Andrew Amari, JD, is a specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit, advocating on regulatory policy issues affecting physical therapists in a variety of practice settings. Before joining the association in March 2022, Andrew was a regulatory analyst at the Association of American Medical Colleges, focusing on hospital payment and graduate medical education policy issues. Andrew received a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University and a JD from the University of Wisconsin School of Law. He is a member of the Wisconsin Bar.

Alice Bell, PT, DPT, is a senior specialist in health policy and payment at APTA, a role she has held since joining the association in 2016. She advocates with commercial payers to advance physical therapy policy and address member concerns. Alice serves as APTA’s staff representative to the American Medical Association’s Relative Value Scale Update Committee and represents the association in both public and private workgroups focused on payment and quality improvement. She also develops member resources on payment policy and supports the advancement of physical therapists in alternative payment models and value-based care initiatives. 

Wanda K. Evans, PT, DPT, MHS, is a senior payment specialist at APTA. Her responsibilities include communicating with members and insurers on inquiries regarding third-party, billing, CPT coding, and payment policies; providing resources in policy development; monitoring trends; and assisting in association efforts to advance payment policies. She remains a treating clinician in the outpatient setting. Before joining APTA, she was the clinical documentation and utilization review coordinator for Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital Network. Prior to that she was the supervisor of physical therapist and occupational therapist services for Kaiser Permanente Mid Atlantic. She has been an APTA member since she was a student. She received her bachelor of physical therapy and doctor of physical therapy degrees from Howard University, and a master of health science degree in orthopedic and sports physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis. She also is a certified kinesio taping practitioner. 

Rachel Miller, MPH, is a health policy and payment specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit as of August 2022. Rachel advocates to federal regulators on policy issues that affect the physical therapy profession. Before joining the association, she was working towards her master's degree in health policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While continuing her education, Rachel showed community members how to obtain health insurance as Certified Application Counselor in a student-run clinic. Before that, she helped stop the spread of COVID-19 as a case investigator at a local health department. She obtained her bachelor's degree in public health from the University of South Florida.

Stacey Schwartz, DPT, JD, joined APTA's Health Policy and Payment team as a Sr. Specialist in 2025. Prior to joining the Health Policy and Payment team, Stacey worked on APTA's practice team. Before that, she practiced primarily business litigation as an attorney and then sports and outpatient orthopedics as a PT for six years.

Sharon West, JD, joined APTA as Director, Commercial Payment and Policy in late 2024 and now serves as Vice President, Health Policy and Payment encompassing both commercial payment and federal regulatory affairs as of January 2025. Prior to joining APTA, Sharon was Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the American Clinical Laboratory Association. She also served as Director, Economic & Regulatory Affairs at the College of American Pathologists. Prior to her roles with associations, she was Senior Corporate Counsel for WellCare Health Plans. She also led negotiations and managed relationships with key health systems, hospitals, facilities, physicians, and other providers for Aetna, NYLCare Health Plans, and Prudential Insurance Company. She received a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (Ohio) and her law degree from George Mason University School of Law. She is a member of the Virginia bar.

Laura Baehr, PT, DPT, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences at Drexel University. She is a physical therapist-scientist with expertise in designing, assessing, and implementing community exercise to meet the values and needs of adults with chronic mobility limitations. Her work focuses on translating evidence-based exercise principles into accessible and adaptable movement strategies that support sustainable physical activity behavior.  She has over 10 years’ experience developing and leading adapted movement programs with teaching appointments at the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports and as an inaugural OnDemand fitness instructor with Move United, a national adapted sports organization. Laura’s research integrates the assessment of personal, environmental, and social factors influencing physical activity with the development and implementation of  group exercise for people with chronic conditions such as spinal cord injury, arthritis, and chronic mobility limitations. Through this work, she advances practical blueprints to apply exercise progressions and regressions across diverse functional levels. Laura is funded by the Department of Defense, the Arthritis Foundation, and the Clinician-Scientists Transdisciplinary Aging Research Network. She serves as Treasurer of the APTA Academy of Research Qualitative and Mixed Methods Special Interest Group and is a member of the Academy of Geriatrics Academic Education Committee.

