What are the duties and responsibilities of the committee?

The Communications Committee is responsible for crafting an annual communications plan that aligns with the Academy’s mission and current strategic plan. Led by the Director for Communications and Promotion Dr. Arvie Vitente and including the Website Editor, Social Media Coordinator, Volunteers Coordinator, and JoPTE Social Media Coordinator, the committee works together to ensure consistent, engaging messaging across all platforms, aiming to recruit new members and highlight the value of Academy membership. They periodically convene to share ongoing and upcoming initiatives, make strategic or tactical recommendations to the Board to improve outreach to stakeholder groups, and collaborate with the Nominations, Awards, and Research Committee chairs to publicize their membership calls through appropriate media channels.

What is something exciting happening within your committee?

The Communications Committee is buzzing with activity as we gear up for the 2025 Education Leadership Conference (ELC) this October. In addition to mapping out our conference messaging and engagement strategy, we’ve just finalized the EduSphere Engagement Guidelines—a comprehensive set of principles designed to foster meaningful dialogue, peer support, and collaboration on the Academy’s online community platform. These guidelines will provide educators, clinicians, and students a clear framework for professional, respectful, and productive interactions in EduSphere. Together, these initiatives position us to showcase the Academy’s work more effectively, strengthen member engagement, and build momentum heading into the conference.

How does your committee impact the field of physical therapy education?

The Communications Committee serves as the Academy’s amplifier and connective tissue, ensuring that the latest ideas, resources, and opportunities in physical therapy education reach the widest possible audience. By producing a strategic communications plan, curating content for the Newsletter, managing the Academy’s website and social channels, and coordinating targeted campaigns around events such as the ELC and CSM, the committee disseminates evidence-based teaching innovations, scholarship calls, and policy updates in real time. This timely, consistent messaging not only strengthens member engagement and recruitment, but also fosters cross-institutional collaboration, accelerates adoption of best practices in classrooms and clinics, and elevates the Academy’s voice within broader professional and interprofessional conversations. In short, the committee translates the Academy’s work into actionable information that directly shapes curricula, faculty development, and student learning across the physical therapy landscape.

Please list the members of your committee:

Director for Communications and Promotion (Chair)

Dr. Arvie Vitente 

Website Editor

Dr. Rob Sweet

Social Media Coordinator

Dr. Leah Verebes

JoPTE Social Media Coordinator

Dr. Derek Liuzzo

Volunteers Coordinator

Dr. Kristina Latva