Michael Riley Jr., PT, DPT, serves as Vice President of Operations for Professional Therapy Services (PTS), Director of Rehabilitation through a hospital management agreement, and CEO of Sustainable Health Index (SHI). His work spans private practice, health system partnerships, emerging care models, and professional advocacy. Mike serves as Southern District Chair of the Illinois Physical Therapy Association and as an Illinois Delegate to the APTA House of Delegates.

Candidate Statement:

For more than 25 years, I have had the privilege of serving the physical therapy profession through clinical practice, private practice leadership, hospital partnerships, entrepreneurship, and professional association involvement. Today, I serve as Vice President of Operations for Professional Therapy Services (PTS), a therapist-owned, entrepreneurial rehabilitation organization providing services across multiple care settings, communities, and healthcare partnerships. I also serve as Director of Rehabilitation through a hospital management agreement and as CEO of Sustainable Health Index (SHI), a technology platform that helps providers see beyond the diagnosis, understand what matters most, and deliver more personalized care.

These experiences have allowed me to view our profession from multiple perspectives and have reinforced a belief that the challenges facing physical therapy today are not simply reimbursement challenges, workforce challenges, or advocacy challenges—they are leadership challenges.

My current roles provide a unique opportunity to see physical therapy through multiple lenses—as a provider, business leader, health system partner, entrepreneur, and advocate. Through PTS and our healthcare partnerships, I have worked alongside clinicians and leaders serving both rural and urban communities across a variety of practice settings. Whether working to improve access to care, develop the workforce, strengthen healthcare partnerships, or explore emerging models of care and population health, I am continually reminded that the future of our profession depends on leaders who can navigate complexity, build trust, and bring people together around a common purpose.

Throughout my career, I have worked at the intersection of private practice, health systems, workforce development, emerging care models, population health, and professional advocacy. Much of that work has involved building partnerships between organizations with different goals and perspectives. Those experiences have reinforced my belief that the future of our profession will be shaped by the leaders we identify, develop, and support.

I believe great leaders are not defined solely by titles, accomplishments, or organizational charts. They are the individuals who build trust, develop others, create opportunities, and help organizations navigate change while remaining focused on the people they serve. They understand that long-term success requires balancing operational excellence with professional stewardship, innovation with practicality, and business realities with a commitment to patients and communities.

My commitment to leadership development extends beyond my professional roles. I have served the profession through a variety of volunteer leadership positions, including service as an Illinois Delegate to the APTA House of Delegates, Southern District Chair of the Illinois Physical Therapy Association, former Southern District Nominating Committee member, and former Chair of the IPTA Health & Wellness Committee. These experiences have provided valuable opportunities to work alongside leaders from diverse backgrounds and practice settings and have strengthened my appreciation for thoughtful leadership selection, succession planning, and professional stewardship.

As a member of the Nominating Committee, I would seek to identify leaders who bring diverse experiences, thoughtful judgment, and a collaborative approach to solving the challenges facing private practice. I believe our profession benefits from leaders who can see beyond their own organizations, appreciate different perspectives, and work together to advance physical therapy in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.

APTA Private Practice has played an important role in supporting physical therapists in business, advocating for sustainable payment, developing future leaders, and strengthening our profession. I would be honored to serve on the Nominating Committee and contribute to identifying the next generation of leaders who will help guide that work.

Thank you for your consideration.