National Association of Black Physical Therapists

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National Association of Black Physical Therapists

NABPT is a nonprofit organization focusing on physical therapists from the African Diaspora by providing increased opportunities for visibility, networking, community service, career development, and mentorship.

08/21/2026

Advocacy Week Day 4: Student Loans & Professional Degree Designation 🎓💼

To wrap up , we are diving into essential federal updates on student loans, repayment plans, and the official designation of DPT programs. Navigating financial literacy and legislative changes is a vital part of empowering our students and clinicians throughout their careers.

Major Updates to Know:
- Professional Degree Program Designation: Under the current court order, DPT programs are officially included on the list of professional degree programs. This designation recognizes the advanced education, clinical training, and licensure required to enter the field, allowing eligible borrowers to access higher federal borrowing limits.
- Auto-Pay Rate Reduction: Borrowers enrolled in Auto Pay can receive a 1% interest rate reduction—enroll by 9/30/2026 to take advantage of this benefit.
- SAVE Plan Transition: With the SAVE plan ending, borrowers have 90 days from notification to select and transition into a new repayment plan.
- PSLF Status: Currently, there are no changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) borrower eligibility, payment counts, or loan discharges.
- New Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP): A new income-driven repayment option designed for federal Direct Loan borrowers to help keep monthly payments manageable.

Take Action Today:
1. Swipe through this carousel to review the latest borrowing guidelines and repayment policies.
2. Access official resources: Head to the link in our bio to view the Federal Student Aid Professional Degree Announcement and the Edfinancial RAP Overview Guide to explore your options.
3. Review your loans: Log into your loan servicer account to confirm your repayment plan and ensure you meet upcoming deadlines.
4. Share: Send this post to a classmate, colleague, or DPT student navigating repayment!

Thank you to everyone who participated in, shared, and elevated 2026! Our advocacy doesn’t end here, let’s continue using our voices to push the profession forward. ✊🏾✨
🔗 Tap the link in our bio to access today’s official federal student aid resources!

08/20/2026

Advocacy Week Day 3: Clinician Burnout & Provider Protections 🧠🩺
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Across healthcare and physical therapy, high patient volumes, administrative burdens, and demanding environments have made burnout a critical issue impacting clinicians and students nationwide.
Today, we’re shifting our focus toward mental health advocacy, workplace well-being, and legislative action to support the providers who give so much to their communities.

Take Action Today:
1. Contact Congress: Tap the link in our bio to tell your lawmakers to continue funding and supporting the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act.
2. Watch & Learn: Head to the link in our bio to check out the featured YouTube video on “Breaking Burnout and Driving Innovation.”
3. Share: Repost this carousel to your story and use to keep this essential conversation going!
🔗 Tap the link in our bio to contact Congress and access today’s burnout resources!

08/19/2026

Advocacy Week Day 2: Maternal Health 🗓️🌸
We’re keeping the momentum going for ! Today, our focus turns to Maternal Health—highlighting the critical role physical therapy plays in prenatal and postpartum care, advocating for life-saving legislation, and celebrating the clinicians expanding access to this vital specialty.
👉 Swipe through today’s posts to learn about the Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act, hear from leaders in maternal health, and meet our 2026 scholarship recipient!

Bridging the gap in maternal healthcare starts with policy. 🏛️👶🏾
Black women are 2–3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women and are significantly more likely to experience disabling postpartum conditions. Physical therapists are movement and musculoskeletal experts who reduce pain, improve function, and enhance quality of life both during pregnancy and beyond.
The Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act is vital federal legislation designed to expand access to pelvic health services during pregnancy and the postpartum period under Medicaid.
Take Action:
Your representatives need to hear from you. Tap the link in our bio to access our direct link to Congress and urge your lawmakers to support this bill today! ✊🏾
🔗 Link in bio to take action!

“Physical therapy is not just for postpartum. We play a role in preparing women for pregnancy, labor, and for life after birth.” 🌸✨
For Maternal Health Day, we are spotlighting Dr. Katherine Sylvester, PT, DPT and the life-saving mission of Operation M.I.S.T. (Monitor | Intervene | Survive | Thrive).
Founded by Dr. Sylvester, Operation M.I.S.T. is on a mission to protect mothers and eradicate maternal mortality. Through their signature MommyMonitor program, they remotely track vital health data via smart devices, from pre-pregnancy through the first full year after delivery, to identify complications early, intervene swiftly, and ensure women are supported every step of the way.
Pain and postpartum struggles are not something women simply have to accept. Proactive care, continuous monitoring, and early advocacy save lives.
🎥 Watch the full conversation: Tap the link in our bio to watch

08/18/2026

Advocacy Week Day 1: Healthcare Policy & Medicaid Funding

Expanding Medicaid coverage and improving reimbursement happens at the state level, and our collective voices have the power to influence meaningful legislative change.
Timely, high-quality physical therapy is essential for helping Medicaid beneficiaries manage chronic conditions, recover from injury, prevent falls, and maintain functional independence. Today, we are advocating to dismantle barriers to care and ensure fair reimbursement for providers across the country.
Key Focus Areas to Advocate For:
- Expanding Access: Increasing Medicaid visit limits and simplifying prior authorizations for medically necessary physical therapy.
- Reimbursement Changes: Pushing for higher Medicaid reimbursement rates to address provider shortages and protect patient access.
- Value-Based Care: Championing models that integrate PT for pain management, fall prevention, and surgical reduction.
- Managed Care Standardization: Advocating for unified referral and authorization guidelines to reduce administrative provider burden.
- Utilization Management: Urging lawmakers to eliminate hurdles and streamline medical necessity reviews for ongoing care.

