The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education is a group of 29 individuals, with varied backgrounds, who are charged with:
- determining whether a program meets the standards of quality in physical therapy education
- determining what standards of quality to use (i.e., the Evaluative Criteria)
- setting policy and procedure for the accreditation process
The Commission is divided into three working groups: 10 members comprise the PT Panel, which reviews PT programs; 12 members comprise the PTA Panel, which reviews PTA programs; and 7 members comprise the Central Panel, which makes all candidacy decisions.
In order to serve on CAPTE, most members must have served in the Cadre of On-site Reviewers and have participated in at least three on-site visits. The three public members and the consumer member are exempt from this requirement, though they do observe a visit following their appointment to CAPTE.
Members of CAPTE are physical therapist educators and clinicians, physical therapist assistant educators and clinicians, basic scientists, higher education administrators, and representatives of the public.
Chair: Martha R. Hinman, PT, EdD
Vice Chair: Jean Bryan Coe, PT, DPT, PhD
Vice Chair: Deborah K E Sheehan, PT, MS, PCS
Central Panel Members
Gregory H. Frazer, PhD, FASAHP, Term 7/1/10-6/30/14, is Dean and Professor of the John G Rangos, Sr School of Health Sciences at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 1992. Dr Frazer serves on the Central Panel as Higher Education Administrator.
Tina L Hartwell, MA, JD, Term 10/1/10-6/30/14, is in the County Public Defender’s Office in Utica, New York. Ms. Hartwell serves on the Central Panel as the Public Member.
Martha R. Hinman, PT, EdD, Term 7/1/09-6/30/13, is Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 1987. Dr Hinman serves on the Central Panel as Active Participant in Accreditation and is Chair of the Commission.
Stefanie Palma, PT, DPT, MEd, NCS, Term 7/1/09-6/30/13, is Chair of the Graduate Program in Physical Therapy at North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Georgia. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 1989. Dr Palma serves on the Central Panel as Active Participant in Accreditation.
Claire Peel, PT, PhD, FAPTA, Term 7/1/11-6/30/15, is Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 2001. Dr Peel serves on the Central Panel as a Recent Member of the PT Panel.
Charlene Portee, PT, PhD, Term 7/1/11-6/30/15, is Program Director of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Chattahoochee Technical College - North Metro Campus in Acworth, Georgia. Dr Portee serves on the Central Panel as the Consumer of Accreditation.
Suzanne Reese, PT, MS, Term 7/1/08-6/30/12, is Program Director of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Tulsa Community College in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 1998. Ms Reese serves on the Central Panel as a Recent Member of the PTA Panel.
PT Panel Members
Kathy Biniak, Term 7/1/10-6/30/14, is Director of Career Services at Progressus Therapy in Tampa, Florida. Ms Biniak serves on the PT Panel as Public Member.
Patricia Brown, PT, DPT, MS, Term 7/1/08-6/30/12, is PT Manager, In-patient Rehab at National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 2001. Dr Brown serves on the PT Panel as Clinical Teacher.
Jean Bryan Coe, PT, DPT, PhD, Term 7/1/09-6/30/13, is Program Director of Baylor University’s tDPT Program in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 1997. Dr Coe serves on the PT Panel as Physical Therapist Educator (Curriculum Development) and is currently Chair of the PT Panel.
Leah Dvorak, PhD, Term 7/1/11-6/30/15, is Clinical Professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 2001. Dr Dvorak serves on the PT Panel as Physical Therapist Educator (Basic Scientist).
Jennie K Gregory, PT, Term 7/1/09-6/30/13, is Director of Rehab at St Vincent Health System in Little Rock, Arkansas. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 2003. Ms Gregory serves on the PT Panel as Physical Therapist Clinician.
Beth C Marcoux, PT, DPT, PhD, Term 7/1/10-6/30/14, is Professor and Chair of the Physical Therapy Program at University of Rhode Island. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 1994. Dr Marcoux serves on the PT Panel as Academic Administrator.
