In his bestselling book Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, celebrated author Jim Collins introduced “Big Hairy Audacious Goals”,

or “BHAGs” (Pronounce Bee-Hags). BHAGs are ambitious, even outrageous goals that mo-tivate people and focus them to-ward concrete accomplishments. BHAGs may seem unattainable at the time that they are proposed, yet often have a way of getting met as they focus the minds of

the people who work towards accomplishing them. (I strongly recommend this book, as well as Collins’ Good to Great, why some companies make the leap and others don’t to any of you who are current or aspir-ing business owners).

In our role as TPTA Membership Development Co-Chairs, Karina Kunder and I recently proposed a BHAG that will make Texas history: The Texas Physi-cal Therapy Association will achieve and maintain 100 percent active student membership by July 1, 2010.

There are two aspects to this BHAG worth examining. First, the 100 percent. We choose 100 percent for a simple, yet profound reason: To com-municate to students, faculty and active TPTA mem-bers across the State that we expect every student in every program in the State to be a card carrying member of the club. Had we chosen 95 percent, or 99 percent, every class of students would have had some potential members who would have had a “not me” response, and that “not me” mentality can be extremely contagious.

The active membership is important: We know from APTA research that members who experience the value of membership, for example by attend-

ing conferences, or being Section members and taking advantage of Section Journals, List serves and message boards, are much more likely to stay within APTA and TPTA. So with this BHAG, we are launching membership recruiting, as well as reten-tion initiatives. We will recruit PT and PTA students throughout the State, and when they join, we will begin a concerted effort to make sure that they experience membership benefits, so that when they graduate and join our profession, we will retain them as TPTA members.

As this issue goes to press, a group of volunteers from all over the State is converging on Austin for a strategic planning meeting. We plan to hammer out strategies to achieve our Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Achieving 100 percent student membership will be a Texas, as well as an APTA first. I expect that we will inspire other States into setting BHAGs for their membership development as well. Achieving this goal will take time, energy and money, and we will need your help. I hope that you are inspired by our Audacious goal, and that you will become a part of making Texas and APTA history by donating your time, and/or money towards this effort.

I look forward to seeing you at our next NTD meeting, in Austin at Annual Conference in October, and of course at our first ever NTD Banquet this November!

VOL. 2 NUMBER 3 : July 2009

Big Hairy Audacious Goalsby Jerre van den Bent, North Texas District Chair

It’s not unusual to see a PTAs taking on leadership roles, whether it’s managing a clinic or organizing events for the TPTA. We talked to three professionals who take charge at their workplace.

“Your license does not have anything to do with your level of leadership,” said Jill Pool, coordinator for the PTA program at Tarrant County College in Hurst.

She should know: When she first learned about the opportunity to take hold of the program she knew that she wanted to be the one in charge.

“I found that if I was to get the job I had to return to school, so I did and I earned my master’s in education,” she said. “I wanted to see the program go in a different direction — not that they were doing anything wrong, they were already a fully accredited school, but I wanted to be the one to make the decisions.”

Jill graduated from Tarrant County Junior College’s program in 1993 after working as a technical writer at General Dynamics, now Lockheed Martin.

She now oversees a program that accepts 24 students out of about 150

applicants each year.Many of this year’s students have

completed their bachelor’s degree and haven’t had a career yet. In previous years, TCC’s PTA students were people making a career change.

“I finally did what I wanted to do,” she said. “I have never regretted it — best thing I ever did.”

Danieta Grissman, of Fort Worth graduated from the TCC program in 2002. She works at Cantex Senior Communities in Dallas, after previously serving as rehab director at Hurst Plaza Nursing and Rehab.

“My motivation for becoming a manager was wanting to move up the career ladder,” she said “There is room to move up and room to grow in my company.”

She points out that even people higher on the ladder at her company are PTAs.

“They’ve encouraged others like me to keep going and climb the ladder,” she added.

Danieta wanted to work in physical therapy since she was 12. She told a nurse

she knew that she liked doing massages and would like to help people walk again, and the nurse recommended she go into that field. When her grandmother had a stroke a few years later, Danieta said, “that really sparked the interest.”

Danieta had a child early in life and wasn’t able to attend a university full time. She worked as a bank teller and a rehab tech before becoming a PTA. After that accomplishment, her interest didn’t stop with just seeing patients. Like any other upwardly mobile professional, she had higher ambitions.

