We extend our heartfelt appreciation and admiration for the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Award and national American Physical Therapy Award recipients.
- Nominations are open May 1- August 1 each year.
- The ANPT Awards Committee does not carry nominations from the previous year over to the next so new submission are needed each year.
- ANPT Partner Members are not eligible for ANPT Awards.
ANPT Award Nominations are now closed!
2026 Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Award Recipients
The Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy celebrates excellence in research, scholarship, clinical practice and service activities by honoring our members for their achievements and successes over the past years at the annual Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Business Meeting held at APTA CSM.
Service to the Academy
Parminder K. Padgett, PT, DPT, NCS
Dr. Padgett is a remarkable leader whose sustained and transformative service has profoundly advanced the mission of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy. For more than a decade, she has given generously of her time through leadership roles, task forces, peer review, and—most notably—as the visionary creator and host of the widely influential 4D: Deep Dive into Degenerative Diseases podcast and contributor to the Evidence Elevates initiative. Through these efforts, Parm has bridged the gap between research and clinical practice, making complex evidence accessible, engaging, and meaningful to clinicians worldwide while mentoring others to ensure the work is sustainable. Her leadership, humility, and enduring commitment to knowledge dissemination and community building make her an exceptionally deserving recipient of the Service to the Academy Award.
Click here for a list of previous Service to the Academy Awardees
Excellence in Neurologic Education
Regan G. Harrell, PT, DPT, NCS
Dr. Harrell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh and a leader in innovative neurologic physical therapy education. Dr. Harrell is a co-developer and leader of the University of Pittsburgh Advanced Vestibular Physical Therapist Certificate Program, where she oversees curriculum design, digital learning platforms, and the creation of a copyrighted vestibular lab manual now used internationally. Through her innovative pedagogy, scholarship, and mentorship across entry-level, residency, and post-professional education, she has transformed how neurologic physical therapy is taught and practiced, making her a highly deserving recipient of the Excellence in Neurologic Physical Therapy Award.
Click here for a list of previous Excellence in Neurologic Education Awardees
Excellence in Neurologic Research
Catherine Siengsukon, PT, DPT, NCS
Dr. Siengsukon is a nationally and internationally recognized physical therapist–scientist whose nearly two decades of funded research have transformed how sleep health is understood and addressed in neurologic physical therapy. As the only board-certified physical therapist in behavioral sleep medicine in the United States, Dr. Siengsukon has pioneered a research agenda demonstrating the critical role of sleep in neurologic recovery, function, fatigue, and quality of life—particularly for individuals with multiple sclerosis. Her work, supported by the NIH, Department of Defense, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and American Heart Association, has produced a prolific body of highly influential publications and practice-changing behavioral sleep interventions. Through rigorous science, sustained mentorship, and exceptional knowledge translation, Dr. Siengsukon exemplifies the highest standard of excellence in neurologic research.
Click here for a list of previous Excellence in Research Awardees
PT Clinical Excellence in Neurology
Lauren Ziaks, PT, DPT, ATC, NCS
Dr. Ziaks, is a nationally recognized clinician whose work has redefined excellence in neurologic physical therapy, particularly in the care of concussion and autonomic disorders. As an Advanced Rehabilitation Clinician at Intermountain Health and co-founder of Phoenix Concussion Recovery, she has pioneered innovative, evidence-based care models—including the Ziaks Integrative Neurologic Concussion (ZINC) Protocol and the Utah Autonomic Disorders adaptive Physical Therapy (ADaPT) protocol—that are transforming outcomes for patients with complex and persistent neurologic conditions. Her clinical leadership has resulted in the development of comprehensive interprofessional concussion and autonomic rehabilitation programs, mentorship of clinicians nationwide, and preferred practice patterns now shared across health systems. Through her exceptional clinical skill, innovation, and unwavering commitment to patient-centered care, Dr. Ziaks exemplifies the highest standard of clinical excellence in neurologic physical therapy.
