Rajashree Mondkar, MS, PT, CCS is a physical therapist with over 38 years of experience in acute and critical care in the U.S., U.K., India, and Qatar. She is currently a Rehab Education Specialist in critical care, as well as a Program Coordinator for the Acute Care Residency, at Houston Methodist Hospital. Rajashree earned a Bachelor of Science (Physiotherapy) and Master of Science (Physiotherapy – Cardiovascular & Pulmonary) at the University of Bombay, India, and has been a Board-Certified Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist since 1994. Rajashree also has additional experience practicing in Saudi Arabia and volunteering in Ukraine.

Dr. Ayres is a graduate of Angelo State University physical therapy school in 2008 and received her DPT from Hardin-Simmons University in 2012. She has 12 years of clinical experience practicing at Texas Health Resources Fort Worth where she developed her passion for cardiac and pulmonary care in the acute setting. She is a graduate of Brigham and Women’s Cardiovascular and Pulmonary residency program located in Boston, MA and a DPT Board Certified Specialist in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy. Dr. Ayres’ research interests include Generation Z students’ learning preferences and developing teaching strategies for Generation Z students. She currently serves as course director for cardiovascular and pulmonary content, integumentary physical therapy, and rural and underserved populations.

Dr. Terry Schwing is an acute care physical therapist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. He is a Board-Certified Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist. Terry graduated from Ohio University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2012 and completed his Critical Care Fellowship at Houston Methodist Hospital in 2017.  After graduating from his fellowship training, he joined the faculty in 2018.  He also served as faculty for Houston Methodist's acute care residency beginning in 2020.  Terry is passionate about promoting early mobility in the ICU setting.  To this end, he has presented at the International Symposium on Advances in Critical Care Medicine regarding mobility in the ICU and co-authored multiple studies published in physical therapy journals.

Abby earned her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Neuroscience from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2017 and her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from the University of Utah in 2023. She began her career at TIRR Memorial Hermann Kirby Glen Outpatient Center in 2023, working on the Spinal Cord Injury service line. In 2024, she pursued a Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency at TIRR Memorial Hermann and, following its completion, advanced into her current role as an inpatient physical therapist on the Brain Injury and Stroke Team. 

Clinically, Abby’s special interests include motor learning, neurologic rehabilitation, and expanding accessibility in healthcare. Her work has focused on knowledge translation, high-intensity gait training, and innovative strategies to implement outcome measures and patient-reported outcomes in pro bono and neurologic rehabilitation settings. She has presented research and platforms at national conferences, including the APTA Combined Sections Meeting, and guest lectured at multiple Doctor of Physical Therapy programs on gait training, the ASIA International Standards for Spinal Cord Injury Classification, motor control, and disability justice considerations in neurologic rehabilitation.

Abby is an engaged member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), participating in the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy (ANPT) and the Academy of Leadership and Innovation (ALI). She also serves as Outreach Director for ALI’s Disability Justice Anti-Ableism Advocacy Catalyst Group and an active member of the Education Committee for Allies for Improving the Disability Experience (AIDE), an employee engagement group at Memorial Hermann. Outside of clinical practice, Abby is passionate about advancing disability justice, accessibility in education and rehabilitation, and expanding opportunities for accessible recreation. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dog, puzzles, and anything related to travel.

Julia Sypek earned her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Exercise Science from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA in 2021, and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Texas Woman’s University in Houston, TX in 2024. She then went on to pursue the TIRR Memorial Hermann Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency program, which she recently completed in 2025. 

Following residency, Julia now works as a clinician on the Brain Injury and Stroke Team at TIRR Memorial Hermann, where she continues to pursue her passion for treating this patient population. She is also actively involved in a quality improvement initiative at TIRR, focusing on knowledge translation strategies to promote evidence-based practice related to the Locomotor Clinical Practice Guideline. Julia has presented at both local and national conferences on topics related to neurologic physical therapy, as well as community health promotion and wellness. 

In addition, Julia has served as a guest lecturer at several Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) programs. These experiences have fueled her interest in teaching, and she hopes to continue contributing to DPT education in the future. 

Outside of her professional work, she enjoys staying active, spending time outdoors, and traveling.  

Kristina Stein is a staff physical therapist and the program coordinator for Henry Ford Hospital’s Acute Care Residency in Detroit, MI. At Henry Ford, Krissy is competent in all practice areas, but especially enjoys the medical and surgical intensive care units.  Krissy is the vice-chair of the Academy of Acute Care’s Residency and Fellowship SIG and is the Nominating Committee Chair for the Academy of Education’s Residency and Fellowship Education SIG.  She is involved in staff development and onboarding, including core clinical competencies and vented and non-vented ICU training. Krissy has served as SCCE and co-chair of the Henry Ford Health System Student Committee and is an Advanced Credentialed Clinical Instructor.  Krissy has presented on local, state, and national levels on topics related to quality of acute care practice, clinical education, implicit bias, staff development, and residency.

