Justin Elliott
Vice President, Government Affairs
justinelliott@apta.org
Justin Elliott has 20 years of government and public affairs experience. He leads the association's legislative and regulatory priorities at both the state and federal levels. He has held several positions at APTA since joining the association in 2002, serving as APTA's director of state government affairs and associate director of state government affairs. Prior to joining APTA, he worked at KM Strategies, a government affairs and issue management firm. He was the communications director for Virginia’s Fairfax County Supervisor Penelope A. Gross and served as an advisor on her successful reelection campaign. He got his start on Capitol Hill serving as an intern in the offices of Sen. Charles Robb and Rep. Tom Davis, both of Virginia. He received a bachelor's degree in communications, with a minor in political science from Virginia Tech.

Michael Matlack
Director, Congressional Affairs
michaelmatlack@apta.org
Michael Matlack joined APTA in 1999. He oversees the Congressional Affairs Department, which includes advancing the association's legislative priorities on Capitol Hill through federal lobbying, grassroots, and political action. Before joining the association, he was manager of congressional relations for the National Society of Professional Engineers, in charge of its political action committee, grassroots programs, and lobbying on education and research issues. He also worked at Pearson & Pipkin Inc., a small consulting firm, the Republican National Committee, and as an intern for former Rep. Richard Pombo.

Laura Keivel
Senior Specialist, Grassroots and Political Affairs
laurakeivel@apta.org
Laura Keivel joined APTA in 2019 and is the grassroots and political affairs specialist. Prior to joining APTA, she was the advocacy program and events manager at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. At ACS CAN, she ran the Society’s largest event, the Leadership Summit & Lobby Day legislative fly-in. Laura served as manager of grassroots advocacy for five years at the Arthritis Foundation. There, she grew the grassroots network from 68,000 to 120,000, managed and expanded the grasstops Ambassador Program, and created an advocacy program for children and teens. She received a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Dayton.

Brian W. Allen
Specialist, Congressional Affairs
brianallen@apta.org 
Brian W. Allen, JD, is a congressional affairs specialist at APTA. Before joining the association in January 2022, Brian spent over five years on Capitol Hill, starting as a law clerk for the House Judiciary Committee and culminating in his role as legislative director and senior counsel to a member of the House of Representatives. Among other policy issues, he focused on health care, transportation, natural resources, and education. He received his bachelor’s degree in history and Spanish from Roanoke College and his law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.

Steve Kline
Congressional Affairs Specialist
stevekline@apta.org
Steve Kline joined APTA in October 2022 as a congressional affairs specialist. As one of APTA's lobbyists, he advocates for the association on issues related to rural health, higher education, and workforce development. He has extensive advocacy and association experience. Prior to APTA, he served as director of federal relations at the American Chiropractic Association and as director of government relations at the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He also worked as a senior legislative analyst at the American Council of Life Insurers. He started his career on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. 

Sharon West, JD
Director, Health Policy & Payment
sharonwest@apta.org
Sharon West, JD, joined APTA in late 2024 and serves as Director of Health Policy and Payment, overseeing both commercial payment and federal regulatory affairs.
Before joining APTA, Sharon was Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the American Clinical Laboratory Association. She also held the role of Director of Economic and Regulatory Affairs at the College of American Pathologists. Earlier in her career, she served as Senior Corporate Counsel at WellCare Health Plans and led negotiations and provider relationships for Aetna, NYLCare Health Plans, and Prudential Insurance Company. Sharon holds a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (Ohio) and a law degree from George Mason University School of Law. She is a member of the Virginia Bar.

Alice Bell, PT, DPT
Senior Specialist, Health Policy & Payment
alicebell@apta.org
Alice Bell, PT, DPT, is a senior specialist in health policy and payment at APTA, a role she has held since joining the association in 2016. She advocates with commercial payers to advance physical therapy policy and address member concerns. Alice serves as APTA’s staff representative to the American Medical Association’s Relative Value Scale Update Committee and represents the association in both public and private workgroups focused on payment and quality improvement. She also develops member resources on payment policy and supports the advancement of physical therapists in alternative payment models and value-based care initiatives. Prior to joining APTA, Alice was Vice President of Clinical Services at Genesis Rehab Services and later worked as an independent consultant. She is a board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy.