Take Action Today:
1. Swipe through this carousel to learn more about the critical issues impacting Medicaid reimbursement and access.
2. Contact your state representative: Head to the link in our bio to download our plug-and-play Mock Letter Template and send it directly to your local lawmakers!
3. Spread the word: Share this post to your story and use to amplify our impact!
🔗 Tap the link in our bio to access today’s letter template and make your voice heard!

08/17/2026

NABPT Advocacy Week is officially HERE! 📢✊🏾
Advocacy Week is a nationwide, virtual campaign designed to empower our community to make our voices heard, advance the profession, and champion the healthcare needs of the communities we serve.
All week long (August 18–21), we are bringing you key resources, legislative updates, and actionable steps to make an impact right from your phone.

How you can participate:
1. Swipe through this carousel to check out the full schedule and see how to get involved.
2. Explore your state’s landscape: Head to the link in our bio to access the APTA State Advocacy Map (APTA member login required) to see what legislation your local chapter is supporting, opposing, or neutral on.
3. Amplify the mission: Share our daily resources to your story, contact your representatives using our templates, and use the hashtag !

Together, our collective voices demonstrate the power and reach of our community. Let’s make a difference this week!
🔗 Tap the link in our bio to access the APTA State Advocacy Map and daily advocacy resources!

08/09/2026

Thinking about making the leap from clinical practice to academia?
Join us for our next Power Hour as we welcome Dr. Kimberly Varnado, founding DPT Program Director at College of Saint Mary and President of ACAPT’s Board of Directors!
In this FREE interactive session, Dr. Varnado will share key insights on academic career pathways, navigating faculty life, and practical guidance for clinicians interested in transitioning into physical therapy education.
Event Details:
🗓️ Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM EST
📍 Location: Virtual (Event link provided upon registration)
🎟️ Cost: FREE!
Whether you’re curious about teaching full-time or exploring adjunct roles, you won’t want to miss this conversation!
🔗 Tap the link in our bio to register now and save your spot!

08/08/2026

SAVE THE DATE!

Prospective PT students, this one is for you! NABPT is hosting a Virtual HBCU DPT Program Fair to help you connect directly with admissions representatives and faculty from Doctor of Physical Therapy programs!
Featured DPT Programs:
🏛️ Howard University
🏛️ Winston Salem State University
🏛️ Hampton University
🏛️ Tennessee State University

What You’ll Learn:
- DPT admissions requirements & application preparation strategies
- Academic curriculum & clinical education experiences
- Student support, mentorship, and campus culture
- Career preparation & physical therapy opportunities
- What individual programs look for in prospective applicants

Plus, stick around after the presentations for school-specific breakout rooms to ask your questions and chat 1-on-1 with program representatives!
Event Details:
📅 Date: September 9, 2026 | 4-5:30pm EST
📍 Location: Virtual Event
🎟️ Cost: FREE!
📌 More information and registration details will be available soon! Drop a comment below or turn on post notifications so you don’t miss when registration officially opens!

07/25/2026

New look. New feel. Same mission.
The brand-new nabpt.org is officially live! Check out the walkthrough and see what’s new.

06/27/2026

A massive thank you to everyone who showed up, poured in, and made last weekend an absolute game-changer. The breakthroughs, the networking, and the community vibes were next level. We are still riding the wave of inspiration! 🚀
But the work doesn’t stop here. Here are your next steps to keep that momentum going:

📝 Get Your CEUs: For everyone who attended, don’t forget to complete your post-test to lock in your CEU credits! Check your inbox for the link and get that crossed off your to-do list.
🌎 Tap Into Your Local Chapter: The conference may be over, but the community is year-round. Dive into your local chapters, get involved, and keep cultivating the connections you made last weekend.

Ready to officially lock in with us?
🔗 Tap the link in our bio to join as an official member and stay connected to the movement year-round!

06/20/2026

WELCOME TO THE MAIN EVEN

Atlanta, the doors are officially open, the energy inside MODEx Studio is electric, and the wait is finally over! After an incredible night connecting with so many of you at our mixer, it is time to shift gears into a full day of inspiration, clinical excellence, and game-changing growth.
Check out the reel for a quick sneak peek at your walk-up and a first look at the stunning setup waiting for you inside the space!
We have a powerhouse lineup of speakers, packed sessions, and an unmatched community ready to lift each other up. Get your notebooks ready, pull up your chairs, and let’s prepare to Transcend Together!

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Atlanta, GA

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http://www.nabpt.org/

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