Jim Smith, PT, DPT, is a Professor of Physical Therapy at Utica College. He is the Past-President of APTA Acute Care and has served in leadership roles in the APTA. His scholarship has focused on physical rehabilitation for those with acute and medically complex problems. His dissemination has included 55 publications (22 peer-reviewed) and more than 100 presentations at rehabilitation and scientific conferences and workshops. He has been the recipient of APTA Acute Care's James Dunleavy Distinguished Service and Lecture Awards.

Jason R. Falvey, PT, DPT, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. His research focuses on improving outcomes for older adults after geriatric trauma and acute health events, with a particular emphasis on rehabilitation, care transitions, and strategies to ameliorate the social impacts of disability. Dr. Falvey has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and leads NIH-funded studies that integrate health services research, rehabilitation science, and population health approaches to promote function, independence, and equity in aging.

Erin Thomas, PT, DPT, Clinical Associate Professor, co-assistant Director of Clinical Education within the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS), division of Physical Therapy, at The Ohio State University. She is a founding member of the Eclipse Group (Education for Clinical Interprofessional Simulation Excellence) and serves as the Interprofessional Program Liaison for the physical therapy division. She serves on the university wide BUCKIPE calendar workgroup as co-head representative for all programs within SHRS. She serves on the SHRS Interprofessional Education Committee that is responsible for development and strategic planning for interprofessional activities within SHRS. Dr. Thomas is primary author of an article related to an interprofessional simulation for occupational and physical therapy students. She has presented nationally and internationally on interprofessional education and simulation. She has served on the ACAPT board of the Simulation in Physical Education Consortium that is developed an interprofessional simulation training certification course targeted for rehab professionals as well as currently serving as the secretary for the APTA Acute Care Academy.  

Abigail Catamas is a licensed PTA with extensive experience in patient care, delegation strategies, and professional advocacy. Currently, she serves as a Co-Facilitator for the Employee Engagement Committee at VUMC, Allied Health Clinical Champion for EPIC, and resides on the Interview Committee for the Acute Rehabilitation Department at VUMC. Abigail has a professional background in acute care physical therapy, working five years in the acute care setting with various exposures to different service lines including Covid ICU, Trauma ICU, Neurology ICU, Hematology/Oncology, Stem Cell Transplant, Cardiovascular ICU, and Transplant floors. Her career started amid a global pandemic in the hospital setting at Loma Linda University Medical Center before her career offered an opportunity to move to Nashville, TN and work at VUMC. She has worked on CQIs that focused on obtaining DME and appropriate hospital equipment for patients of shorter stature and assessing stress, burnout, and fatigue within the VUMC acute rehab department. Abigail has also directed and assisted with the development of a patient educational handout for patients who are newly diagnosed with Spinal Cord Injuries. Currently, Abigail has been elected to serve on APTA’s Acute Care Academy as the PTA Member at Large for a three-year term. 

Akanksha Sharma, PT, is a Board-Certified Specialist in Oncologic Physical Therapy and Certified Lymphedema Therapist with a passion for helping people thrive during and after cancer treatment. She completed her residency at Baylor Scott & White’s Sammons Cancer Center, where she gained hands-on experience working with cancer patients on their recovery journeys. She has presented her researches at various national and international conferences 

When she’s not working, Akanksha loves traveling to new places and spending time with her kids, who keep her on her toes and fill her life with joy.

Galen Schram, PT, DPT received his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Columbia University. He is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Oncologic Physical Therapy and a faculty member of the Acute Care Physical Therapy Residency Program at Rusk Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Health. He has nine years of experience working in the hospital setting, and his clinical areas of interest include hematology/oncology and solid organ transplant. He received his Certificate of Professional Achievement in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University and has published narrative pieces in The Bellevue Literary Review and Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine. Speaking Experience: keynote speaker at Columbia University's DPT program white coat ceremony (2021), APTA Combined Sections Meeting programming presenter in San Diego, California (2022) and Houston, Texas (2025), 3rd Annual NYU Oncology Rehabilitation Summit on the topic of exercise and HSCT in acute care (2023)

Emma Kiernan, MS, OTR/L received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Scranton. She is a faculty member of the Occupational Therapy Program at Rusk Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Health. She has 1.5 years of experience in the acute care setting, with clinical interests in neurology and hematology/oncology. She currently leads the occupational therapy education groups for the oncology population in acute care.