Hallie Zeleznik, PT, DPT, is Vice Chair of Clinical Education and Practice Innovation in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh and a board-certified neurologic clinical specialist. She has more than 20 years of experience in progressive clinical and leadership roles within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Rehabilitation Institute. Her national service includes multiple roles with the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, including serving as an article reviewer and as a member of the knowledge translation task force for the Clinical Practice Guideline: A Core Set of Outcome Measures for Adults with Neurologic Conditions Undergoing Physical Therapy. She currently serves as co-chair of the knowledge translation committee for the Clinical Practice Guideline: A Core Set of Outcome Measures to Assess Physical Function for Adults Participating in Physical Therapist Treatment in the Hospital through the Academy of Acute Care Physical Therapy. Her additional national service includes work with the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists as a member of the Specialization Academy of Content Experts, followed by a term on the Neurologic Specialty Council from 2017–2020. She is currently serving a four-year term on the ABPTS Board of Commissioners and represents Pennsylvania as a delegate to the APTA House of Delegates. In 2023, Hallie received the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy’s Outstanding Clinical Innovator Award for her work advancing evidence-based practice across the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute.

Rebekah Griffith, PT, DPT, NCS, FAAOMPT, is a nationally recognized leader in emergency department physical therapy and founder of The ED DPT. She serves as President of APTA Colorado and adjunct faculty in the Tufts University Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Dr. Griffith specializes in advancing top-of-scope practice in acute care, with expertise in clinical decision-making, differential diagnosis, and optimizing patient flow and disposition in the emergency department. She has led the development and implementation of ED physical therapy programs across diverse healthcare systems and partners with organizations nationwide to improve outcomes, reduce length of stay, and enhance interdisciplinary collaboration. She is the author of Top of Scope: The Emergency Department Physical Therapist Handbook.

Andrew Amari, JD, is a specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit, advocating on regulatory policy issues affecting physical therapists in a variety of practice settings. Before joining the association in March 2022, Andrew was a regulatory analyst at the Association of American Medical Colleges, focusing on hospital payment and graduate medical education policy issues. Andrew received a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University and a JD from the University of Wisconsin School of Law. He is a member of the Wisconsin Bar.

Alice Bell, PT, DPT, is a senior specialist in health policy and payment at APTA, a role she has held since joining the association in 2016. She advocates with commercial payers to advance physical therapy policy and address member concerns. Alice serves as APTA’s staff representative to the American Medical Association’s Relative Value Scale Update Committee and represents the association in both public and private workgroups focused on payment and quality improvement. She also develops member resources on payment policy and supports the advancement of physical therapists in alternative payment models and value-based care initiatives. 

Wanda K. Evans, PT, DPT, MHS, is a senior payment specialist at APTA. Her responsibilities include communicating with members and insurers on inquiries regarding third-party, billing, CPT coding, and payment policies; providing resources in policy development; monitoring trends; and assisting in association efforts to advance payment policies. She remains a treating clinician in the outpatient setting. Before joining APTA, she was the clinical documentation and utilization review coordinator for Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital Network. Prior to that she was the supervisor of physical therapist and occupational therapist services for Kaiser Permanente Mid Atlantic. She has been an APTA member since she was a student. She received her bachelor of physical therapy and doctor of physical therapy degrees from Howard University, and a master of health science degree in orthopedic and sports physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis. She also is a certified kinesio taping practitioner. 

Rachel Miller, MPH, is a health policy and payment specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit as of August 2022. Rachel advocates to federal regulators on policy issues that affect the physical therapy profession. Before joining the association, she was working towards her master's degree in health policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While continuing her education, Rachel showed community members how to obtain health insurance as Certified Application Counselor in a student-run clinic. Before that, she helped stop the spread of COVID-19 as a case investigator at a local health department. She obtained her bachelor's degree in public health from the University of South Florida.

Stacey Schwartz, DPT, JD, joined APTA's Health Policy and Payment team as a Sr. Specialist in 2025. Prior to joining the Health Policy and Payment team, Stacey worked on APTA's practice team. Before that, she practiced primarily business litigation as an attorney and then sports and outpatient orthopedics as a PT for six years.

