Skip to main content

Five Influential Women and Their Lasting Impact on Physical Therapy

In honor of Women’s History Month, here are five influential women who went above and beyond to have a lasting impact on the profession.

Article
Date: Monday, March 17, 2025

Mary McMillan

A trailblazer, visionary, and the “founding mother” of APTA, McMillan left an indelible mark on the association and the profession at large. As the founder and first president of APTA, McMillan helped grow the association while at the helm from 1921-23.

Log in or create a free account to keep reading.

Join APTA to get unlimited access to content.

Create a free account Log in
Share This
Resource Details

Date: March 17, 2025
Contact:  news@apta.org
Content Type:  Article

Topics

Careers in Physical Therapy, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

You Might Also Like...

Article

Now Open: Registration for the Lynda D. Woodruff Lecture on June 18

May 26, 2026

Maintaining a commitment to belonging in physical therapy requires ongoing reflection, honesty about the profession’s history, and a willingness to act

Article

Physical Therapy in the News: April 2026

May 5, 2026

"Physical Therapy in the News" is a monthly series that highlights recent media coverage of the profession and APTA members.

Khushboo Patel, PT, DPT and her father

Column

Defining Moment | When My Father's Neck Pain Became My Calling

Apr 1, 2026

How a moment in eighth grade set one clinician on the path to physical therapy.