Rachel Grubb, PT, DPT, combines a lifelong connection to private practice with leadership experience in patient care, higher education, workforce development, and professional advocacy. As Senior Director of Talent for Therapy Partner Solutions, she leads talent acquisition, university relations, and clinical workforce development across a multi-state network of private practice partners. Through executive leadership and collaboration with more than 40 practice owners, she brings practical insight into the opportunities and challenges shaping private practice today.

Candidate Statement:

As Senior Director of Talent for Therapy Partner Solutions, I direct strategy to acquire new talent across the organization, support student programming and relationships with nearly 200 university partners, and help to execute clinical workforce development strategy across a multi-state network of private practice partners and managed contracts. I also serve on the executive committee, contributing to strategic decisions that impact growth, workforce development, and partner success across our network. Over the course of my career, I have supported more than 200 licensed annual hires and helped shape systems and processes that influence hiring across 150+ locations for over 40 unique owners. Combined with eight years of clinical physical therapy practice and six years of higher education instruction, that work has given me a broad and practical view of the people, leadership, and workforce needs that shape private practice.

My connection to private practice began long before my current role. As a second-generation physical therapist, I grew up in my family’s private practice, gaining a firsthand understanding of how practices must adapt to meet the changing needs of patients, providers, and payers. That foundation has only deepened through years of working alongside owners of practices of different sizes, markets, demographics, strengths, and challenges. Additionally, I have supported organizations in managed contract environments within other health care settings. Together, those experiences have given me a deep respect for the varied ways practices succeed and the unique pressures they face, including growth, clinical development, and cross-department collaboration, as well as the constant need to evolve with our profession and our patients.

I believe one of the most meaningful ways to serve our profession is by helping identify great leaders. I have been fortunate to work alongside and learn from remarkable leaders within APTA Private Practice and across the profession, while also seeing firsthand the strengths and challenges that shape success for the partners I support every day. A central focus of my work is helping set people up for success in roles that align with their unique strengths and potential. That perspective aligns closely with the responsibility of the Nominating Committee: identifying leaders who can represent members well, contribute meaningfully, and help guide the section through continuing challenges, evolution, and change.

My involvement in APTA at the state and national levels has further shaped how I view leadership and service. I have served in multiple roles within APTA Tennessee and the South Carolina Physical Therapy Association, including state legislative chair, board member, federal affairs liaison, and district leadership. Through this work, I have contributed to advocacy efforts at both the state and national level, including participation in the APTA Federal Advocacy Forum and legislative initiatives that influenced scope of practice. Those experiences reinforced the importance of thoughtful, steady leadership and the impact that the right people can have on the future of our profession.

In addition, serving as co-founder of a continuing education company has broadened my exposure to additional private practice owners and clinicians across the country. That work has allowed me to help bridge gaps in knowledge and workforce development while also giving me a greater appreciation for differences in practice, scope, scale, and opportunity at an international level. It has strengthened my belief that the profession benefits most when leaders remain curious, collaborative, and willing to learn from one another.

APTA Private Practice is filled with individuals who have chosen to give back, support one another, and strengthen the profession through a changing landscape. If elected, I would be honored to support that work by helping identify leaders who reflect the breadth of perspectives, practice models, and needs across private practice and who can represent this section with integrity, sound judgment, and a genuine commitment to service.