News

SPT and SPTA students are invited to apply for a mentorship opportunity during the 2026 APTA Wisconsin Fall Conference, taking place October 1–2 at The Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee.

Selected students will be matched with a mentor in an APTA Wisconsin leadership role, with the possibility of being paired with someone who practices in the student’s area of interest. Mentorship may take place over one or both days of the conference, depending on the student’s availability and interests.

Mentees and mentors will attend Fall Conference together, with opportunities to participate in educational sessions, lunch, the exhibit hall, the welcome reception, and possibly the APTA Wisconsin Board of Directors meeting. The experience is intended to be flexible and tailored to the mentee/mentor pairing.

To apply, students should submit a concise essay of no more than 500 words answering the following questions:

• What is your recent history of involvement in your undergraduate and/or PT program, community, church, job, or other activities?
• What would you like to gain from this mentorship?

Essays are due by 5:00 PM on Friday, September 11. Selected mentees will be notified within one week of the deadline.

Please email essays as a Word document or PDF to APTA Wisconsin Academic Liaison Committee Co-Chairs Erik Gregersen and Abby Nowakowski.

Students should include the following with their essay: APTA ID, name, address, school and year in program, one- or two-day mentorship preference, and practice area of interest.

At a time when many individuals and organizations are feeling the impact of rising costs, the APTA Wisconsin Board of Directors has voted to keep membership dues unchanged for 2027. 

This decision reflects the Board's commitment to supporting our members while continuing to provide the advocacy, education, networking, and professional resources that help strengthen the physical therapy profession across Wisconsin.

We recognize that every investment matters. By keeping dues stable, we're working to ensure membership remains accessible while continuing to deliver the value and opportunities you've come to expect from APTA Wisconsin. 

Thank you for being part of our community and for everything you do to advance the profession. We look forward to continuing to serve and support you throughout 2027.

Please join us in congratulating Paulina Pohlman, PTA, APTA Wisconsin's PTA Council Representative, on being recognized as an APTA Emerging Leader. Paulina will be featured alongside this year's Emerging Leaders in the November issue of APTA Magazine. 

Since joining the APTA Wisconsin Board of Directors in 2022, Paulina has been a dedicated advocate for PTA engagement and leadership. As PTA Council Representative, she has helped shape discussions at both the chapter and national levels, contributed to House of Delegates conversations, supported the chapter's JEDI Committee as Board liaison, and has been committed to mentoring future PTA leaders in Wisconsin.

Paulina's thoughtful leadership, commitment to service, and passion for strengthening the profession make this recognition well deserved.

Congratulations, Paulina, on this outstanding achievement!

Ready to grow as a leader and connect with colleagues who share your passion for the profession? Applications are now open for the 2027 APTA Wisconsin Rising Leader Program.

Key Dates
Applications Deadline: October 1, 2026
Notifications: November 1, 2026
Program Kick-off: January 15, 2027

Don’t miss your chance to develop as a leader and make a lasting impact on the profession and the Association.

Learn More and Apply Now:

For our final Rising Leader Spotlight, we're introducing McKayla Figueroa, PT, DPT, ATC.

McKayla works at Aurora West Allis Medical Center's Women's Pavilion Center for Continence and Pelvic Floor Disorders, where she treats patients of all genders with pelvic health concerns. In addition to outpatient care, she provides inpatient physical therapy services to patients immediately postpartum before discharge and incorporates dry needling and musculoskeletal ultrasound into her practice.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Marquette University in 2017, followed by her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2019. Since then, she has continued to build her expertise, becoming a Board-Certified Women's Health Clinical Specialist in 2022 and earning her Certificate of Advanced Practice in Physical Therapy in Obstetric Health in 2025.

Beyond patient care, McKayla serves as lead of the Journal Club Workgroup for the Aurora Pelvic Health Service Line and is a member of the APTA Wisconsin Membership Committee. In 2025, she was also recognized with the APTA Emerging Leader Award.

Rather than seeing the award as the finish line, McKayla saw it as an opportunity to continue growing: "I was honored to be recognized but acknowledged that I had room for improvement."

It was that desire to keep learning that led her to the inaugural APTA Wisconsin Rising Leader Program.

"I was interested in the APTA Wisconsin Rising Leader program in order to expand my leadership toolbox, sharpen my current skills and continue to serve my profession."

As a former APTA Wisconsin Southeast District Chair, she viewed the program as an opportunity to discover how she could become an even more effective contributor to the Association.

Mentorship has been one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.

"As a Rising Leader, I was able to take the LAMP 101 course where I learned a lot about myself and my tendencies as a leader. I have been able to use this knowledge and make small changes so far in how I contribute in a group setting and how I communicate with people on any team that I am a part of."

For her capstone project, McKayla is partnering with the APTA Wisconsin Membership Committee to develop a membership toolkit that will provide members and mentors with resources and talking points to recruit and retain physical therapy professionals. The toolkit will explore the value of membership while supporting recruitment, renewal, and long-term engagement.

Thank you, McKayla, for your dedication to leadership, mentorship, member engagement, and the future of physical therapy in Wisconsin!

Up next in our Rising Leader Spotlight series, we’re introducing Julia Nameth, PT, DPT.

