At the annual American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Conference in Denver, PTAG’s own president, Dr. Joe Donnelly PT, DHS, OCS was presented with its State Legislative Leadership Award for his outstanding efforts during the 2015 Georgia General Assembly Session.
Joe, who also serves as a Mercer University clinical associate professor, successfully organized and led a grassroots initiative comprised of more than 2,300 PTAG members and students, a legislative lobbying team and patients to modernize and, ultimately, to improve access to physical therapy services for the citizens of Georgia.
Under Joe’s steadfast leadership, the legislative campaign culminated with the passage of House Bill 505 with overwhelming, bi-partisan support in both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly. This comprehensive legislation allows Georgians to access physical therapy treatments without the referral of a physician, which forgoes unnecessary barriers to physical therapy and reduces the costs in terms of requiring unnecessary office visits, extra out-of-pocket co-pays and treatment delays.
Joe’s commitment to advocate for the physical therapy profession and to improve the healthcare delivery system through positive, meaningful legislative action sets a truly inspiring example for his peers, students and patients.
We are proud to congratulate and recognize our president, Joe, for this wonderful achievement.
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