Sharon Dunn- How to Groom the Next Generation of Advocators

Stephanie Weyrauch interviews Sharon Dunn (President of the American Physical Therapy Association) live from the 2018 APTA Federal Advocacy Forum in Washington D.C. for a discussion on advocacy. They discuss what advocacy is and why it's important, tips for navigating the policy realm, first steps to advocating for the profession, how to advocate to a lawmaker, and much more! Biography: Sharon L. Dunn, PT, PhD, OCS was born and raised in Shreveport, LA, and graduated in 1987 with a BS in Physical Therapy from LSUHSC in Shreveport.  She completed a Masters of Health Sciences degree in 1996 and in 2006 she earned a PhD in Cellular Biology and Anatomy.  Sharon obtained ABPTS Certification in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy in 1996, was recertified in 2006 and again in 2016. She utilizes this content expertise in her teaching, research and clinical practice. Sharon has been on faculty at LSUHSC since 1990, currently serving as Associate Professor in the DPT program and Chair of the Rehabilitation Sciences Department. In addition, Sharon developed a post- professional residency program for Orthopaedic Physical Therapy at LSUHSC in 2008, which has since produced 23 graduates. Sharon’s service to her professional organization began when she was a student and has continued to evolve throughout her career. She has served as the State Government Affairs Chair, Louisiana Chapter President and Vice President, and Chapter Delegate. She currently serves as President of the APTA after having served as the Vice President and on the Board of Directors. Her passions are advocacy, member engagement, and our profession’s potential to add great value to a disrupted health delivery system. In her spare time she enjoys a good debate, playing Canasta, boating, college football, and anything outdoors.   Resources: APTA Website: http://www.apta.org/  APTA Federal Advocacy Forum: http://www.apta.org/FederalForum/  APTA Advocacy Website: http://www.apta.org/Advocacy/  Stephanie's Articles on Advocacy: https://www.rehabalternatives.com/author/stephanie/