 

Julia earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2024 and completed post-graduate training through the UW Health neurological physical therapy residency program in 2025.

 

She currently works as an acute care therapist, with clinical interests in early mobilization, vestibular and concussion management, and spinal cord rehabilitation. During her nearly two years as a physical therapist, she has helped implement an early mobility program for her institution’s Neuro ICU, presented an educational session at CSM 2026, been published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal, and volunteered with organizations that promote mobility and wellness for individuals with neurological conditions.

 

Julia joined the inaugural cohort of the APTA Wisconsin Rising Leader Program after seeing firsthand how leadership can help drive the physical therapy profession forward.

 

Her residency experience also broadened her perspective on the profession’s impact beyond individual patient care:

 

“I was challenged during my residency to consider not only patient perspectives, but also the fundamental institutional and societal impacts of our profession,” Julia said. “I know involvement through our professional organization is crucial to advocate for the utmost top-of-scope practice, so engagement in this program seemed like an excellent way to become involved and develop leadership skills as a newer clinician.”

 

Through the Rising Leader Program, Julia has found value in learning from both her mentor and fellow cohort members.

 

“My experience with the APTA Wisconsin Rising Leader program has been excellent thus far,” she shared. “I have learned much from my assigned mentor, as well as my fellow cohort, regarding the qualities needed for effective and efficient leadership.”

 

For her Rising Leader Program project, Julia is assisting the Chronic Pain Special Interest Group in the development of curriculum.

 

Thank you, Julia, for your commitment to leadership, professional engagement, neurological physical therapy, and the future of the profession in Wisconsin!

 

Interested in joining a future cohort? Applications for the 2027 Rising Leader Program will open later this summer.

APTA Wisconsin's 2026 Fall Conference, Grow Without the Grind: Practice. Lead. Thrive., takes place October 1–2 at The Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee and is expected to welcome 250–300 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, students, educators, and practice leaders from across the state.

 

For sponsors and exhibitors, Fall Conference offers the opportunity to connect with an engaged audience over two days of education, networking, and professional development. Whether your goals are increasing visibility, recruiting future employees, building relationships, or sharing resources, you'll have opportunities to engage with attendees before, during, and after the conference. Please note: the Exhibit Hall will be open on Thursday, October 1 only, with dedicated exhibitor hours from 10–11 a.m. and 12:30–2 p.m.

 

Exhibitor packages are available in Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels and include benefits such as exhibit hall placement, website recognition, mobile app visibility, sponsored social media, and CE session sponsorship opportunities. All exhibitor packages include Thursday-only Exhibit Hall participation on October 1. Additional sponsorship options—including keynote presentations, meal functions, mobile app placements, email advertising, mailing lists, and more—allow you to customize your presence based on your organization's goals.

 

Several sponsorship opportunities are exclusive or available in limited quantities, making early reservations the best way to secure the opportunity that's right for your organization.

 

Explore sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities below:

 

Questions about which opportunity may be the best fit? Contact aptawi@aptawi.org and we’d be happy to help!

Next in our Rising Leaders Spotlight series, we're introducing Peter McManus, PT, DPT.

Originally from Akron, Ohio, Peter earned his undergraduate degree from Denison University, where he also met his fiancée, before going on to earn his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Northwestern University. He currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Outside of work, much of his free time is currently dedicated to planning his wedding this November. When he is not focused on wedding preparations, Peter enjoys playing and watching soccer, completing jigsaw puzzles, exploring local parks, hiking, and spending time with his black cat, Midnight.

Since graduating from Northwestern in 2024, Peter has gained both clinical and leadership experience. He previously served as Director of Rehab and Physical Therapist at a local nursing home, where he led a multidisciplinary team in delivering patient-centered care. He currently works as a Physical Therapist at Central Wisconsin Center, specializing in treatment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Peter joined the Rising Leaders Program as a way to become more actively involved in APTA Wisconsin and continue building his leadership skills.

“Having settled into my professional career, I wanted to build on my foundation by becoming more actively involved in APTA Wisconsin,” Peter shared. “I believe the Rising Leaders Program will expand my professional network, develop my leadership skills, and equip me with the tools to contribute meaningfully to the Chapter.”

His leadership background includes serving as President of the IPTA Student SIG and as a Marquette Challenge Student Representative. Those experiences helped shape his interest in professional engagement, governance, and the role association involvement can play in advancing the profession.

“Engaging with professional organizations is incredibly rewarding because it advances my own development while allowing me to give back to the profession,” he noted.

For his capstone project, Peter is focusing on increasing membership and engagement among early-career professionals. His project addresses the trend that half of APTA Wisconsin student members do not continue their membership after graduation. To help support this transition, Peter’s work centers on building and shaping the newly developed Early Career Special Interest Group, or ECSIG.

“Through this SIG, we aim to provide a dedicated community, increased resources, and networking opportunities for recent graduates so they can find a professional home and maximize the value of their association membership,” Peter explained.

Thank you, Peter, for your commitment to leadership, early-career engagement, and the future of physical therapy in Wisconsin!
 

Interested in joining a future cohort? Applications for the 2027 Rising Leaders Program will open later this summer.