PPS Awards
PPS is pleased to present the recipients of the Section’s 2015 awards. Awards Committee Chair Drew Bossen, PT, MBA, along
with committee members Patrick Graham, PT, MBA; Larry Benz, PT, DPT, ECS, OCS; Michelle Collie, PT, DPT, MS, OCS; and
Kelly McFarland, PT, DPT, presented this slate of award recommendations to the PPS Board of Directors. Please join the Private
Practice Section in congratulating our award recipients at the opening keynote session and reception Wednesday evening,
November 11th in Orlando.
2015 Robert G. Dicus Award
Carl DeRosa, PT, PhD, FAPTA
Founder, DeRosa Physical Therapy
Carl DeRosa PT, PhD, FAPTA, is currently the chief executive officer of Northern Arizona Orthoaedics, co-owner of DeRosa Physical Therapy, and co-owner of Summit Fitness and Mountain Heart Wellness in Flagstaff, Arizona. He is a former professor, chair, and founding faculty member of the Physical Therapy Program at Northern Arizona University. Dr. DeRosa completed his physical therapy education at the Mayo Clinic, earning the outstanding alumnus from that institution, and earned a master’s and doctoral degree in Human Anatomy. He has been in physical therapy private practice since 1982. DeRosa Physical Therapy, which is the largest independent private practice enterprise in northern Arizona, owns and manages four state-of-the-art facilities delivering full spectrum surgical and nonsurgical orthopedic and sports care, cardiac conditioning, and fitness and wellness programs. The practice sites have been long recognized for their innovative clinical and business collaborations, which have resulted in true independent professional relationships with the orthopedic, cardiology, and hospital professional communities.
Dr. DeRosa was an early voice in promoting manual therapy, functional and high level exercise, and wellness principles in the management of clinical conditions. This higher level active approach to rehabilitation, during a physical therapy era that was largely represented by more passive approaches, has long been considered an important contribution to the current maturation of the profession. This pioneering approach has been shared extensively through literature. He has co-authored several textbooks including the popular Perspectives in Functional Anatomy series which includes Mechanical Low Back Pain, Mechanical Neck Pain, and Mechanical Shoulder Pain, and numerous textbook chapters, journal articles, and two home study series. In addition to research and invited presentations throughout the United States, Dr. DeRosa has presented his work at numerous national and international conferences with topics ranging from the management of specific orthopaedic conditions to the development and implementation of fitness and wellness programs. Coupled with his clinical expertise has been a recognition of his business expertise and entrepreneurial accomplishments. These have resulted in innovative applications of course content to entry-level physical therapy programs, postprofessional physical therapy programs, nationally acclaimed consultant work for physical therapy practices to become better positioned for emerging population health initiatives, and being selected by business leaders in his local community to serve on the Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance.
He has served as a Delegate and Chief Delegate to the American Physical Therapy Association House of Delegates, served on the Taskforce on Normative Model of Physical Therapy Education, was selected as Chair of the APTA’s Advisory Panel on Physical Therapy Education, participated as a member of the Coalition for Consensus on Post Professional Physical Therapy Education, and participated as a member of the Coalition for Consensus: A Consensus Conference on Professionalism. He has been a member of several key Task Forces of the Private Practice Section of the APTA, the most recent being the PPS Business Model Task Force. He is one of the founding members of the Physical Therapy Business Alliance and served as its first Chair. In recognition of his contributions to the profession of physical therapy, Dr. DeRosa has been awarded the Lucy Blair Service Award, was selected by the American Physical Therapy Board of Directors for the John HP Maley lectureship, and a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Jayne L. Snyder Practice Award
Dr. Darren A. Rodia, PT, MS, DPT
President, Kinetic Physical Therapy
Dr. Darren A. Rodia, PT, MS, DPT, is the owner and president of Kinetic Physical Therapy, headquartered in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Neumann University with a master’s degree in 2005 and his postprofessional doctorate in 2006. Dr. Rodia started his career as a physical therapist assistant (PTA) in 1995, practicing at Bryn Mawr Rehab until 2005. Upon graduation from physical therapy school, Dr. Rodia worked as the clinic director of Physiotherapy Associates in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, from 2005 to 2006 prior to founding Kinetic Physical Therapy in 2006. Since that time, Kinetic Physical Therapy has grown from one point-of-service to five, with an average growth of 23 percent per year. Under Dr. Rodia’s leadership, Kinetic Physical Therapy has developed one of the biggest product lines in the region, offering such services as Sports Performance, Adolescent Sports Medicine, Ergonomics, and Continuing Education Programming. Along with operating Kinetic PT, Dr. Rodia also works as a consultant for physical therapists wanting to start a private practice, successfully assisting with the start-up of practices in three different states. Also, Dr. Rodia is a guest lecturer at Ursinus College, West Chester University, and Neumann University, lecturing on such topics as health care reform, the business side of health care, how to start a business from scratch, and how to grow and prosper within a difficult economic climate.
