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June 2021
Michael (Mike) Huson is a physical therapist from the Finger Lakes District. Mike became active in NYPTA more than 10 years ago when, as a private practice owner, he realized the impact of regulations and insurance companies on access to therapy. Mike is now Clinical Associate Professor at Nazareth College and facing the challenges of teaching his students virtually. This has made him more flexible and creative in order to help his students succeed. Mike is currently the Treasurer of the Chapter, served as District Treasurer and as a district delegate to the Delegate Assembly. Mike participates in Lobby Day every year in an effort to make positive change. Read more about Mike Huson, NYPTA Member Spotlight for June!
1. How Long have you been a member of NYPTA?
I first joined the APTA as junior at Ithaca College in 1999. I was not active early in my career, but became much more active as I realized the impact of regulations and insurance companies on access to therapy a few years after opening my private practice. I started to attend district meetings and attended my first Lobby Day in 2009. Since recognizing that I can have a positive impact on our profession, I now regularly serve as a delegate for to Delegate Assembly, completed 2 terms as Finger Lakes District Treasurer, am currently finishing my first term as Director and will attend my 3rd House of Delegates this year.
2. What do you enjoy most about NYPTA?
The ability to be part of a community of therapists working toward the common goal of strengthening the profession. Being able to network with current and past leaders has been invaluable to my growth. The organization has great resources for all professionals through all stages of their career.
3. Tell us a little about your background, and how your path led you to where you are today.
I grew up in a small town in the Finger Lakes region and attended Ithaca College. After graduating from IC in 2001, I joined a small orthopedic practice in Geneva, NY which I purchased approximately 2 years later. A few years after taking over the practice I was asked to become an adjunct at the Rochester Campus of IC as they were transitioning to a DPT program. I was then inspired to continue my education and enroll in the tDPT program at A.T. Still University. I quickly fell in love with teaching and after 8 years as an adjunct I decided to apply for my current full-time position at Nazareth College. At that time, I was still overseeing my outpatient practice, which I transitioned out of approximately 3 years ago. Since transitioning out of my practice, I still find some time for patient care as a per diem therapist in local clinics, and I have started another business completing video running analysis, called Run Healthy Roc.
4. What’s the most rewarding part about your work and what are some challenges?
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the immense growth in students as they journey through the DPT program. I am lucky enough to have contact with students from day 1 in gross anatomy through the orthopedic curriculum and into a business and leadership class in their final year. Recently, the biggest challenge is trying to engage students in a virtual environment. The pandemic has definitely forced me to be more flexible and creative in order assist the students in their success in our program.
5. What is a typical day like for you?
The day starts with either helping to get children ready to catch the bus or prepare for virtual school (depending on the day of the week). Since COVID, much of my day is spent either teaching or in meetings over Zoom while assisting children with their virtual work. Now that youth sports have opened back up, I will spend at least part of most evenings coaching travel soccer or attending gymnastics, football or baseball games or practices.
6. Who is one of your role models and why?
My personal role models have to be my parents. As a first-generation college graduate, I have to thank them for all of the hard work and sacrifices they made to get me through my education.
As an educator, Dr. Charles Ciccone would be my role model. His ability as my professor and advisor to break down the most complex topics in class and make them digestible to his students is astounding. I can only hope to make a fraction of the impact on my students that he made on me.
7. What’s the most important trend you see today?
I love seeing the amazing entrepreneurship and adaptability of PTs. Recent years have presented many challenges to the PT profession, and whether it is insurance cuts, regulation changes or a global pandemic, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are constantly finding new ways to affect the health of their communities. Most recently the ability of practices to transition to telehealth and continue to care for patients through the COVID pandemic has been amazing.
8. What advice would you give NYPTA members who are new to the profession and want to make a difference?
Mentorship in your early years is extremely important. Find great mentors in practice take every opportunity you can to learn. Also, do not wait to become active in the profession. Reach out to your local district to seek out opportunities to serve and attend meetings. It is a great way to network and collaborate.
9. How do you make time to volunteer and be active in groups you’re involved with?
For this I must give credit to my wife, Melyssa, who has supported me through every opportunity that I have taken advantage of (no matter how crazy). We are a great team and have found a way to juggle the craziness of work and service while raising our children.
10. What else would you like your fellow NYPTA Members to know about you? (Feel free to tell us a little about yourself here, whatever you’re comfortable sharing – family, hobbies, pets, fun
facts about you, etc.)
My wife and I have 4 kids ranging from the ages of 5-11 years old and a 2-year-old Collie-Beagle mix named Penny. Our family loves to travel, and even though we both work at Nazareth College, Melyssa and I actually met on a trip to Costa Rica.
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