Acknowledging Black PTs and PTAs

Black History Month: Acknowledging Black PTs and PTAs

By: Dawn S. Brown, PT, DPT & Tobey Yeates, PT, DPT

In honor of Black History Month, the IPTA would like to highlight past, present, and future contributions of Black physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) in our profession. The invaluable contributions of these PTs and PTAs are integral to the success of our profession as we strive to provide optimal treatment to the diverse patients that we serve and equitable education to our students. 

Understanding the influence of Black PTs and PTAs is both motivational and inspirational to current and future Black students and professionals for whom racial representation matters. The physical therapy profession has been, and will be forever, transformed by the unique contributions of Black PTs and PTAs as we move the profession forward and challenge the status quo related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. From the first Black physical therapist Bessie Virginia Blount to the fifth our very own Thelma Brown Pendleton who graduated from Northwestern University, to Lynda Woodruff who mentored me (Dawn Brown, PT) at Alabama State University to the current rise of Charlene Portee and Lisa VanHoose, groundbreaking Black PTs and PTAs have achieved greatness despite obstacles to transform our profession.

As of 2018, 3.6% of all PTs identified as Black  (APTA Workforce Analysis 2020) and 6.67% of students in physical therapy programs identified as Black (PTCAS Applicant Data Report 2018-19, despite 14.2% of the total US population that identifies as Black (US Census Race and Ethnicity 2020 Report). In order for our profession to be truly racially diverse and inclusive, and to represent the patients that we serve, the number of Black PTs, PTAs, and students must increase. Our profession must continue to place value on the need for young Black students to seek physical therapy as a career and for current Black PTs and PTAs to seek leadership positions to transform the landscape of our profession.

Acknowledging Black history in physical therapy teaches students, professionals, and patients the value of Black PTs and PTAs in our profession. The contributions of Black PTs and PTAs should not be limited to one month but should be recognized and celebrated throughout the year. 

For those Black PTs, PTAs, and students who are reading this article, we salute you and want you to know that you matter, so stay resilient and strong!

We encourage all of you to use Black History Month as a catalyst and opportunity to engage with Black students, PTs, and PTAs to truly understand and value our contributions to our profession. Below are resources for you to explore to gain more insight into the history and initiatives of Black PTs and PTAs. Stay tuned each week this February as we highlight the contributions of various Black PTs, PTAs, students, institutions, and organizations on the IPTA website and social media pages.

RESOURCES

• American Academy of Physical Therapy
• Black Physical Therapists Who Transformed the Profession
• National Association of Black Physical Therapists 
• Ujima Institute
• Illinois Black PTs Who Transformed the Profession

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