The expression "exercise is medicine" may be familiar with PTs and PTAs, but Sue Whitney, PT, DPT, PhD, ATC, FAPTA, believes there's still much that should be done to push that concept forward in new ways. Those opportunities will be a central focus when Whitney delivers the 27th annual H.P. Maley Lecture, presented live on Aug. 14 — and available for online viewing.
The Maley lecture is known for presenting thought-provoking, often challenging ideas, and this year's event is no exception. The lecture, titled "Exercise Is Our Medicine," will frame exercise as the basic tenet for what physical therapists do in their practice, which is becoming more data-driven by the day. Whitney believes that as PTs continue to support enhanced prediction, prevention, and personalized care, knowledge of optimal exercise intensity and specificity will improve patient outcomes and elevate the profession. Access to the live online event, which begins at 7 p.m. ET, is free.
A professor of physical therapy for the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in the Department of Otolaryngology and the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, at the University of Pittsburgh, Whitney also serves as program co-director for the university's master of science program in physical therapy. She is the author of 180 peer-reviewed articles and 30 book chapters, and is co-author of a book on vestibular disorders. She was recently honored with the Barany Society's Hallpike-Nylen Award, an international recognition of outstanding clinical research achievement in vestibular medicine. She is the first nonphysician and the second woman to receive the award.
The Maley lecture will be among the events taking place during the APTA Leadership Congress, a four-day gathering set for August 12-16 in Washington, D.C. Leadership Congress activities include the in-person session of the APTA House of Delegates, the APTA Honors & Awards Ceremony, and special programming targeted at students, professional advocacy, and other topics. Attendees will include APTA chapter, section, and academy presidents, APTA component executives, association standing committees, APTA association leadership scholars, the APTA Student Assembly Board of Directors, and the PTA Caucus delegates and representatives, in addition to the APTA Board of Directors.