Madeline Ratoza: The Academia Path

Beth Popolizio: Forging a New Path in Neuro PT

Beth Popolizio: Forging a New Path in Neuro PT Amber Fitzsimmons interviews Beth Popolizio, a 2014 program graduate, about her path into physical therapy and entrepreneurship. After starting her career in hospitality, Beth sought a more meaningful, expertise-driven profession and entered PT school. She went on to complete a PNF residency at Kaiser Vallejo, which she credits with strengthening her clinical reasoning and shaping her approach to care. Throughout her career, Beth explored multiple settings, including acute rehab, neuro, and home care, before launching NeuroRenew, a professional corporation focused on interdisciplinary communication, biopsychosocial support, and care consulting. The conversation highlights her interest in creating broader “macro” impact, her iterative private-pay business model, and the financial and emotional realities of building a new kind of neuro care practice. Beth speaks candidly about career detours, scaling a mission-driven business, and the value of flexibility, community, and creative problem-solving in professional growth. 01:38 Finding physical therapy 03:40 Neuro focus in school 04:32 PNF residency explained 06:53 Breaking the new grad barrier 09:43 Community and career detours 12:13 Dream job but restless 18:41 Therapeutic home care business 24:15 Diversification versus burnout 25:48 Launching neuro renew 27:38 Building a scalable model 28:23 Team-based neuro care 29:21 Interdisciplinary collaboration 30:42 Beyond the billing model 34:03 Funding and financial reality 38:03 Charging for value 42:03 Packaging services 46:19 Building a care community 50:11 Entrepreneurship takeaways 53:37 Advice for DPT students 55:48 Closing reflections

Emily Gee: A Dream Career with Performing Artists

Welcome to Season 2 of PT Path!  In this episode, host Amber Fitzsimmons speaks with alum Emily Gee about her journey from cellist to physical therapist to Assistant Professor and Director of Musician Wellness at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Emily shares how her own rehab experience shaped her passion for helping performing artists, and how she now blends education, injury prevention, mental health, and wellness support for musicians in a truly unique academic role. Her story demonstrates how sometimes the most rewarding opportunities are the ones you never expected. 00:00 Welcome to PT Path 00:35 Meet Emily Gee 01:46 From cello to rehab 03:25 Choosing the cello 04:20 Recovery and playing again 05:24 Path to CU Boulder 11:18 Clinician to academia leap 14:30 Imposter syndrome  20:31 Director role explained 25:49 Stress and autonomy shift 28:52 Dreaming your next move 30:47 Support systems and risk 31:35 Transferable PT skills 34:35 Who are performing artists 36:27 Identity pressure and perfection 38:10 Mental health and curriculum 39:49 Wellness class  42:33 PTs in prevention roles 44:15 APTA service and advocacy 46:23 House of Delegates explained 48:28 Program growth and research 50:37 Marching band and injury prevention 53:15 Advice for DPT students 55:17 Closing reflections

Benjamin Boyd: Pain Science and Career Pivots

Benjamin Boyd has always been fascinated by how the human body works, the interplay of muscles, movement and skeletal structure. With a father who was a pediatric physiatrist, he was exposed to health care early on. After a foray into environmental studies, he eventually discovered physical therapy, where he became especially captivated by the nature of pain and its deep connection to the human experience. In a bold career pivot, Ben stepped away from his faculty role at Samuel Merritt University to write Bodily Relearning, a book designed to help clinicians better support patients living with persistent pain. The book was met with enthusiasm, and he is currently working on a second book written directly for patients. In the new year, he will return to academia as a professor at Samuel Merritt University, bringing his experiences in research, writing and clinical practice full circle. His career reflects a constant thread: a passion for helping others learn, grow, and rethink what is possible in rehabilitation and pain care. 00:00 Introduction to PT Path 00:30 Meet Benjamin Boyd: From Environmental Studies to Physical Therapy 01:55 Early Exposure to Physical Therapy 03:01 Gaining Experience Before PT School 04:48 Research Focus: Peripheral Nerve Sensitivity in Diabetes 06:53 The Journey into Academia and Research 10:11 Balancing Clinical Work and Academia 11:30 Writing 'Bodily Relearning': Challenges and Triumphs 13:40 The Impact of Pain Science and Education 45:04 Future Plans and Returning to Academia 50:33 Final Thoughts and Advice

Brent Anderson: Polestar Pilates

We all know the celebrities who helped popularize Pilates into the global phenomenon it is today. But this latest guest, UCSF alum Brent Anderson, PT, PhD, also played a pivotal role in shaping that rise. His company, Polestar Pilates, founded in 1992, now has a global presence with education centers and certified instructors in more than 50 countries. Brent entered the scene when most people had barely heard of Pilates, let alone imagined what it could become. In this episode, you’ll hear about his journey from those early days of the Pilates movement to his work today, developing the practice, advancing standards and championing movement across the globe. Learn more about Dr. Anderson at his website: https://drbrentanderson.com/ [https://drbrentanderson.com/] 00:00 Introduction to PT Path 00:34 Meet Dr. Brent Anderson 00:53 Discovering Physical Therapy 01:54 The Journey to Pilates 03:21 Starting a Practice in Sacramento 06:34 Founding Polestar Pilates 08:10 The Legal Battle Over Pilates 12:15 The Importance of Psychosocial Skills 22:09 Understanding Polestar's Mission 22:39 Reflecting on Early Challenges and Changes 23:15 Formation of the Pilates Method Alliance 25:21 Accreditation and Standards in Pilates 26:03 The Need for Professional Organizations 27:55 Challenges in Pilates Education and Training 30:40 Interprofessional Learning and Collaboration 35:28 The Importance of Presence and Spirituality 39:40 Scientific Applications in Pilates 41:22 Practical Applications of Movement Principles 45:04 Conclusion and Resources

Madeline Ratoza: The Academia Path

For Madeline Ratoza, PT, DPT, PhD, a career in academia was always a long-term goal fueled by a passion for learning and a deep-seated curiosity about how systems shape care. In this episode of PT Path, host Amber Fitzsimmons talks with Dr. Ratoza about her journey from the clinic to the classroom and how her research at the intersection of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and social determinants of health is helping us understand where and how care is delivered, and what that means for training the future PT workforce. Dr. Ratoza also hosts a podcast, writes a Substack, and shares free financial literacy resources for students and clinicians on her website at madelineratoza.com [https://madelineratoza.com/] 00:00 Introduction to PT Path 00:31 Meet Dr. Madeline Ratoza 01:32 Madeline's Journey to Physical Therapy 05:52 Transition to Academia and Research 06:34 Balancing Career and Personal Life 07:23 PhD Journey and Research Focus 13:51 Financial Literacy Advocacy 21:23 Geographic Information Systems in Research 28:58 The Importance of Data in PT Education 30:14 Challenges and Goals in PT Education Research 32:15 Balancing Academia and Personal Life 33:24 Pathways into Academia 35:34 The Role of Terminal Degrees in Academia 43:58 Starting a Podcast and Research Lab 49:25 Advice for Aspiring Academics 55:34 Final Thoughts and Reflections