PRIVATE PRACTICE - Direct-to-Employer Services Designation Program

Holly Johnson PT, DPT Cert.MDT is a graduate of the University of Kentucky Physical Therapy Program and received her transitional doctoral degree from AT Still University in 2005. She has recently retired from a 32-year practice at PT Pros in Kentucky. Her management and clinical experiences include orthopedics, manual PT, industrial rehab, and women’s health, with expertise in chronic pain management. In addition, over the last 10 years, she has trained PTs to serve in Global Heath Outreach medical mission trips to Central and South America.

She is currently developing PT treatment programs in substance abuse and addiction recovery utilizing PT, pain neuroscience, and behavioral health services. She teaches a PT elective on how PTs can treat patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain (MSP), central sensitization, and substance use disorder (SUD). She is conducting ongoing research on early intervention PT in MSP and SUD with the University of Kentucky in AR.

She has served as an APTA KY Payment Policy Specialist since 2008 and on the APTA Private Practice Payment Policy Committee since 2013. She has been a frequent speaker at the APTA Private Practice annual conference and Combined Sections Meeting representing APTA Private Practice. She provides PT consulting services through Johnson PT Consulting LLC.

Rick received a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in 1979 and obtained his Physical Therapy certification from a combined program at CSUN and UCLA in 1980.  He went on to receive a master’s degree in Exercise Science from CSUN in 1985 and his DPT from E.I.M. Institute in 2013.

 He is currently a faculty member at CSUN.  He is a frequent lecturer at Mount St. Mary’s University, USC and multiple P.T. schools on management, billing and payer relations.  In addition, he has held numerous elected and appointed positions at the national, state and local levels of the American Physical Therapy Association including CPTA Finance Officer, Government Affairs Committee Chairperson, Chapter Delegate and APTA appointed workgroups. He was President of the California Physical Therapy Association for six years (2020-2025). He also served on the Payment Policy Committee for the Private Practice Section of the APTA for 12 years.  He is the recipient of the California Physical Therapy Association’ James McKillip Leadership Award, Clarence Hultgren Service Award and the Charles Magistro Service Award.  He has been recognized by CSUN’s School of Health and Human Development as a Distinguished Alumni.

Rick worked for two of the largest physical therapy companies in the country where he managed over 325 locations and performed payer contracting. Rick sold his multi-state physical therapy company to ATI Physical Therapy in 2016.  He worked for Spine and Sport Physical Therapy/PRN (2020-2025) with 250 locations in multiple states as their Vice President of Development and Payer Contracting. He was in leadership role in performing clinic acquisitions and company growth.   He currently is the CEO of Katz PT Consulting and Coaching PC where he provides practice analytics, operational management, payer contracting review, professional advocacy and revenue enhancement coaching along with helping practices prepare for an exit strategy.  He also continues to serve as a Practice Expert for the Physical Therapy Licensing Board of California. 

Paul Welk, PT, JD is an attorney at Tucker Arensberg, P.C. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He focuses his legal practice in the areas of business and health care law and in this capacity frequently represents physical therapists, rehabilitation providers, and professional organizations. Paul is a lobbyist and legal counsel for the American Physical Therapy Association of Pennsylvania. Paul is the founding author of The Legal Impact, a regular column in the APTA Private Practice Section's Impact Magazine.

Joshua Bailey, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, CPed, completed his MPT and DPT degrees at Shenandoah University. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist as well as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. He is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Rehabilitation Associates of Central Virginia, a 16-site orthopedic physical therapy center in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he practices managing foot and ankle cases. He is an adjunct faculty member with Lynchburg College Doctoral Physical Therapy program and The Jackson Clinics Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Fellowship. In addition, Dr. Bailey is a Principal owner of the Physical Therapy Management Group of Virginia, where he provides Physical Therapy management and consulting services.

Dr. Jeff Hathaway is a Physical Therapist and CEO/Founder of BreakThrough PT an NC/SC company, and a founding partner with Confluent Health. In the past, he has been a consultant for team dynamics, interest-based negotiations, and conflict management, as well as a certified business coach. He has worked in the clinic business as well as direct-to-employer contracting. Dr. Hathaway is a member of his State and National PT association and has served on the board of various PT-related organizations. Dr. Hathaway focuses on innovative ways to properly control medical costs and move PT into its rightful place in the healthcare continuum.