July 2022 Jeremy Crow is an avid traveler and even once represented the profession of physical therapy in Brazil during the 2016 Olympics! Jeremy currently serves our Greater New York District as treasurer and has had a long record of active service in our chapter, previously serving as vice-chair for the district. Jeremy has a fascinating story from a simple Iowa boy to an NYC-based Director of Clinical Services. Read more about Jeremy’s passion for physical therapy and his background below!
How Long have you been a member of APTA New York?
I've been a member for 19 years.
What do you enjoy most about APTA New York?
What I like most about APTA New York is the community created with fellow Therapists with similar passions and commitment. I like being a part of that community and being able to discuss, advocate and brainstorm ways to increase awareness of the profession of Physical Therapy and to work together to help bring legislative changes through those advocacy efforts.
Tell us a little about your background and how your path led you to where you are today.
From an education standpoint, I moved from Iowa to pursue my undergraduate degree at University of Florida before making my way to NYC and completing my Doctor in Physical Therapy at New York University. Upon graduation in 2006, I got my first job at an out-patient practice in Manhattan, where I was fortunate enough to be mentored by a team of incredible Therapists and Physicians. I became very interested in the Athletic/Sports side of PT and in 2009 I became a board-certified clinical specialist in Sports Physical Therapy (SCS). Currently, I still work in outpatient PT at Spear Physical & Occupational Therapy, where I am the Director of Clinical Services and oversee our Clinical Compliance and Orthopedic Residency programs. My passion remains in clinical excellence, and my role here has allowed me to align my passion alongside Spear’s dedication to our profession. On the advocacy side, I started my involvement with our legislative bodies as the Vice Chair of the Greater New York District of APTA New York in 2008. After that, I was asked to fulfill a one-year term as APTA New York Secretary, where my commitment and dedication allowed me to serve another two terms. Since that point, I have been involved at the national level and component level through a variety of task forces and committees which includes the APTA Leadership Committee, APTA New York Judicial/Reference Committee, Chair of the APTA New York Governance Review Task Force, Member of the APTA New York Executive Director Search Task Force to name a few. I currently serve as APTA New York Chair of the Leadership Committee and Treasurer of the Greater New York District of the APTA New York. I also serve as an on-site reviewer for the Commission of Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) for Physical Therapy Assistant programs and also as an on-site reviewer for the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPRRFE).
What’s the most rewarding part about your work and what are some challenges?
It is very rewarding when I actually see a student have an “aha” moment during class or lab, as well as seeing students develop an overt enthusiasm for any aspect of the profession.
The most rewarding part of my work was the opportunity to serve as a field of play medical volunteer physical therapist for the volleyball venue (Maracanazinho) at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. Prior to this, I have been fortunate to work with high school, college, and professional sports’ teams. My last professional goal was to be able to work at the Olympics and I got that opportunity in a country I know so well: Brazil. Being able to spend 2.5 weeks in Rio de Janeiro, covering volleyball and representing our profession at the biggest international stage: the Olympics. The one major challenge our profession faces is the decreasing reimbursement payments for the skilled services we provide. It is incredibly challenging to grow a sustainable business, with highly skilled providers providing excellent care to patients, when the insurance companies covering those services don’t see that same skill and continue to try to decrease reimbursement. This makes it difficult to pay skilled Therapists the types of salaries we believe they deserve as reimbursement plummets, and when Therapists are coming out of school with massive debt.
What is a typical day like for you?
A typical day for me starts with my first patient’s at 6:30am. Patient care is my priority for the majority of the day, until around mid-afternoon when I transition to my administrative role as the Director of Clinical Services at SPEAR. I do have quite a few long standing homecare visits I do after work, as well as trying to make it to the gym. Most evenings are spent catching up on the day in regard to work-related tasks, meeting up with friends and/or colleagues for a bite to eat, or exploring my love of cooking and trying out some new recipes for dinner.
Who is one of your role models and why?
Matthew Hyland is one of the many role models I have had the pleasure of knowing. I was fortunate to serve four years as APTA New York Secretary while he was our APTA New York President. Having the opportunity to watch him as President and see his passion and desire to make our association better was truly inspiring. Not only has he taught me what it was like to be a better board member, clinician, and most importantly, a better human. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Matt!
What’s the most important trend you see today?
One important trend in Outpatient Physical Therapy is its increase in health promotion and wellness. With my Athletic Training and Exercise Science background, I have always been passionate about the wellness aspect of PT and I have believe this has been lacking in the past so I am excited to see this new trend. Practicing the last 16+ years in Manhattan, our patients want to get back to their highly demanding lifestyle yesterday. With our advanced degree it’s our job to bring body autonomy, education and self-management to our patients so they are empowered to understand and advocate for their health.
What advice would you give APTA New York members who are new to the profession and want to make a difference?
I would first recommend getting involved! Simply becoming an APTA New York member is the easiest way to make a difference. Next, engaging in our profession at the district level to find out what interests you. There are so many ways to get involved so you can find the role that fits best what you are able to commit to. There are also ways to be more involved by joining a task force or committee at the district, component, or national level.
How do you make time to volunteer and be active in groups you’re involved with?
I have always prioritized my professional development, and made sure that I create that time to volunteer with things that are of value to me. The experiences I have had in the past and the people I have met through the years while volunteering keep me committed and engaged. Meeting these people with similar values and dedication, hearing their stories about their impacts in their communities makes it all worthwhile.
What else would you like your fellow APTA New York Members to know about you?
While I am not working, I am an avid traveler both domestically and internationally. I have been fortunate to have travelled over 40 countries including all the modern seven wonders of the world. Antarctica is the only continent still on my bucket list. Traveling has taught me so much about culture, food, and wine! I love to cook, recently started baking this year, and have taken some wine courses to further develop my skill. I am also kind of obsessed with Halfbakedharvest and Harry Potter! I am a simple Iowa farm boy who is thriving in New York City!
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