Danieta hopes to work as rehab director when Cantex opens a branch near Alliance Airport in Fort Worth next year. She has enjoyed the duties of being a director – such as working on the schedules, teaching techniques to the other therapists, and having more time to address any problems.

“I felt like I could help the patients a little bit more in that aspect,” she said.

PTA Noah Burton, of Keller, also enjoys his duties as manager of Select Physical Therapy in north Fort Worth.

Leaders among us‘Just’ a PTA? These professionals take command of their jobBy Jessica DeLeón

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Danieta GrissmanJill Pool Noah Burton

PTAs find plenty of benefits when they join TPTA, and some find additional value in their membership when they take on responsibilities as well.

“You have to be really educated on what you’re supposed to be doing and what the PTs are supposed to be doing,” said Keshia Patterson, PTA. “Being a member definitely helps you keep up with regulations which helps make sure that I keep my license.”

Keshia is in the executive committee of the TPTA North Texas District and is a co-lead in the membership committee. She also mentors for Tarrant County College.

She said PTAs need to be active in the organization to ensure they have a voice.

“A lot of PTAs complain about not being recognized,” she said. “When I first joined TPTA, I asked how many PTAs were involved. They told me that in the district it was such a small number, maybe 10-20 out of the several hundred members. I was shocked.”

Keshia said she didn’t just want to talk about volunteering, she put her words into action and is now helping make a difference from the inside.

NaTarsha Asenime agrees that PTAs need to be more involved if they want to be heard.

“Sometimes you can get left out if you don’t speak up,” she said. “We have the opportunity to be more involved and know more about the political aspect of therapy, versus just doing your everyday job.”

NaTarsha said she likes to get updates on current PT events and recruitment opportunities.

She is also a member of the executive and membership committee. She said the organization is trying to reach PTAs that feel they’ve been left out.

“I hope my classmates can understand more about the organization,” she said. “They have no idea how hard people

fight to allow us to do some of the things we do.”

Keshia said she enjoys the ethics updates because it’s a great opportunity to network.

“It’s a required class and it’s great to have all those other people there,” she said. “It was just wonderful.”

PTA A’Donna Corbin, who serves on the executive committee as the District Secretary, said being a member of the organization gives her a sense of empowerment.

“I’ve learned a lot about the legislative side of the business — the laws that govern the practice was something I never really thought of,” she said. “I feel that as a PTA I have a voice in the field; I’m not just an assistant.”

A’Donna has traveled to Austin to speak with legislators

about issues such as Direct Access.

She said she also values the opportunity to meet other therapists in the area that work in other disciplines.

“I’m in pediatrics, and learning about what other people do and networking is important to me,” she said.

A’Donna, who moved to Texas from New York, said she wasn’t encouraged by peers in her former home state to get involved in a professional organization.

“It wasn’t until I got here and I started to work with other PTs who were already active members,” she said. “They invited me and encouraged me to get involved. I did, and I’ve enjoyed it very much.”

“I was lucky enough to have some great PTs that worked with me when I first started,” he said. “They empowered me so that I could succeed at my job. I had a manager at the time that was willing to put the faith in me to do a good job in leading people.”

Noah’s worked as a PTA since 2002, after finding the job would provide more stable hours than working as an athletic trainer, his original choice.

He received his associate’s degree in science at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and he also earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology at Washburn in 2002. He moved to Texas in 2004 after

working in Kansas for two years. Jill said that one aspect of the job —

educating the patients — increased her desire to instruct others.

“I think that a PTA holding my current position tells the students: ‘She’s not just a PTA, look at what she’s done,’ ” she said. “We always talk about what you can do as a PTA. Do not limit yourself: you can be a great PTA and be a manager, and much more.”

“I don’t know any PTA who isn’t satisfied with what they’re doing,” Jill said. “You get to work with the patient, that’s what you get into it for.”

Danieta currently serves as chairwoman

for the golf tournament for the TPTA’s annual conference in Austin October 15, and she volunteers for the membership committee for the North Texas District.

“Networking with the TPTA is a big part of the reason that I’m here, that I’m getting involved,” she said.

Noah agrees adding that the option to become a leader is always there if a PTA is interested, and if they demonstrate good leadership skills.

“With the TPTA, you have the connection with other therapists and other leaders,” he said. “That’s a great start.”

Additional reporting by Francisco Rodríguez.

