Advocacy within the Physical Therapy Profession

During Black History Month and holidays such as Juneteenth, we celebrate and honor the contributions of Black Americans to this country in the face of injustice. James Baldwin once wrote, “History is not the past, it’s the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history.” In this blog, we recognize former Athletico Physical Therapist and Regional Director, Leython Williams, and his advocacy for black physical therapists within the industry.

What Made You Want to Become a Physical Therapist?

Growing up on the east side of Detroit, MI, I’m grateful to have been exposed to the healthcare field at large at very young age. My mother, Gwendolyn Williams, is now retired, but she was a nurse for 44 years in Metro Detroit. She was the first person to mention the field of physical therapy as a potential career path for me as she knew that it matched my interests and natural skill sets. She then went a step further and created opportunities for me to shadow various healthcare professionals, including physical therapists. After my shadow experiences, my eyes became open to the industry and I was able to visualize a pathway for me to be in position to provide quality care for patients while interacting with them in a way that best suited my personality. It all began with exposure. In order to create meaningful and sustainable growth in our profession, we must be intentional in creating exposure for the youth. In order for that growth to be diverse, we need to care enough to take those efforts into underserved communities.

What Made You Join the National Association of Black Physical Therapists (NABPT)?

The population of underrepresented minorities in healthcare professions does not reflect the increasing population of minorities in the United States—the field of Physical Therapy is no different. Unfortunately, this lack of diversity in physical therapy has not improved with the growth of the profession. While there are, indeed, initiatives and programs in place that have a unified focus in diversifying our profession, the lack of minority representation remains evident in the numbers for DPT program enrollment and in licensed physical therapists across the nation.

I’d like to put the spotlight on the National Association for Black Physical Therapists (NABPT). This organization was founded to support the lone minorities embarking on the journey to become physical therapists and physical therapy assistants. With a specific outreach into the African diaspora, the NABPT endeavors to review strategies and propose novel approaches to support underrepresented minorities in the physical therapy profession via reviewing admission practices, recruitment and retention strategies, and in fostering professional advocacy for the profession in underrepresented communities. The NABPT exists to be a unified voice for black clinicians to advocate for themselves and for the profession at large.

Advice for Future Physical Therapists

The physical therapy profession lacks diversity; this is well understood. It also lacks inclusion, which can be defined as the achievement of a work environment where all individuals are treated fairly and have equal access to opportunities, resources, and can contribute fully to the organization’s success. Sustainable change in these areas will take time and intentionality. Support this change by asking direct questions about diversity, equity, and inclusion in your DPT program and job interviews. Then, once you’re accepted or hired, keep asking questions and continue challenging the status quo in these areas.

As the Chairman of the Detroit chapter of the NABPT, Facility Manager and Co-Chair of the Inclusion & Diversity Council at Athletico Physical Therapy, I’m grateful to work for a company that values providing exceptional treatment for every patient that walks in our clinics’ doors. Athletico understands that diversity and inclusion (in various forms) are integral in providing a higher quality of care for our patients and a supportive work environment for our employees. We have a long way to go as a company and as a profession, but this blog in itself shows a desire for a change that makes us all better.

Leython Williams was a physical therapist at Athletico Physical Therapy at the time of this blog.

Representation Matters.

• Visit www.NABPT.org to learn more about the National Association of Black Physical Therapists.

To hear more about Leython’s experience as a black physical therapist, listen in on a recent podcast hosted by APTA-Michigan that features him discussing diversity within the profession.

• Listen Here

The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.