Stronger Together! Elevating the PT/PTA relationship with Laura Safa PTA, MS

From leadership to mentorship, this episode highlights the career of Laura Safa PTA, MS. Her vast experience provides insights that will strengthen your capacity to build a collaborative partnership and enhance patient care. Laura Safa is a physical therapist assistant with 29 years of experience, including 12 years as a faculty member. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assisting from GateWay Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Management from Ottawa University, and a Master of Science in Positive Psychology from Life University.Currently, Laura serves as the program director for the Physical Therapist Assistant program at GateWay Community College. In this role, she combines education, leadership, and strategic planning to ensure that PTA students are well-prepared for their careers. In 2024, she was honored with the President’s Excellence Award at GateWay.Laura is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Arizona Physical Therapy Association, where she has served as the PTA Caucus representative over several years. In 2024, she was recognized as the PTA of the Year by the Arizona Physical Therapy Association.Recently, Laura has become involved in research and was awarded a Horizon Grant to complete an interdisciplinary project investigating the effects of a novel electrical stimulation device on sleep improvement for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. This project involves collaboration with PTA and sleep medicine students from GateWay, as well as DPT students from Tufts University. Additionally, Laura has contributed to research in the field of psychology and has a published manuscript in the journal Ecopsychology entitled “Five-Day Rustic Nature Retreat with Guided Visual Imagery Enhances Cognitive Flexibility and Well-Being in College Faculty and Staff.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seasonedpts.substack.com