The APTA Academy of Aquatic Physical Therapy is proud to announce the addition of five new members to the Board of Directors/Executive Board: Jennifer Roos PT, DPT, Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Education in the Department of Physical Therapy at California State University; Brian Maloney, PT, DPT, Assistant Professor at the University of North Georgia; Dr. Susan Hunt PT, DPT, Founder and Owner of TheraSWIM; Dr. Yasser Salem, PT, PhD, MS, NCS, PCS, Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of North Texas Health Science Center; and Dr. Ashley Conklin, PT, DPT, PCS, full-time faculty member in the Rutgers Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.

Just like you, these individuals are passionately dedicated to the advancement of aquatic therapy. They ensure that we are represented at APTA legislative meetings, that we have high quality education available, communicate the activities taking place in our section, provide health care professionals with access to top-notch aquatic research, and promote continuity within the AAPT through a fair election process.

Here is a short introduction to our new board members:

1st Vice President

The Physical Therapy Department at California State University, Fresno is home to Jennifer Roos, PT, DPT, Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Education. Through lecture and lab opportunities, she shares her passion for aquatics with DPT students. Jennifer has been a licensed physical therapist for 22 years and has performed the majority of her clinical work at San Joaquin Valley Rehabilitation Hospital. In 2013 she received a transitional Doctor in Physical Therapy degree from a joint Doctorate program between UC, San Francisco and California State University, Fresno. She has obtained the Certification in Aquatic Physical Therapy Clinical Competency (CAPTCC) and is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatrics (GCS). Currently she serves the CA Physical Therapy Association.
 

2nd Vice President

Dr. Brian Maloney, PT, DPT, NCS, received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Emory University in 2011 and is a certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist. He is an assistant professor at the University of North Georgia, treating one day per week at the Shepherd Center.

Throughout his career, he has treated patients with both neurologic and orthopedic injuries and has worked in various settings, including inpatient rehab, home health, and outpatient settings. Dr. Maloney has served as a mentor to neurologic physical therapy residents at Emory University and Mercer University. He has also collaborated with Georgia Tech's Biomedical Engineering School on student capstone projects. His research interests include various low-tech interventions, including aquatic physical therapy.

Dr. Maloney joined the APTA Academy of Aquatic Physical Therapy in 2019 and started volunteering in 2020. He has served on the education committee, helping to organize presentations and create content for the section. In addition, Dr. Maloney worked with the Academy's communications committee to notify members when relevant or updated content was available. At CSM, he volunteered at the Aquatic section's booth and presented on spinal cord rehabilitation using aquatics in 2020.
 

Secretary

Dr. Susan Hunt PT, DPT, graduated from Regis University with her doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2009. She has practiced in a variety of pediatric settings, including the school system, early intervention, aquatics, and clinic-based settings. Susan currently practices aquatic PT, early intervention PT, and manages many patients' function on land as well. However, Susan fell in love with aquatic PT in 2011. Since then, she has been committed to the practice of aquatic physical therapy. After moving, Susan realized the huge lack of pediatric aquatic services in her region, so she started TheraSWIM, a pediatric, aquatic private practice in 2017.

TheraSWIM offers aquatic PT and OT services, as well as adaptive swimming lessons and water safety classes to children from all over Northern Colorado. She has taken a variety of aquatic continuing education courses, received her Certificate in the Swim Angelfish Methodology in 2018, and is currently taking coursework to receive her APTA Aquatic Clinical Competency Certificate. She is dedicated to collaborating with other professionals, applying research to practice, and being a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Colorado Physical Therapy Association, and the APTA Academies of Aquatic and Pediatric Physical Therapy. Susan enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 boys, running, hiking, reading, and travel.
 

Director of Research

Dr. Yasser Salem PT, PhD, MS, NCS, PCS, is a professor of physical therapy. He has been an educator for over 20 years, and holds ABPTS board certifications as a Pediatric (PCS) and Neurology (NCS) Certified Clinical Specialist. He has been consistently engaged in research, having published numerous peer-reviewed articles, and has over 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has authored scientific book and book chapters. He has over 300 peer-reviewed presentations at state, national, and international conferences.

Dr. Salem has been actively engaged in leadership activities at the professional level including the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) sections and academies, the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT), the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Accreditation (CAPTE), the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE), and the World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT). He completed the one-year Education Leadership Institute (ELI) Fellowship. He is serving as journal co-editor, associate editor and editorial board member for peer-reviewed scientific journals. He has been a reviewer for numerous scientific journals and state, national, and international level conferences.
 

Nominating Committee Member

Ashley Conklin, PT, DPT, PCS received a Baccalaureate degree in Science, Master of Physical Therapy, and Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Scranton. Ashley has earned her Board Certification as a Pediatric Clinical Specialist from the American Physical Therapy Association's Board of Specialties having extensive clinical experience working with children of all ages with varied diagnoses across multiple settings. Her clinical career includes employment at New York University's Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and Children's Specialized Hospital in New Jersey.

Ashley is currently a full-time faculty member in the Rutgers Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. She has been an APTA member since 2006 and an Academy of Pediatrics and Academy of Aquatic Physical Therapy section member. She has conducted and presented various research projects at the national level. Her research interests include best practice interventions for children with neuromuscular disorders including aquatic therapy.

In recent years, Ashley has started her own business, Ther-Abilities Pediatric Therapy Services, LLC, where she works to provide aquatic and land-based physical therapy services to children with various needs. Ashley is passionate about the benefits of aquatic physical therapy, and has been awarded “NJ Best Kids Docs” by New Jersey Magazine for the past three years highlighting her dedication to and promotion of the field of pediatric aquatic physical therapy.