/15 points to pass Please complete the Assessment with a score of 70% or better. You have three attempts to obtain a passing score.
Option 3 - CI/SCCE - The State of Affairs of Professionalism and Ethics in PT Practice
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package.
Option 3 - CI/SCCE - Assessment
11 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  8/11 points to pass
11 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  8/11 points to pass
Option 4 - Clinician - Fostering Professional and Ethical Excellence
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package.
Option 4 - Clinician - Assessment
7 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  5/7 points to pass
7 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  5/7 points to pass
Evaluation
21 Questions
CEU Certificate
Up to 0.40 contact hours available  |  Certificate available
Up to 0.40 contact hours available  |  Certificate available
Course 4: Ethical Practices Across Practice Settings
Option 1 - Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine - The H.E.A.R.T. Model: A Framework for Patient-Centered Care
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package.
Option 1 - Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine - Assessment
10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass
10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass
Option 2 - Acute Care - Professionalism and Ethical Practices in Acute Care Settings
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package.
Option 2 - Acute Care - Webinar: Professionalism and Ethical Practices in Acute Care Settings
02/05/2025 at 1:00 PM (EST)  |  Recorded On: 02/02/2025  |  15 minutes
02/05/2025 at 1:00 PM (EST)  |  Recorded On: 02/02/2025  |  15 minutes
Option 2 - Acute Care - Assessment
10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass
10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass
Option 3 - Pediatrics - Professional and Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Practice
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package.
Option 3 - Pediatrics - Assessment
10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass
10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass
Option 4 - Neurology - Professionalism and Understanding Neurological Patients' Lived Experiences
Begin self-paced component package.
Begin self-paced component package.
Option 4: Assessment
10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass
10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass Please complete the Assessment with a score of 70% or better. You have three attempts to obtain a passing score.
Evaluation
21 Questions
21 Questions Your comments are important to us! Please submit your feedback about the course through this evaluation.
CEU Certificate
Up to 0.40 contact hours available  |  Certificate available
Up to 0.40 contact hours available  |  Certificate available