Sharon West, JD, joined APTA as Director, Commercial Payment and Policy in late 2024 and now serves as Vice President, Health Policy and Payment encompassing both commercial payment and federal regulatory affairs as of January 2025. Prior to joining APTA, Sharon was Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the American Clinical Laboratory Association. She also served as Director, Economic & Regulatory Affairs at the College of American Pathologists. Prior to her roles with associations, she was Senior Corporate Counsel for WellCare Health Plans. She also led negotiations and managed relationships with key health systems, hospitals, facilities, physicians, and other providers for Aetna, NYLCare Health Plans, and Prudential Insurance Company. She received a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (Ohio) and her law degree from George Mason University School of Law. She is a member of the Virginia bar.

Joshua D’Angelo is a doctor of physical therapy and board certified orthopedic specialist who has co-founded and directed global organizations centered around improving access to healthcare and innovating healthcare delivery. Dr. D’Angelo co-founded MovementX, a movement health platform delivering high quality physical therapy and personal training services whenever and wherever it is needed most. MovementX’s mission is to help people move their best, so they can live their best.

Dr. D’Angelo also co-founded Move Together, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to increase access to quality rehab medicine around the corner and around the world. He served as Vice President and COO from its founding in 2015 through 2021. He is responsible for co-creating the first global Physical Therapy Day of Service, which has united over 20,000 physical therapy clinicians and staff from all 50 states and nearly 90 countries to give back to their communities.

Dr. D’Angelo has served as delegate in the DC Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), as president of APTA’s Student Assembly, which represents over 25,000 physical therapy and physical therapist assistant students, and as the chair of APTA’s New Professionals Committee. In 2018, Dr. D’Angelo received APTA’s Societal Impact Award and George Washington University’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award. He is a previous recipient of the George Washington University’s George Washington Award and APTA’s Mary McMillan Scholarship, named after the physical therapy profession’s founder.

Dr. D’Angelo has spoken nationally and internationally on physical therapy, leadership, and global health. He currently serves as CEO of MovementX, as an adjunct faculty at The George Washington University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, on the American Physical Therapy Association’s Finance Committee, and on the Alumni Council of the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan.

Vincent Luppino is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist with a professional journey in sports and musculoskeletal care that spans well over a decade. Based in New Jersey, he practices at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) the #1 ranked orthopedic hospital in the nation. His patient population spans post-operative orthopedic cases, complex non-operative patients, and competitive athletes managing sport-related injuries.

Vincent earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Touro University in 2018, and quickly distinguished himself through a commitment to advanced clinical training. Prior to PT school, he worked as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), training athletes from youth leagues to the professional ranks, a foundation that continues to inform his approach to rehabilitation and return-to-sport care. He pursued and completed an Orthopedic Residency at Hospital for Special Surgery in 2021, the same year he achieved Board Certification in Orthopedic Physical Therapy through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). This credential, held by fewer than ten percent of physical therapists in the United States, reflects his advanced clinical knowledge and dedication to excellence. He has further expanded his technical skill set through advanced training in manual therapy and dry needling, giving him a broad and versatile toolkit for addressing both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions.

Joe Tatta, PT, DPT, is the founder of the Integrative Pain Science Institute, where he leads initiatives that advance integrative and psychologically informed physical therapy. He is the developer of Pain Resilience Therapy—a strengths-based approach to chronic pain—and the creator of the Mental Health Physical Therapist Certification Program, which helps physical therapists integrate mental health into practice. Dr. Tatta has published 15 peer-reviewed articles and authored three books on pain management, including the textbook Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine in Physical Therapy: A Guide to Primary Care, Health Promotion, and Prevention. He hosts the Pain Science Podcast and the Mental Health Physical Therapist Podcast, platforms dedicated to advancing evidence-based pain care and the integration of mental health into rehabilitation. Learn more at: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com

Jen Uschold is an expert in the treatment of chronic pain, combining over 35 years of experience as a physical therapist while integrating practices in mental fitness and lifestyle medicine. A Fellow of Pain Science, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and Certified Positive Intelligence Coach, Jen empowers individuals to release the grip of chronic pain by addressing the entirety of each unique human.

