APTA Colorado Featured Member Profile Blog Series
APTA Colorado is excited to announce our Featured Member Profile, a blog series dedicated to introducing you to APTA Colorado members and sharing the incredible work physical therapists are doing throughout our state. If you are interested in being featured in the future, please click here to learn more!
Fast facts about our latest featured member! 
Name: William (Bill) McGehee, PT, PhD, CEEAA
Connect with Bill on LinkedIn and Twitter!
Current Positions:
- Regis University, Associate Professor
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Complete Home Health Care, PRN Physical Therapist
Q&A with William McGehee
Background and Career
1. Where did you complete your physical therapy education?
Bradley University
2. Why were you interested in physical therapist practice?
I enjoyed the opportunity to use my skills and knowledge to help people be as independent as possible and live a full life. I valued the time I would have to spend and the relationships I would develop with people.
3. Who has been your biggest mentor in physical therapy?
Steve Tippett. I met Steve early in my career when I was an athletic trainer. Our relationship and friendship has lasted 30+ years. We've worked together in various capacities for a number of years. I've learned much of what I know about MSK PT from Steve as well as a lot of life lessons!
Also, Dianne Jewell. Dianne and I served together from 2010-2013 on the APTA Board of Directors. She served as the expert member of my dissertation committee. Her wisdom, wit and ability to digest lots of information and explain it simply to others are unparalleled.
4. What is your favorite part about being a physical therapist?
I love working with students and guiding them on their journey to becoming a physical therapist. They challenge me to be at the top of my game and keep me honest and humble.
My work with older adults gives me the chance to meet wonderful and fascinating people and help them be as independent as they can. I love the opportunity and flexibility I have to do many things that keep me energized.
5. What are you most proud of in your career so far?
I am most proud of serving as the chairperson for the Beyond Vision 2020 task force that developed the language for the current vision statement for our profession, "Transforming Society by Optimizing Movement to Improve the Human Experience."
6. What advice would you give to a student of physical therapy or a new graduate?
Take every opportunity that comes your way! You never know where one of those opportunities will take you and who you will meet along the way. Is it scary, yes! Will you fail sometimes and make the wrong choice, yes! Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Absolutely.
Challenges, Changes and Opportunities for Physical Therapists in Colorado
1. What are some of the challenges and opportunities you see facing PT/PTAs in Colorado and/or nationwide?
We also have great opportunities to reach more and more people with the expansion of telehealth across our state. This provides us a challenge in changing how we traditionally practice physical therapy as it has been such a high touch professional service to people. We have the opportunity to use our knowledge and the power of our clinical decision making to facilitate care delivery in this model.
We also have the continued challenge to pursue a physical therapist workforce that is more representative of the populations we serve.
2. Where do you see the practice of physical therapy in five years? What changes do you hope to see?
I see expanded telehealth use in the delivery of physical therapy care. I see more competency based PT education and shorter times spent in the classrooms. I see greater payment based on the value of care we provide rather than volume. I see a greater push to private payment for PT. I also hope we will see the expansion of access to affordable health insurance for everyone regardless of their employer or ability to pay.
Resources for Colorado Physical Therapists: APTA Colorado
1. Why are you a member of APTA Colorado? What value do you find in your membership?
I am a member because of all the benefits I receive. Most are non-tangible but the biggest benefit is an organization that advocates for my patients and for me in Denver with the state government, with payers, and with regulators. The professional and personal relationships I've developed over the years have enriched my life and my career. The support I receive in terms of up-to-date information and education regarding physical therapist practice supports me as an educator and practicing PT.
2. What APTA Colorado resources have you found helpful?
I appreciate the website, access to educational materials and virtual meetings/conferences. Honestly, working right across the hall from the APTA CO president is a nice benefit!
3. Why would you recommend that colleagues join APTA Colorado?
I recommend APTA Colorado to everyone. It is insurance for your career. If for no other reason than that, you should support the chapter financially so they can continue to represent us successfully. The relationships and rich development you get from being a member are not reproducible. APTA Colorado is a gateway to the national organization and a way to connect to all the resources that are available to an organization of close to 100,000 members across the country.
