PTA Faculty Member Earns Clinical Excellence Award

Karen Abboud, PTA, MHA, CLT, Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Education for the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program earned the 2020 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Nebraska Chapter Clinical Excellence Award in honor of her dedication to providing students with an outstanding PTA education.

Abboud was honored on the Clarkson College campus during a small, socially distanced ceremony on Dec. 10. APTA Chapter President Grace Knott, PT, GCS, presented the award and Dan McCutchen, PT, DPT, OCS, Chapter Secretary, and Michael Wellsandt, PT, DPT, OCS, Chapter Treasurer, as well as Abboud’s family were also present. The Clinical Excellence Award is given to one individual who is respected by their peers as an active APTA member and who contributes to PTA education, management, patient care or research.

As a long-time APTA supporter and member, Abboud was honored to be recognized by the organization. “One of the highest honors is to be recognized by your peers, and I hold this as one of my most honored achievements and a highlight of my professional career,” she said. “I do what I do because I love it and it doesn’t feel like work. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love and support of my husband and kids, family, friends and colleagues!”

“I have been actively involved with APTA at the state and national level for many years and do so because I am passionate about what I do and feel it is important to advocate for the profession of physical therapy and the role of the physical therapist assistants as well as serve as a role model for my students.”

In her work with students and clinical educators, Abboud encourages individuals to get involved with APTA. Along with patient care and continuing education resources, she notes the numerous benefits the organization has to offer.

“There is so much more to the profession than what people typically think of as physical therapy or patient care,” she said. "APTA endorses advocacy and legislative efforts that support what I love to do. They also provide networking opportunities that allow students and professionals to meet and work with amazing individuals from across the country and collaborate with other educators. Additionally, they allow people to serve the community, advance their knowledge-base, present at local and national conferences, along with providing the highest quality of care using the latest research.”

To learn more about APTA, visit www.aptanebraska.org.

PTA Faculty Member Earns Clinical Excellence Award

Categories