Derek Fenwick, PT, MBA, GCS was elected as the President of the Oregon Physical Therapy Association (OPTA) after serving as Vice President of the professional association for four years. In this role, Derek will continue to advocate on behalf of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants on a local and national level, grow the organization’s membership base, head strategic planning, leadership development, and succession planning.
“I’d like to congratulate Derek on his election as President of the OPTA, says Mike Billings, PT, MS, CEEAA. “Derek brings a unique blend of passion for the physical therapy profession and passion for developing future leaders in health care. He is visionary and innovative and I am confident will serve Oregon physical therapists and physical therapist assistants very well.”
Derek has a strong passion for serving and improving the health care industry. After becoming a physical therapist in 2003, he returned to school in 2008 to earn his MBA. In 2010, Derek was named an Emerging Leader of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). In 2011, he became a board-certified geriatric clinical specialist; and was recently appointed to the APTA’s first-ever Leadership Development Committee. Derek joined Infinity Rehab as an Area Rehab Director in 2010 before taking on his current role as Director of Professional Development.
“I am very excited to serve the members of the Oregon Physical Therapy Association in this new role. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are experts in movement and function. We can play a major role in improving the health of Oregonians facing challenges related to movement. With OPTA’s great team of members, volunteers and staff, we will continue to work to promote the role our profession can play in helping Oregonians all across the state improve the quality of their lives.”
About OPTA:
The Oregon Physical Therapy Association, a component of the American Physical Therapy Association, was incorporated in 1954 as an Oregon non-profit entity. The association’s purpose is to meet the physical therapy needs of the general public and its members through the development and improvement of physical therapy education, practice and research. OPTA actively communicates with state agencies in the development of administrative rules and policies governing the practice of and reimbursement for physical therapy services.
About Infinity Rehab:
Established in 1999, Infinity Rehab has grown to be a leading provider of clinically intensive, comprehensive physical, occupational and speech therapy in the sub-acute and long-term care environment. The company was founded and is led by a team of therapists. It serves patients in skilled nursing facilities, schools, and outpatient settings in continuing care communities, free-standing assisted living and retirement living facilities in approximately 180 facilities across nine states. Based in Wilsonville, Oregon, Infinity Rehab and its affiliates provide more than 1.2 million patient visits annually. Infinity Rehab is a member of the Avamere Family of Companies.