Janet R Bezner, PT, PhD, has resigned her elected position as vice president of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) to accept the association's staff position of senior vice president of education. Bezner will replace Joseph P. H. Black, PhD, who will retire in April 2005.
Joanell A Bohmert, PT, MS, has been appointed APTA vice president, effective immediately. Randy Roesch, PT, MBA, has been appointed to serve out the remainder of Bohmert's term on the board of directors, effective April 2.
Bohmert and Roesch will serve their terms until June 2006.
"Dr. Bezner's experience, knowledge of education and commitment to the profession will greatly enhance our ability to achieve Vision 2020 and will allow us to build upon the strong foundation that Dr. Black has put in place," says APTA CEO Francis J Mallon Esq.
Prior to joining APTA, Bezner served as senior vice president of PeakCare Inc, based in San Diego, Calif., where she helped to develop work site wellness software. She is also professor and graduate program director of the Health Promotion and Wellness Doctor of Science Degree Program at the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah.
Bezner has also served as vice president of the Foundation for Physical Therapy and on-site evaluator for the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. She has been a member of the APTA Cardiopulmonary, Education, Geriatrics, Orthopedic and Health Policy and Administration sections. Bezner is the author of numerous published research articles on geriatric physical therapy, wellness and other topics and has been a presenter of nearly 60 scholarly and business presentations.
As senior vice president of education, Bezner will be responsible for working to ensure the highest levels of quality in all aspects of physical therapy education and developing and maintaining education research priorities for physical therapy education. She will join APTA staff in mid-May 2005. Bohmert is a pediatrics physical therapist at the Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District in Anoka, Minn. An active APTA member since 1978, Bohmert is in her second term on the APTA board of directors and is a member of the APTA sections on Pediatrics, Neurology and Health Policy and Administration. Bohmert served as a project editor for the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice and has provided leadership in the development of practice-related policies and positions. Roesch is president of Business Solutions, a private rehabilitation consulting company in Steamboat Springs, Colo.
An active APTA member since 1973, Roesch served as APTA secretary from 1998 until 2004 and as a member of the APTA board of directors from 1996 until 1998. A 12-time APTA chapter delegate, she served on the APTA Advisory Panel on Women, as secretary and program committee chair of the Private Practice Section and as vice president and secretary of the Florida Physical Therapy Association.
"I am confident in the outstanding leadership qualities that my colleagues bring to APTA staff and Board," says APTA President Ben F. Massey Jr, PT, MA. "I know they will meet their respective challenges with the dedication, commitment to excellence and creative problem-solving abilities that have marked their tenure as APTA leaders."
Source: APTA
