Nancy Kirsch, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA of Rockaway, NJ
Please share a description of your volunteer experience within APTA. How has this experience affected your perspective on leadership and volunteerism within physical therapy?
I have had the pleasure of volunteering on the state and national level. On the state level, I started as the newsletter chair and served as chapter secretary, chapter president, delegate for many years and as chief delegate. On the national level, I served on a variety of task forces, including the task force to rewrite the code of ethics. I also served nationally on the Ethics and Judicial Committee and the Reference Committee. For the last 13 years, I have written a monthly article on ethics for PT in Motion...a total of 136 articles.
How did you first learn about becoming involved with APTA and what made you decide to volunteer?
My involvement started in school at Temple University. During my first job at Kessler, my boss and APTA mentor told me..."you are going the chapter meeting tonight" and the rest is history. I was hooked!
Please describe any obstacles that made you hesitate or prevented you from volunteering in the past.
There was a time when my six children were all young that it was more challenging, but each one of them had the opportunity to go to an APTA national meeting!
What have you gained from the experience that you would share with others considering volunteering?
I have gained more than I have ever given. It is an absolute privilege to be involved in moving our profession forward.
Note: The term "APTA" used here is inclusive of all levels of the organization, including national, chapters, sections, academies, councils, special interest groups, etc.
Want to learn more about APTA's community of volunteers? Read more volunteer stories.
Do you have a volunteer story to share? Tell us about it!