Click here for a list of previous Clinical Excellence in Neurologic Physical Therapy Awardees
PTA Clinical Excellence in Neurology
Jesse Selzer, PTA
Jesse is an exceptional physical therapist assistant whose clinical excellence, leadership, and mentorship have elevated neurologic rehabilitation practice across inpatient and outpatient settings. With more than a decade of experience, Jesse has distinguished himself as a system-wide neuro PTA mentor at AdventHealth, where he leads onboarding, mentors new hires, and advances best practices in outcome measures, documentation, and PT/PTA collaboration. His commitment to lifelong learning is evident through advanced training in Parkinson’s care, participation in the APTA Advanced Proficiency Pathway in Neurology, and leadership in quality improvement and interdisciplinary initiatives. Through expert patient care, dedicated mentorship, and sustained professional engagement, Jesse exemplifies the highest standard of clinical excellence honored by the Physical Therapist Assistant Clinical Excellence Award.
Click here for list of previous PTA Clinical Excellence in Neurology Award Winners.
Outstanding Clinical Innovator
Janene Monson Holmberg, PT, PhD, NCS
Dr. Holmberg is a highly deserving recipient of the Outstanding Clinical Innovator Award for her transformative impact on neurologic physical therapy practice. As a co-author of the clinical practice guideline on BPPV, she has helped shape national standards for evidence-based vestibular care and improved clinical decision-making across practice settings. In her role as Internal Process Coordinator for Intermountain Health, she leads system-wide clinical innovation and process improvement efforts, supporting and aligning practice across more than 2,000 rehabilitation caregivers. Her development of a post-concussion symptom scale within a multidisciplinary concussion team further exemplifies her ability to translate collaboration and evidence into meaningful, scalable clinical tools that improve patient outcomes. For these reasons, Dr. Holberg exemplifies clinical innovation.
Click here for a list of previous Outstanding Clinical Innovator Award Winners
Outstanding Advocacy in Neurology
Risa Maruyama, PT, DPT, NCS
Dr. Maruyama is a highly impactful advocate whose work has strengthened neurologic physical therapy through international collaboration, workforce development, and professional leadership. She works closely with the Association of Physiotherapists in Neurology to advance shared advocacy priorities and promote excellence in neurologic rehabilitation across global practice settings. Dr. Maruyama also led the development of the Barrow Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program, creating a sustainable training pathway that expands access to specialized neurologic care and elevates professional standards. Through these advocacy efforts—spanning education, international partnership, and workforce advancement—she is a most deserving recipient of the Outstanding Advocacy Award.
Click here for list of previous Outstanding Advocacy in Neurology Award Winners
Early Career Award
Chloe Artrip, PT, DPT, NCS
Dr. Artrip's accomplishments reflect an uncommon level of leadership, service, and clinical innovation. She delivers advanced care across the continuum—from neuro ICU and inpatient rehabilitation to outpatient vestibular and degenerative disease clinics—while also serving as adjunct faculty in multiple DPT courses. Dr. Artrip has demonstrated meaningful professional impact through her advocacy work with the ANPT Advocacy and Consumer Affairs Committee, leadership at APTA Capitol Hill Day where she led meetings with state legislators, and service as an East Central District Assembly Representative for the Florida Physical Therapy Association. In parallel, she advances the profession through peer-reviewed publications, national and international conference presentations, evidence-based education initiatives, and extensive community service supporting individuals with Parkinson’s disease, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and Huntington’s disease, exemplifying the purpose of the Early Career Professional Award.
Logan Brown, PT, DPT, NCS
Dr. Brown is a physical therapist whose clinical excellence, leadership, and service have already made a significant impact on the profession. While practicing at a Level I trauma and primary stroke center, he provides advanced, evidence-based care across the continuum, including neuro ICU, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient neurologic, and neurodegenerative specialty clinics. Dr. Brown has distinguished himself through national and international scholarly presentations, award-winning research posters, adjunct faculty teaching, and active mentorship of neurologic residents and students. His sustained leadership within the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy—most notably as Social Media Coordinator for the Degenerative Diseases SIG—combined with extensive community service for individuals with neurologic conditions, exemplifies the values and promise of the Early Career Professional Award.