PTA volunteers stress education, mentoring and membershipBy Francisco Rodríguez

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NaTarsha Asenime Keshia Patterson A’Donna Corbin

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Rolling along in May 2009 By Kelly Roach

The 2009 NTD Meeting Schedule is in full swing. PTs, PTAs and students have enjoyed networking with colleagues and

vendors and the Business meetings have kept us up to date with North Texas District news and information. Our May meeting was a clinical breakout session with three topics to choose from.

Vickie Keller PT, MS presented a Women’s Health Topic titled: Women’s Health Physical Therapy: More than the Pelvic Floor.

Charter Rushing PT, MPT presented a Pediatrics Topic titled: “Will my child walk?” Using evidence to answer parent’s questions and set goals for children with CP.

Jason Zafereo, MPT presented an Orthopedic Topic entitled: Evaluation and Management of the Cervicothoracic Spine: An Evidence-based Perspective.

Event photos by Francisco Rodríguez

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Rolling along in May 2009 By Kelly Roach

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Dear friends,Last year, I had the opportunity to travel with

a team from my church to Goma, Congo, an area where two out of every three women have been raped (rape is used as a weapon of war). Due to the brutality of the rape, many of these women de-velop vaginal fistulas. For more information, read the following: http://www.menwhokilledme.com/news/congo-women-fight-back-speak-out-about-rape

While I was there I visited HEAL Africa (www.healafrica.org), a teaching hospital where fistula repair surgeries are performed. Fistulas are holes that communicate between the bladder and va-gina after prolonged childbirth labor (obstructed births) or after a victim is brutally raped/sodom-ized (as is the case for so many of the Congolese women). This leaves the women incontinent, and basically disabled.

Because there is no basic understanding of the cause, many are ostracized from their family and communities and spend the rest of their days sit-ting in shame in dark huts with urine trickling down their legs.

Many of these women are unaware that there is a relatively easy surgical solution, unless they have a chance encounter with someone who makes them aware of the surgical cure.

HEAL Africa, through the Nehemiah Project, has 70 committees in the rural surrounding villages that have been trained to recognize these women and empower them to seek help.

At any one time there are 120 women waiting on the HEAL Africa campus for the surgery. While waiting for surgery, they receive training in crafts such as sewing and weaving to starte them on the road to self-sufficiency when they return to their communities. They also participate in the Healing

Arts Garden and receive trauma healing services. When I toured HEAL Africa, Jean-Claude, the PT

Director, said their greatest need was in training on low back pain. (I thought, “I can do that!”) Af-ter seeing the documentary, “A Walk To Beautiful” about the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, I realized that these Congolese women could ben-efit from a pelvic floor dysfunction physical thera-pist’s services.

Jessica McKinney, a physical therapist from Bos-ton who is trained in pelvic floor dysfunction, an-swered the call to go to Congo, responding to an e-mail to the International Organization of Physical Therapists in Women’s Health listserv.

Not only does she have the perfect training and background, she also has traveled and trained in Af-rica and has the best interest for the African people in her heart. She and I will be joining a team from my church, Irving Bible Church, who will be serving with ALARM, www.alarm-inc.org. They will be pro-viding training on the effects of tribalism, trauma and rape healing services as well as HIV/AIDS edu-cation to local pastors and victims of rape. We will be in-servicing physical therapists, MDs and RNs on mechanical low back pain and pelvic floor dys-function at HEAL Africa.

We will be joining two physical therapists from the U.S. who are already in Goma at HEAL Africa (through IPOP, www.ipoproject.org/field/drc.htm) for the year to help renovate the physical therapy department as well as provide training on pediatric PT. It is an active physical therapy department – the day I was there, they had seen 14 outpatients and 20 or so inpatients.

They are in great need of basic physical therapy supplies (see list at right). We will be rounding these up to bring with us when we come.

AMY GODDARD

HEAL Africa needs help to provide PT in Congo

• Exam Gloves (S, M, L)• Stethoscope• Blood pressure cuff• Reflex hammer• Safety pins• Sheet sets (fitted sheet, top sheet &

pillow cases)• Pillows• Towels• Patient gowns• Stools with wheels• Bolsters for physical therapy (i.e.

foam rollers, Tumbleforms)• Swiss (therapy) balls—various sizes• Wedges—various sizes• Floor mats

• Small mats for yoga/exercise• Large mat (that folds out for

gymnastics/floor work, approx 4 ft. x 6 ft.)

