On July 1, I formally assumed the role as President of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy (ANPT). The ANPT has been my professional home for many years, since early in my career as a physical therapist. I am a proud member, and some of the most fulfilling professional work that I have engaged in has been with the academy. As I approach my new responsibilities, I am filled with excitement and anticipation at what the future holds for the ANPT, its members, and the patients, clients, and care partners whom we serve. In her final President's Perspective, "An Eye Toward a New Vision,"1 the academy's Immediate Past President Patty Scheets reflected on several significant decisions and accomplishments made during her tenure and how the new strategic plan positions us to continue "moving forward" in the future. I agree that the ANPT is in an excellent position. And it is with great respect and appreciation that I thank Patty for her service to the academy and mentorship in my transition. I invite all the ANPT membership to join me in a "standing ovation" thanking Patty for her outstanding leadership and many years of service.

At the top of each board of directors meeting agenda, the ANPT's mission is prominently printed to support mission-centric deliberations and decisions. The mission is a bold statement of our purpose: to "elevate physical therapy to optimize movement and well-being for those at risk for or impacted by neurologic conditions." How do we consistently realize this mission? I believe that it begins with leadership and a thoughtful strategic plan and becomes reality through member action. Thus, an essential goal area of the strategic plan is to "expand and engage membership."

Recently, the ANPT, like many professional associations, saw our membership numbers drop due to the many challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic presented. We are now encouraged to see our numbers returning to prepandemic levels (fourth quarter 2022 = 6196, with first quarter 2023 trending above 2021 and 2022). Expanding membership is an important mechanism in extending our reach to the people who are central to our mission. New members bring in fresh ideas, high energy, and will grow into our future leaders. And, while in many polite societies it is taboo to highlight, members pay dues that are a major revenue source for the academy, supporting its many initiatives.

The ANPT is a professional leader in education, research, and practice. Our evidence-based education is provided across the learner continuum through a variety of delivery methods. Research initiatives include knowledge synthesis, dissemination through our Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy and conferences, and support of the next generation of neuro-focused researchers via financial investments with the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research. Major ANPT initiatives work to elevate practice and support clinicians through development of clinical practice guidelines and their respective knowledge translation resources. Significant human and financial capital is invested annually in the development of education, research, and practice resources. Thus, the board regularly faces challenging decisions regarding the balance between providing open access versus members-only restricted access resources. This leaves me wondering: Will our membership numbers remain stagnant if we continue to provide many of our excellent resources in open access? Does our mission direct us to provide as many practice resources as possible through open access? Are our current and future members supportive of financing resources that are shared with providers who do not value association and/or academy membership (ie, nonmembers)?

The academy has literally hundreds of members engaged in special interest groups, committees, and task forces. We also have a large database of members seeking the opportunity to serve; we have many more member volunteers than we have defined positions for engagement. This leaves me wondering: Where are our opportunities to be more inclusive with members? As we seek to grow an academy that reflects the communities we serve, what standards and initiatives will best support growth that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive? Over the years, I've been asked about my engagement journey. How did I get connected? How did I grow into leadership? My answer has been: Follow your passion (for me, the early years were in the Brain Injury Special Interest Group); show up to meetings and listen for opportunities; raise your hand to volunteer even if it is a stretch to your current skill set (my first volunteer job wasn't a "position," it was formatting a newsletter; I had no idea how to use the software!); follow through and be a reliable team member.

A deeper membership dive shows that while the academy's membership numbers are stable, there are low numbers of physical therapist assistant (PTA) and student members. Some PTA member growth initiatives are already underway. Recognizing the need to support PTA professional development, the ANPT developed the standards for the APTA's PTA Advanced Proficiency Pathway in Neurology. Many of ANPT's evidence-based practice and educational resources are supportive of PTA members. And in July, the academy issued a call for nominations, searching for a PTA member to represent the ANPT within the APTA's PTA Council. Student and early-career members represent the future of the academy. Each year, the ANPT awards a student with support to attend the APTA Capitol Hill Day through our Advocacy and Community Affairs Committee. This year, this student representative will also attend APTA Leadership Congress' student development activities and serve as the ANPT representative to the APTA Student Council. The ANPT also annually awards several early-career awards supporting Combined Sections Meeting attendance and networking. We need to hear from PTAs, early-career therapists, and students about the values of membership. What could or should the ANPT bring to these members, in support of achieving our shared mission?

While academy leadership and its committees, in particular the Membership and Public Relations Committee, have drafted metrics to track and tactics to achieve the membership expansion and engagement goal, hearing from members is another important, powerful tactic. Academy members are encouraged to provide feedback for this goal and other ANPT initiatives via "contact us" mechanisms on our Web site: http://www.neuropt.org. Also, I want to encourage ANPT members to help us achieve our membership goals! As a pragmatic act of engagement, I challenge each member to join me and identify a colleague who needs to be an ANPT member and work to make that new membership a reality.

-Nancy Fell, PT, PhD

President

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