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Association News
Greetings VPTA! The Board of Directors, Executive Director and I have been busy planning and developing the organization for the future. We have recently updated all of the policies and procedures for the organization that will soon be posted on our brand-new website (coming soon!). We have also worked to develop a very fiscally responsible budget for 2017-2018.    In January each year, the VPTA Legislative Committee, interested members and students descend on the General Assembly Building in Richmond to speak with State Delegates and Senators about Physical Therapy. This is affectionately known as Lobby Day. This is a time where VPTA members provide a voice for Physical Therapy and discuss how pending legislative actions impact our field of choice. 
Student News
By: Michelle Maryfield and Christina Holl This Spring, the Marymount third year class had the opportunity to travel to Latin America for a medical mission trip. The class was divided into two teams, travelling to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Nicaragua:
Costa Rica: After the team for Nicaragua left, the three teams who remained in Costa Rica prepared for their first The final team in Costa Rica began their first treatment day at Santiago Crespo, an Adult Day Center, with Jody. The students here were thrown right in on day one practicing their Spanish, education, and motivation skills to get patients up and walking. Many people at this facility had not been walked in months. Not only did they treat patients, but they built a gym equipped with handmade weights and other equipment the residents could continue to use after they departed. By: Carlin Bowersox
By: Heather Littier In March, Washington D.C. hosted the annual Physical Therapy Federal Advocacy Forum. The Federal Advocacy Forum (FAF) is a two-day meeting where physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, physical therapy While I was not able to attend the full FAF, I did get to attend the PT-PAC event, held on the first evening of the Forum, where I was able to meet and network with many of the physical therapists who are on the front lines when it comes to making changes and advocating for our profession. I also had a great time meeting other PT students who were also interested in advocating for our profession, and even got to meet APTA president Sharon Dunn! The PT-PAC event was a fun evening of networking and conversation that left me energized and excited to advocate for the profession! Education & Events
I hope you all love the new Virginian as much as we (the Communications Team) do! In addition to our informative, succinct, and easy-to-share newsletter, we encourage you to stay connected via social media as well. VPTA is on Facebook (both state level and districts) as well as on Twitter (@VPTA_Tweets). Follow us there to receive up-to-date information on Annual Conference, research articles, student news and other opportunities that you won't want to miss. 
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Twelve students had the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua for one week in our flagship year in the country. We were divided into two groups: those serving Humberto Alvarado Hospital and those serving Hogar San Antonio, a skilled nursing facility. The group assigned to Humberto Alvarado treated primarily orthopedic and pediatric patients in conjunction with the Nicaraguan therapists. In addition, they created exercise posters and donated a treatment table to the pediatric room. At Hogar San Antonio, students performed evaluations on the residents, organized group exercise classes, and made seat cushions for wheelchair users. Both groups were challenged to identify the needs of their location as well as educate the staff. Despite the challenges they face, the love and pride the people of Nicaragua have in their country is contagious. We are so thankful for the memories that we will take with us throughout our careers.
treatment day. The two teams working with Manos Abiertas began their first day with a presentation and orientation to the grounds, therapists, and the patients they would be treating. They were split up into three groups: One group would be traveling to Tres, and two remaining at Manos in Alajuela. Each team was asked to select a patient at the end of every treatment day to present upon the following week during a Grand Rounds presentation. The two teams at Manos treated mostly children with profound neurological deficits, contractures, and scoliotic curves. In addition to treatment sessions, the teams at Manos performed wheelchair fittings for the patients. The team at Tres Rios treated primarily adults with similar deficits and worked on educating the therapy team there on lymphedema management and taping techniques.
Over the past few months the class of 2018 has been gearing up for the third annual Marymount 5K. Saturday, April 22, the big day arrived! The third annual MU 5K drew in over 300 runners and many generous sponsors and donors. Despite the rain, the race went off without a hitch and although Saint City only operated for about an hour, there was fantastic music and wonderful sponsor tables to visit. Thank you to all the volunteers who made the race possible and to Skye Donovan for setting the event into motion! The Class of 2018 looks forward to our service trip where we can apply funds raised to people in need.
students, and physical therapy supporters travel to Capitol Hill to meet with their legislators to advocate for how physical therapy can help improve public health. The first day of the meeting is spent providing attendees with information to prepare them to advocate for the profession. After a day of preparation, FAF attendees visited their state representatives, presenting information on issues of importance to PT. The Physical Therapy Political Action Committee, or PT-PAC, is the organization that advocates to legislators about issues that are important to physical therapists and our patients. Currently, the PT-PAC is targeting four main issues: addressing the Medicare cap, a proposal to include physical therapy in the student loan forgiveness option through allowing PT participation in the National Health Services Corps, a bill that supports PT practice when working with traveling sports teams, and presenting physical therapy as an alternative to opioids for pain management. These issues are all of vital importance to both physical therapists and their patients, therefore meeting with legislators about these issues was one of the main goals of the FAF. 
