A Comprehensive Review of the Proceedings from the National Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Commissi
The American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) is the professional association dedicated to excellence in physical therapist education. ACAPT members are US higher education institutions with an accredited physical therapist education program. Member institutions encompass 95% of physical therapist education programs and are champions of academic innovation, diversity, equity, and inclusion. ACAPT is the principal voice representing academic physical therapy.
In October 2020, ACAPT membership voted to form the National Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Commission (NEDIC) with a central objective of increasing "enrollment, retention, and graduation of racial and ethnic minority students (Black, Native American or Tribal Groups, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Latinx) in physical therapist professional education programs and increasing the number of racial and ethnic minorities among faculty and leadership in professional education." NEDIC was charged with creating new anti-racist and anti-bias policies, programming, and actions that will stimulate academic programs to strive for equity, diversity, and inclusion and support them in that effort. For a list of the NEDIC commissioners, please see Appendix A.
To work toward its central objective, NEDIC commissioners organized an in-person two- and one-half-day summit designed to bring together leaders in the health professions to stimulate deep conversation focused on improving the representation of individuals from historically excluded racial and ethnic groups in the physical therapy profession. The impetus for the NEDIC Summit came from a commission review of existing initiatives and documents in academic physical therapy, including the 2016 ACAPT Diversity Task Force report.
The NEDIC Summit was held at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, from June 27-29, 2022. Over 60 participants, including representatives from seven health professions, including physical and occupational therapy, allopathic medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, athletic training, chiropractic/naturopathy, and industries including law, education, and business attended. For a list of the NEDIC Summit supporters and sponsors, please see Appendix A.