Wanda Evans, PT, DPT, MHS
Senior Specialist, Health Policy, and Payment
wandaevans@apta.org
Wanda Evans, PT, DPT, joined APTA in 2014 as a Senior Specialist in Health Policy and Payment after decades as a member. She addresses member inquiries related to payment challenges, CPT coding, and documentation compliance across various payer types. As a subject matter expert, she develops resources, advocates with commercial payers, and supports policies that advance the physical therapy profession. Dr. Evans serves as APTA’s staff liaison to the AMA CPT Advisory Panel and represents APTA with external organizations including the Insurance Rehabilitation Synergy Group, Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, and CDC’s NIOSH Total Worker Health. Prior to APTA, she held leadership roles at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital and Kaiser Permanente. She holds a DPT and Bachelor’s from Howard University and an MHS from the University of Indianapolis. Dr. Evans is a Certified Clinical Instructor, Kinesio Taping Practitioner, and continues to maintain an active patient case load.

Andrew Amari, JD
Senior Specialist, Health Policy & Payment
andrewamari@apta.org 
Andrew Amari, JD, is a senior health policy and payment specialist at APTA. He works primarily on federal regulatory issues, with emphasis on Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage, and Part A home health issues. Prior to joining APTA in 2022, Andrew was a regulatory analyst at the Association of American Medical Colleges, where he focused on hospital payment and graduate medical education policy. Earlier in his career, he worked as a health care compliance consultant, conducting on-site compliance reviews and preparing reports to help clients strengthen their compliance programs. Andrew earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wake Forest University and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Law. Andrew is a member of the Wisconsin Bar.

Rachel Miller, MPH
Specialist, Health Policy & Payment
rachelmiller@apta.org
Rachel Miller joined APTA in 2022 as a health policy and payment specialist, focusing on regulatory affairs. She advocates to federal regulators on policy issues affecting the physical therapy profession and communicates key payment and policy updates to members. Before joining APTA, Rachel worked for a county health department as a coronavirus contact tracer. She also completed internships in government affairs with a North Carolina state representative and the National Association of County and City Health Officials. Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in public health from the University of South Florida and a Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Stacey Schwartz, PT, DPT, JD 
Senior Specialist, Health Policy & Payment
staceyschwartz@apta.org
Stacey Schwartz, PT, DPT, JD, joined APTA’s Health Policy and Payment team in early 2025, following three years with APTA’s Practice team. Before joining APTA, Stacey practiced physical therapy with a focus on sports, outpatient orthopedics, and acute care. Prior to becoming a physical therapist, she practiced business litigation. Stacey holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan, a JD from New York Law School, and a DPT from New York Medical College.

Lauren Smith
Specialist, Health Policy & Payment
laurensmith@apta.org
Lauren Smith joined APTA in 2025 as a specialist in health policy and payment. Prior to APTA, she served as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill for former Rep. Matthew Rosendale, focusing on health care issues and gaining experience in medical coding and payment policy. She also completed a fellowship with the Health Reformers Academy and holds a degree in kinesiology and health sciences from the College of William & Mary.

Tajah "Taj" Franklin
State Affairs Manager
tajahfranklin@apta.org
Taj Franklin joined APTA in 2022 as the association's state affairs specialist, providing expertise in advocacy outreach, research, and legislation analyses. Prior to joining APTA, she was the government affairs specialist at the National Parent Teacher Association and led their gun violence prevention, community violence intervention, and various children's health efforts. She obtained her bachelor's degree in political science from the University of the District of Columbia.

Maryam Emory, JD
State Affairs Specialist
maryamemory@apta.org
Maryam Emory joined APTA in 2024 as a State Affairs Specialist. Prior to joining the association, Maryam worked in healthcare advocacy and policy as an Equal Justice Works Fellow with a project focused on the intersection of access to healthcare, special education, and language access. Maryam brings with her a host of experience working in Medical-Legal Partnerships and is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who worked in community health in rural coastal Ecuador. She received her bachelor's degree in sociology from Georgia State University and her Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law.