Hello from Houston! Our team has just returned from the APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), and we are still buzzing with excitement and inspiration from everything we learned. CSM is always a great opportunity to stay on top of the latest trends, research, and innovations in the world of physical therapy. This year’s event in Houston was no exception, with incredible speakers, hands-on sessions, and networking opportunities. We are excited to share some of the key takeaways and highlights from our time at CSM 2025. You can find a list here of our very own scholarly contributions presented at CSM by University of Michigan-Flint DPT students and faculty.

A quick recap of CSM 2025 highlights: Starting from the beginning, Rick Gewenda, PT and Kennedy Hawkins, MBA, JD, LLM gave some insight during their opening presentation about how to get into the minds of insurance companies to get the most bang for our PT buck: Reading the fine print on insurance contracts is just one way that they informed us to impact profitability. Many other speakers throughout the conference added their insights to PT profitability and reimbursement as they reminded attendees that payment reforms require our continued collective action and advocacy.

Several sessions focused on how digital health tools, such as telehealth, wearable devices, and AI-driven rehabilitation apps, are reshaping our world and revolutionizing healthcare. We learned about advancements in manual therapy techniques, the use of technology for patient education, and how integrating multidisciplinary approaches (like PT, OT, and nutrition) can lead to better outcomes. Here at U of M we are already brainstorming ways to continue incorporating these practices into our curriculum.

If you missed us in Houston, you still have a chance to catch it virtually with APTA CSM On Demand. We hope to see you there in California in 2026!