Mason Myers, PT, DPT
Dr. Myers’s clinical innovation, scholarship, advocacy, and service exemplify the mission of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy. A current neurologic physical therapy resident at Northwestern University and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Dr. Myers has emerged as a national leader in the novel application of blood flow restriction training for individuals with spinal cord injury, translating evidence into meaningful functional outcomes and disseminating this work at state and national conferences. His commitment to health equity is reflected in sustained leadership of pro-bono and community-based wellness initiatives, national advocacy through APTA Capitol Hill Day, and service to underserved neurologic populations. Through his rapid professional growth, mentorship of future clinicians, and dedication to advancing evidence-based neurologic care, Dr. Myers represents the very best of the Early Career Professional Award.
Click here for a list of prior Early Career Award recipients
JNPT Golden Synapse Award
Julie Tilson, PT, DPT, PhD and colleagues
Tilson JK, Martinez C, Mickan S, D'Silva LJ, Howard R, MacDowell S, Roth HR, Skop KM, Dannenbaum E, Farrell L. Understanding Behavior Change in Clinical Practice Guideline Implementation: A Qualitative Study. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2025 Jan 1;49(1):13-23. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000498. Epub 2024 Oct 15. PMID: 39656160; PMCID: PMC11594560.
Click here for a list of prior JNPT Golden Synapse Award recipients
CSM Abstract Awards
Post Professional Student Abstract
Joanna E. Hoh, MS, OTR/L
"Identifying the Contributions of Proprioceptive Impairment to Learned Non-Use after Stroke". The research was performed at the University of Delaware.
Anne Shumway-Cook Lectureship
Click here for a list of Academy members who are APTA Award Recipients.
Leahy & Barnes Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) Awards
Patricia Leahy Award for outstanding PODS I application in post-professional studies within neurology:
Jemma Kim, PT, DPT from the University of Delaware
Project Title: "Stepping Toward Equity: Leveraging Remote Wearable Technology to Understand the Influences of Contextual Factors on Activity and Sedentary Behavior"
Jemma is a third-year PhD student in the Biomechanics and Movement Science program at the University of Delaware under mentorship of Dr. Darcy Reisman. She serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and is the Social Media Chair in the Stroke Special Interest Group in the Neuro Academy. Her research focuses on understanding how personal and environmental factors influence physical activity and sedentary behavior after stroke, with the goal of promoting equitable recovery and participation for all stroke survivors.
Mary Lou Barnes Award for outstanding PODS II application in post professional studies within neurology:
Allison Nogi, PT, DPT from the Georgia Institute of Technology
Project Title: "Effect of Vestibulospinal Input on Heteronymous Inhibition Between Antigravity Leg Muscles in Young and Older Adults”
PODS I Award:
Kellie Collins, PT, DPT, PCS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Project Title: “Corticospinal Tract Integrity and Movement Assessments in Infants with Perinatal Brain Injury: Correlations and Predictive Value for Cerebral Palsy"
Kellie Collins, PT, DPT, PCS, is a board-certified pediatric physical therapist with more than 15 years of clinical experience and a PhD student in Clinical Investigation at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her work examines how corticospinal tract development relates to early motor behavior in infants with perinatal brain injury (PBI), integrating diffusion MRI, single-pulse TMS, and standardized assessments (GMA, HINE, BabyOSCAR) to improve early prediction of cerebral palsy by age two and to guide mechanism-based interventions for infants with PBI. She conducts this research in the Pediatric Neuromodulation Laboratory (PI: Bernadette Gillick).
Click here for a list of previous Barnes and Leahy Promotion of Doctoral Studies Awardees