• Balance boards or discs• Hand and ankle weights• Thera-band—various colors/resis-

tances• ACE bandages—3-inch and 6-inch

width• Bandage scissors• Bandage tape• Leuko-tape with Coban/Cover-all

tape• Cast saw(s)• Cast shoes—adult and pediatric• Bledsoe/walking boots• Running/walking shoes, in good

condition—adult and pediatric• Adjustable adult and pediatric walk-

ers—pick-up and front wheeled• Adjustable pediatric and adult

crutches• Single and four-point canes• Rubber crutch & cane tips• Exercise bike—non-electric• Upper body ergometer—non-

electronic• Pulley system—attachable to wall• Anatomy posters & models• Lace-up ankle braces• Off-the-shelf adult and pediatric

AFOs (ankle-foot orthoses)• Cock-up wrist splints• Treatment tables—standard or hi-lo• Step stools• Rifton adjustable benches• Manual adult and pediatric wheel-

chairs—standard or tilt-in-space• • Must have all working parts

included• Wheelchair cushions (Pressure

relief, Ro-ho)• Bicycle or hand pumps• Allen wrench set• Children’s toys (NOT BATTERY

OPERATED!): • Balls of various sizes, jump ropes,

blocks, beanbags, cones• Rattles & infant toys

PLEASE DO NOT SEND:Large electronic equipment (i.e.

electric wheelchairs, whirlpools, exercise equipment, etc.)

• Non-working wheelchairs and assis-tive devices with parts missing

• Pediatric walkers• Pedi braces (AFOs, hip ABD braces,

etc.)• Knee neoprene sleeves (S, M, L

adult)PLEASE CONTACT US WITH

ANY QUESTIONS RE-GARDING DONATIONS:

Rehab.initiative@gmail.com

PHYSIOTHERAPY ITEMS NEEDED

PT Treatment Room at HEAL Africa

Jean-Claude, PT Director at HEAL

Patient being treated for clubfoot

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Find TPTA information and contacts online at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/

group.php?gid=56183188642

Pitman Creek PhysiCal theraPy, a private practice in Plano, is looking for a part-time Pt with orthopedic manual therapy skills. We have served our community since 1988 and have a reputation for delivering personalized quality care and achieving excellent outcomes. We’re looking for a professional who wants to make a difference and work in a more intimate setting with a friendly staff that works as a team. this is a practice where you will have the time to utilize and further develop a broad range of manual skills. to learn more about our practice, please visit our web site: pitmancreekpt.com or call 972-424-5840 for more information. Patti l. schwartz, Pt, President

PART TIME PT

www.pitmancreekpt.com

Work at William Breland’s Orthopedic and Sports Private

Practices. We have two 10,000 square feet facilities with upscale

health clubs. Additional opportunities in athlete event coverage, national speaking, work place health care, wellness, home health, research and practice management. Leaders welcome!

WANTED:PT and PTA

Attention: Human Resources

940-569-3630 Fax 940-569-3752

wbreland@brelandhealth.com Wichita Falls • Burkburnett

Established in 1976

September programThe final NTD Meeting of 2009 is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. There will be a choice of 2 presentations: • Ethics, presented by Julie DeVahl • Career Planning presented by Mary Thompson.

Go to http://www.ersvp.com/reply/ntdsept22 for complete information and to RSVP!

NTD2535 Lone Star DriveDallas, TX 75212-6313

INSIDE

Leaders among us

PTA Volunteers

May Meeting

HEAL Africa

September Program

Marketplace

Three Ring Marketing 214-483-6313

Supplemental HealthCare

866-575-9820

CareerStaff Unlimited 800-433-4334

KidsCareTherapy 214-575-2999

THERAPY 2000 214-467-9787

At Home Health Care

903-525-3828

Medical City Hospital Dallas

972-566-6202

Visiting Nurse Association of Texas

214-689-0000

PlatinumSponsors for 2009

NTD goes to Washington

Donna Carver and Tiffaney Hunter missed our last meeting for a good reason: They represented the TPTA North Texas District when they visited Capitol Hill on May 18 and 19 and lobbied several Texas representatives. The focus of their visit was to promote the Medicare Direct Access bill. Our delegation met with Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-Mercedes), who immediately signed on as a co-sponsor for the bill.

For more information about this important bill, please visit www.apta.org and click on “Advocacy.”