Lee B Nelson, PT, DPT, MS, Term 7/1/11-6/30/15, is Clinical Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science at the University of Vermont. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 1992. Dr Nelson serves on the PT Panel as Physical Therapist Educator.
Robert E Post, PT, PhD, Term 7/1/11-6/30/12, is Director of the Physical Therapy Program at Neumann University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 2003. Dr Post serves on the PT Panel as Physical Therapist Educator.
Charlotte Brasic Royeen, PhD, Term 7/1/11-6/30/15, is Dean of the Doisy College of Health Sciences at Saint Louis University in Missouri. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 2006. Dr Royeen serves on the PT Panel as Institutional Member.
Sherilynn F Spear, PhD, Term 7/1/09-6/30/13, is Professor Emerita at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 2002. Dr Spear serves on the PT Panel as Institutional Member.
PTA Panel Members
Teresa Dean, PTA, Term 7/1/11-6/30/15, is a Staff PTA at St Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist assistant programs since 1997. Ms Dean serves on the PTA Panel as Physical Therapist Assistant Clinician.
Angela M Heaton, PT, MSEd, Term 7/1/09-6/30/13, is Program Chair of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at James A Rhodes State College in Lima, Ohio. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist assistant programs since 2007. Ms Heaton serves on the PTA Panel as PTA Educator.
Marlene Medin, PT, MEd, Term 4/1/09-6/30/14, is Program Director/Department Chair at Linn State Technical College in Jefferson City, Missouri. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist assistant programs since 2002. Ms Medin serves on the PTA Panel as Physical Therapist Assistant Educator.
Lucinda Mihelich, PT, MEd, Term 7/1/06-6/30/12, is Vice President of Student Services at Pueblo Community College in Colorado. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist assistant programs since 1998. Ms Mihelich serves on the PTA Panel as Physical Therapist Assistant Educator.
Nancy Remington, Term 7/1/09-6/30/13, retired as Director of Education at Yocha De He Preparatory School. Ms Remington resides in Esparto, California, and serves on the PTA Panel as Public Member.
Laura A Sage, PT, MEd, Term 7/1/08-6/30/12, is the Lead Physical Therapist at Longmont United Hospital in Longmont, Colorado. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 2003. Ms Sage serves on the PTA Panel as Supervisor of PTAs.
Elane K. Seebo, BA, MEd, MA, PhD, Term 7/1/10-6/30/14, is Vice President of External Campuses and Graduate Studies at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist assistant programs since 2001. Dr Seebo serves on the PTA Panel as Institutional Member.
Deborah K. E. Sheehan, PT, MS, PCS, Term 7/1/08-6/30/12, is Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapist Program at College of St Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist programs since 2003. Ms Sheehan serves on the PTA Panel as Physical Therapist Educator and is currently the Chair of the PTA Panel.
Russell Brent Stowers, PTA, EdD, Term 7/1/10-6/30/14, is Clinical Manager—Rehab at Christus St. Vincent Medical Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist assistant programs since 1998. Dr Stowers serves on the PTA Panel as Physical Therapist Assistant Educator.
Laura P Warren, PT, MS, Term 7/1/08-6/30/12 is Associate Professor and Program Director of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Chattanooga State Technical College in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist assistant programs since 1991. Ms Warren serves on the PTA Panel as Physical Therapist Assistant Educator.
Barbara V. Williams, MS, MEd, PhD, Term 7/1/11-6/30/15, is Director of Counseling for State of Connecticut - Naugatuck Valley Community in Waterbury. She has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist assistant programs since 2006. Dr Williams serves on the PTA Panel as Institutional Member.
Peter Zawicki, PT, MS, Term 7/1/09-6/30/13, is Division Chair, Health Sciences at Gateway Community College in Phoenix, Arizona. He has been an on-site visitor for physical therapist assistant programs since 1997. Mr Zawicki serves on the PTA Panel as Physical Therapist Assistant Educator.