As Program Director for Certification in Lifestyle Medicine and educator of Pain Neuroscience Education at Evidence In Motion and a private practice owner, Jen has transformed countless lives through her innovative, evidence-based approach. Her passion for compassionate care, coaching, and education makes her an in-demand speaker for healthcare professionals and wellness events. Her newest passion is bringing in the movement and play of improvisational comedy as another strategy for those experiencing pain.

Amanda Heilman, MHS, PTA, is the Program Director and Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education for the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Western Iowa Tech Community College(WITCC), where she leads program development, clinical education, and student success initiatives. She earned her AAS as a PTA from WITCC and her Master of Health Science in Health Science Education from Washburn University.

Her clinical background is in rural private practice, where she practiced as a PTA and served as a Site Coordinator of Clinical Education and Clinical Instructor, mentoring students and advancing collaborative, team-based patient care. She led health promotion programming and new hire training for PTs and PTAs.

Amanda began her academic career serving as an adjunct instructor. She enjoys working with students to strengthen clinical readiness skills, drive innovative curriculum design, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration with other health care programs in the area. She is especially passionate about advocacy, team-based care, and reducing health disparities by preparing PTAs to play a vital role in delivering high-quality healthcare in rural communities.

She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), currently serving as Membership Secretary for the PTA Education Special Interest Group (PTAE SIG) within the APTA Academy of Education, and contributes to community health through her work with a local fall prevention coalition. 

Laura is a dedicated Physical Therapist Assistant who graduated from Carrington College in 2017. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, with a concentration in Sports Medicine, from California Baptist University in 2012.

Laura currently practices in outpatient settings with Dignity Health Physical Therapy in Southern Nevada. In addition to treating the outpatient population, she has expanded her clinical expertise to include care for patients with lymphedema. Her experience also includes time in an acute rehabilitation setting, as well as serving in leadership roles such as new hire training and supporting daily clinical operations. In addition to her clinical work, Laura is the co-host of The PT Assistants Podcast, a platform dedicated to Physical Therapist Assistants. Through the podcast, she shares insights, experiences, and knowledge gained throughout her career, with the goal of supporting and giving back to the PTA community.

Laura is passionate about providing high-quality, patient-centered care and is proud to be part of the team at Dignity Health Physical Therapy. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, being near or in the water, and visiting her home away from home, Disneyland.

Dr. Archana Vatwani, PT, DPT, EdD, MBA, CLWT, PMP, CEEAA, is the Academic Program Director and Professor for the Doctor of Physical Therapy programs at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in Dallas, Texas. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Temple University, her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Holy Family University, and her Doctor of Education (EdD) in Education and Leadership in Healthcare from Nebraska Methodist College. With nearly two decades of clinical and academic experience at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Nova Southeastern University, and Old Dominion University, Dr. Vatwani’s work centers on cultural humility, interprofessional education, leadership, operational processes, project management, and physical therapy practice in acute care and cardiovascular and pulmonary specialties. She is a Certified Lymphedema and Wound Care Therapist, Project Management Professional, and Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults. Her honors include the 2022 Healthcare Diversity Leader Award from the National Diversity Council and the 2022 Minority Faculty Development Award from the American Physical Therapy Association. She currently serves as Chair of the APTA Acute Care Education Committee and on the Nominating Committee for the APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation’s Global Health Special Interest Group.

Alice Bell, PT, DPT, is a senior specialist in health policy and payment at APTA, a role she has held since joining the association in 2016. She advocates with commercial payers to advance physical therapy policy and address member concerns. Alice serves as APTA’s staff representative to the American Medical Association’s Relative Value Scale Update Committee and represents the association in both public and private workgroups focused on payment and quality improvement. She also develops member resources on payment policy and supports the advancement of physical therapists in alternative payment models and value-based care initiatives. 

Ellen Morello, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist and healthtech operator specializing in remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM), digital health, and scalable care delivery models. With nearly a decade of leadership experience in high-growth digital physical therapy startups, Ellen brings a unique combination of hands-on clinical expertise and real-world operational leadership.

