APTAMD Statements
Protecting and Promoting Public Health
Issues related to public health and human rights should never be partisan. We believe that health professions’ organizations are obliged to take action to protect and promote public health. To that end, we must occasionally make a public statement and take, not a political stance, but a humanitarian one when it comes to relevant social issues that affect public health and human rights.
APTAMD Statement on the Supreme Court Decision: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
June 30, 2022
APTA Maryland thanks APTA president Roger Herr for his statement and joins the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy in denouncing the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v Wade. The World Health Organization recognizes that removing barriers to abortion, protects women’s lives, health, and human rights.
APTA Maryland opposes any attempts to limit a patient’s right to seek safe and effective treatment. In the absence of public safety measures all medical decisions should be made between patients and their healthcare providers.
While we understand that this statement alone will not create change, we can act as advocates for our patients. This ruling threatens the health of patients by limiting access to essential medical care. Pregnancy itself carries significant medical risks and those risks are exacerbated by numerous health and social factors. For example, persons with disabilities are 11-times more likely to die during pregnancy than people without disabilities. The ability of patients to receive safe and effective care from their physical therapist will also be negatively impacted if patients cannot disclose pertinent medical information without fear of significant consequences. Additionally, removing the right for people to make their own healthcare choices regarding abortion disproportionally affects people of color and all people with limited financial means. This ruling further threatens the civil liberties of marginalized communities.
APTA Maryland will continue to work with our state legislators to ensure access to evidence based care and to protect our members from harassment by other states attempting to enforce laws limiting healthcare to individuals.
- Back to Top
Statement from APTA Maryland on Racism and Systemic Inequality
May 31, 2020
We acknowledge the systemic racism that is taking the lives of our fellow citizens, recently including the horrific murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
We stand with our membership in solidarity as we speak out against racism, sexism, discrimination against our LGBTQ and immigrant communities, intolerance of belief, and bigotry of any kind.
We are justly shocked and angered by these acts of brutality and murder. We are equally saddened and frustrated by the lack of meaningful response by those in positions of power. Mindful of public health safety guidelines, we also affirm the right of our communities to protest safely and peacefully to address their legitimate concerns.
Issues related to public health and human rights should never be partisan. We believe that health professions’ organizations are obliged to take action to protect and promote public health. To that end, we must occasionally make a public statement and take, not a political stance, but a humanitarian one when it comes to relevant social issues that affect public health and human rights.
We draw on the leadership and wisdom of our membership, many of whom confront these issues every day raising families, and during their clinical work, administrative work, teaching, and research.
We encourage all members of APTA Maryland to seek support, if needed, and to involve themselves in addressing these challenges. We urge our students and colleagues to participate in helping to improve and transform our society for a better future.
Please take care of yourselves, your families, and your communities during this difficult time.
In this time, we should remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
Please join us in supporting and advocating for our African American members, friends, and neighbors in constructive and meaningful ways. Learn about our new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
APTA Maryland
Lauri Jacobson, Executive Director (@APTAofMaryland)
Kevin Platt, President
Roy Film, Vice President (@RoyFilmDPT)
Rachel Skolky, Secretary
Lee Miller, Treasurer
Cara Felter, Director for Education
JD Sheppard, Director for Government Relations (@jdsheppard)
Mike Zarro, Director for Practice (@mjzarro)
Carol Zehnacker, Director for Reimbursement (@fitmompt)
Gretchen Michaels, Central District Chair
Monique Caruth, Southern District Chair (@fyzio4u)
Stephanie Thomson, PTA Caucus Representative
Linda Horn, Chief Delegate
- Back to Top
Statement of Support for the Asian Community
March 19, 2021
The APTA Maryland expresses our strong support for the Asian community. We also condemn the racist, biased, and hate-filled actions and propaganda that have a long history in the United States, only worsening since the start of the pandemic due to rhetoric directed at the Asian community.
Six of the eight people killed in Atlanta, GA on March 16, 2021 were Asian women. This is the most recent high profile attack on the Asian community. The recent events are not isolated. According to Stop AAPI Hate, 3,795 incidents of hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying have been reported by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States in the past year. The true number is likely far higher as underreporting is common in these types of incidents. These incidents have also hit close to home here in Maryland as well where we have a large AAPI community. At the start of the pandemic, four Asian-owned restaurants were vandalized and burglarized during Lunar New Year celebrations in Howard County, MD.
The impact of these crimes extends beyond their intended victims. These actions can trigger fear and frustration in the entire community. A lack of vocal response can be misinterpreted as condoning these actions and risk spurring on copycat incidents. To members of the AAPI community, know that you are all valued. To our chapter members who belong to the AAPI community, your contributions to our profession and our society are immeasurable.
We encourage members of the APTA Maryland to show support of our AAPI family members, friends, colleagues, patients, and other community members through actions as well as words. These actions may include increasing our knowledge and awareness of the AAPI community and how we can be of support, intervening when we witness discrimination, learning about any privilege we may have, and creating more inclusive environments in our immediate communities.
– APTA Maryland Board of Directors
- Back to Top
Statement from APTA Maryland on Anti Discrimination of the LGBTQ+ Community
May 27, 2021
APTA Maryland supports the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ+ community and opposes policies which discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. We stand with our membership in solidarity as we speak out against discrimination against our LGBTQ and immigrant communities, sexism, racism, intolerance of belief, and bigotry of any kind. The scientific consensus is clear that sex and gender are not binary but rather a spectrum. LGBTQ+ patients must feel comfortable seeking care from health care providers without fear of discrimination or limitations to medically necessary care.
In order to be true to our core values of social responsibility, compassion, and caring, APTA Maryland is committed to the following:
- Opposing threats to the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Marylanders
- Educating our members, lawmakers, and regulators on the healthcare challenges facing our LGTBQ+ patients
- Advocating for an APTAMD member to participate in state and national positions that affect the LGBTQ+ community
- Support the work of the APTA MD DEI Committee
We encourage all members of APTA Maryland to seek support, if needed, and to involve themselves in addressing these challenges. We urge our students and colleagues to participate in helping to improve and transform our society for a better future.
In this time we remember the words of Martin Luther King Jr.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Please join us in supporting and advocating for our LGBTQ+ members, friends, and neighbors in constructive and meaningful ways.
- Back to Top
