146. Dr. Celia Zamora, ED of ACAPT, on Member Engagement, Global Expansion, and Building a New Vision
Update: 2025-07-03
Description
How do you honor the legacy of a founding executive and also bring innovation, structure, and new energy to an organization? How can associations build strong member relationships, especially during leadership transitions?
In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Dr. Celia Zamora, Executive Director of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT). Celia discusses:
- How ACAPT is a trade association representing over 270 graduate-level physical therapy programs across the U.S.
- How physical therapy as a profession continues to grow due to factors like an aging population and new trends like "pickleball injuries."
- Celia’s nontraditional path to becoming an association CEO, including her PhD in Applied Linguistics.
- The impact of ASAE’s Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) on her career trajectory.
- How she navigated the transition as ACAPT's second-ever Executive Director, honoring the founding leader’s legacy while introducing structure, processes, and accessibility.
- The listening tour she embarked on with members, including conversations with those who did not renew membership, to improve transparency and communication.
- ACAPT’s upcoming Education Leadership Conference, which marks the beginning of the next decade for the organization under new leadership.
- Plans to expand ACAPT’s global presence and foster international partnerships in physical therapy education.
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