Ellen currently serves as President of EverEx USA, an RTM software and services company, where she leads market expansion, customer success, and implementation strategy across a growing network of physical therapy providers. In this role, she partners directly with clinics ranging from solo practitioners to multi-site organizations, helping them design, launch, and scale RTM programs that enhance patient engagement while generating meaningful, sustainable revenue.

In addition to her operational leadership, Ellen has served as an instructor for the American Physical Therapy Association’s Telehealth Certificate Series and Digital Health Certificate Series, where she teaches clinicians how to effectively integrate virtual care and technology into practice. She is also an active contributor to the American Physical Therapy Association AI Task Force, where she helps shape conversations around the impact of artificial intelligence on clinical decision-making, workflows, and patient engagement in rehabilitation.

Ellen’s perspective is grounded in both innovation and practicality—focused on helping clinicians adopt emerging technologies in ways that support care delivery while maintaining clinical autonomy.

Andrew Amari, JD, is a specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit, advocating on regulatory policy issues affecting physical therapists in a variety of practice settings. Before joining the association in March 2022, Andrew was a regulatory analyst at the Association of American Medical Colleges, focusing on hospital payment and graduate medical education policy issues. Andrew received a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University and a JD from the University of Wisconsin School of Law. He is a member of the Wisconsin Bar.

Alice Bell, PT, DPT, is a senior specialist in health policy and payment at APTA, a role she has held since joining the association in 2016. She advocates with commercial payers to advance physical therapy policy and address member concerns. Alice serves as APTA’s staff representative to the American Medical Association’s Relative Value Scale Update Committee and represents the association in both public and private workgroups focused on payment and quality improvement. She also develops member resources on payment policy and supports the advancement of physical therapists in alternative payment models and value-based care initiatives. 

Wanda K. Evans, PT, DPT, MHS, is a senior payment specialist at APTA. Her responsibilities include communicating with members and insurers on inquiries regarding third-party, billing, CPT coding, and payment policies; providing resources in policy development; monitoring trends; and assisting in association efforts to advance payment policies. She remains a treating clinician in the outpatient setting. Before joining APTA, she was the clinical documentation and utilization review coordinator for Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital Network. Prior to that she was the supervisor of physical therapist and occupational therapist services for Kaiser Permanente Mid Atlantic. She has been an APTA member since she was a student. She received her bachelor of physical therapy and doctor of physical therapy degrees from Howard University, and a master of health science degree in orthopedic and sports physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis. She also is a certified kinesio taping practitioner. 

Rachel Miller, MPH, is a health policy and payment specialist within APTA's Health Policy and Payment Unit as of August 2022. Rachel advocates to federal regulators on policy issues that affect the physical therapy profession. Before joining the association, she was working towards her master's degree in health policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While continuing her education, Rachel showed community members how to obtain health insurance as Certified Application Counselor in a student-run clinic. Before that, she helped stop the spread of COVID-19 as a case investigator at a local health department. She obtained her bachelor's degree in public health from the University of South Florida.

Stacey Schwartz, DPT, JD, joined APTA's Health Policy and Payment team as a Sr. Specialist in 2025. Prior to joining the Health Policy and Payment team, Stacey worked on APTA's practice team. Before that, she practiced primarily business litigation as an attorney and then sports and outpatient orthopedics as a PT for six years.

Sharon West, JD, joined APTA as Director, Commercial Payment and Policy in late 2024 and now serves as Vice President, Health Policy and Payment encompassing both commercial payment and federal regulatory affairs as of January 2025. Prior to joining APTA, Sharon was Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the American Clinical Laboratory Association. She also served as Director, Economic & Regulatory Affairs at the College of American Pathologists. Prior to her roles with associations, she was Senior Corporate Counsel for WellCare Health Plans. She also led negotiations and managed relationships with key health systems, hospitals, facilities, physicians, and other providers for Aetna, NYLCare Health Plans, and Prudential Insurance Company. She received a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (Ohio) and her law degree from George Mason University School of Law. She is a member of the Virginia bar.