Friend of Private Practice Award
Joe M. Donnelly, PT, DHS, OCS
Clinical Associate Professor, Mercer University
Joe M. Donnelly, PT, DHS, OCS, is a clinical associate professor, and director of Post-Professional Education, Residencies and Fellowships in the Department of Physical Therapy at Mercer University.
Dr. Donnelly earned his doctor of health sciences degree in orthopaedic physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis in 2006, his MS in orthopaedic physical therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1989, and his BS in physical therapy from Daemen College in Buffalo, NY, in 1984. He is also a Board Certified Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and was recently recertified in February 2011. He has 31 years of clinical experience in orthopaedic manual physical therapy with a special interest in myofascial pain and dysfunction. He was a private practice owner from 1990 to 1995.
Dr. Donnelly is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), president of the Physical Therapy Association of Georgia, and immediate past chair of the Orthopaedic Section Practice Committee. He is a core member of the APTA manipulation work group and the Dry Needling work group, and recently served on a work group with FSBPT to establish competencies for the practice of dry needling. His service to the profession has primarily been in the legislative arena and orthopaedic Section Practice Committee practice.
Service Award
Laurie Kendall-Ellis, PT, CAE
Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, ACEhp & FCEhp
Laurie Kendall-Ellis, PT, CAE, has more than 36 years in the health care sector and a wealth of experience in the association management field. She served as the executive director of the Private Practice Section (PPS) and the Institute of Private Practice Physical Therapy. During her tenure with PPS, Laurie operationally led and managed the growth of the association from 2008 to 2015. Collaborating with the board of directors and staff, the association net worth grew from $1.2 million to $5.5 million, more than doubled its annual conference attendance, and increased the number of educational submissions to the conference from approximately 30 to more than 180.
Before her career transition to the association management field, Laurie cofounded a rehabilitation services and staff contracting company, Allied Health & Rehabilitation. As principal and cofounder, Laurie worked with her team to grow from a home-based business for contract rehabilitation services to a two-office rehabilitation agency and regional contract services enterprise.
Laurie is a strong proponent of volunteerism. She was recruited at her first annual conference to serve on a PPS committee, served two terms on the board of directors as secretary, transitioned to be the managing editor for Impact magazine, and is now executive director of her association.
Currently, Laurie is the executive director and chief operating officer of the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions (ACEhp) and the Foundation for Continuing Education in the Health Professions (FCEhp). Laurie is responsible for the management of all aspects of the strategy and operations of these two organizations. She was recruited for her keen insight for collaborative strategic thinking, which will lead to long-term relevance and organizational vitality for both associations.
Laurie holds a bachelor of science in physical therapy from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, and received her CAE (Certified Association Executive) in January 2013.
Laurie and her husband, Harvey, reside in the metro Washington, DC, area. Her greatest accomplishment(s) are the love and successes of her children, Adrienne and Jason.