Candidacy Review Council members serve four-year terms. The number of members selected to serve on the Candidacy Review Council is determined by the number of new program applicants. 

Tasks

1. Evaluating residency and fellowship programs seeking ABPTRFE initial accreditation by completing comprehensive reviews of the Self-Evaluation Report and Exhibits.
2. Provide recommendations to ABPTRFE on whether developing residency and fellowship programs should be granted or denied candidacy status.

Council Members

Kirk Bentzen, PT, DPT, MBA
Glendale Adventist Medical Center
Term: 6/30/21 to 12/31/24

Kara Copanas, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy
Children’s Hospital of Colorado
Term: 1/1/23 to 12/31/26

Sara Cristello, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Brooks Rehabilitation
Term: 1/1/23 to 12/31/26

Shala Cunningham, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist
Radford Univeristy
Term: 1/1/23 to 12/31/26 

John DeWitt, PT, DPT, ATC
Board-Certified Sports Clinical Specialist
The Ohio State University
Term: 1/1/21 to 12/31/24

Jennifer Flug-Atwood, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy
Premier Physical Therapy and Sports Performance
Term: 1/1/23 to 12/31/26

Cookie Freidhoff, PT, ATC, MAT
Board-Certified Sports Clinical Specialist
Bauman Physical Therapy
Term: 1/1/23 to12/31/26

Megan Glod, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health Physical Therapy
UPMC Centers for Rehab Services
Term: 1/1/2023 to 12/31/2026

Gregory W. Hartley, PT, DPT, FAPTA
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy
University of Miami
Term: 7/1/21 to 12/31/25

Jessica Heath-Byerly, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
CORA Health Services
Term: 1/1/23 to 12/31/26

John D. Heick, PT, DPT, PhD
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic, Orthopaedic, and Sports Physical Therapy
Northern Arizona University
Term: 7/1/2021 to 12/31/2025

Jill Heitzman, PT, DPT, PhD
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric and Neurologic Physical Therapy
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Term: 7/1/2021 to 12/31/2025

Craig P. Hensley, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Northwestern University
Term: 7/1/2021 to 12/31/2025

Melissa Kidder, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
The Ohio State University
Term: 7/1/2021 to 12/31/2025

Emily Middleton, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Orthopaedic and Sports Clinical Specialist
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Term: 1/1/23 to 12/31/26

Kelly Nelson, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist
Creighton University
Term: 1/1/23 to 12/31/26

Anne E. O'Donnell, PT, PhD
Shriners Hospital for Children
Term: 6/30/21 to 12/31/24

JoAnne Delosreyes Pho, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist
Kaiser Permanente - San Jose
Term: 1/1/23 to 12/31/26

Jennifer Quartano, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic and Pediatric Physical Therapy
Brooks Rehabilitation
Term: 7/1/21 to 12/31/25

Yasser Salem, PT, MAPT, MS, PhD
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy
Hofstra University
Term: 7/1/21 to 12/31/25

Teresa Schuemann, PT, DPT, ATC, AASPT
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy
TPT, Inc.
Term: 1/1/23 to 12/31/26

Chris Ann Sebelski, PT, DPT, PhD
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Saint Louis University
Term: 10/1/2019 to 12/31/23

Kimberly E. Varnado, PT, DPT, DHSc
Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists
College of Saint Mary
Term: 7/1/21 to 12/31/25

Kirsten I. Wightman, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health Physical Therapy
Kaiser Permanente
Term: 7/1/21 to 12/31/25

Burke Wilson, PT, DPT, MBA
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy
Texas Children's Hospital
Term: 7/1/21 to 12/31/25