What happens when a physical therapist assistant with decades of clinical experience gets sidelined by long COVID — and decides it’s time to rewrite her career?

In this inspiring episode, Gina Vitale shares how she transitioned from being a dedicated clinician, Pilates instructor, and home health provider into a thriving healthcare content writer — without going back to school, without a writing degree, and without losing the essence of what made her a great PTA.

Gina opens up about:

• Recovering from the brain fog and emotional toll of long COVID
• How home health care uniquely shaped her communication and observation skills
• The transferable skills from patient education that helped her succeed in writing
• Getting her first (underpaid) writing gig — and why it was still a win
• How LinkedIn became her most valuable professional tool
• Her advice to healthcare professionals who are burnt out, overwhelmed, or stuck

If you're a healthcare provider thinking about your next step — or curious how others are reinventing themselves without leaving their identity behind — this is a must-listen.

Katie sits down with new grad PTA and leader Russ Burns for a vibrant discussion about advocacy, innovation, AI, and what it means to be a modern PTA in 2025. As they prepare to attend the Future of Rehab Therapy Summit at APTA HQ, they reflect on career transformation, the importance of in-person connection, and why PTAs need to see themselves as both contributors and leaders.

Guest: Russ Burns, PTA, military police platoon sergeant, Ohio Physical Therapy Association early professional leader | Instagram

Topics Covered:

• First year as a PTA: what Russ has learned
• AI in clinical workflows and education
• Multidisciplinary advocacy at the APTA Summit
• Non-linear career paths for PTAs
• Leadership and professional growth for early professionals
• Speed round: bold takes and buzzwords

Links & Resources:

• Future of Rehab Therapy Summit (APTA)
• Ohio Physical Therapy Association (OPTA)
• Katie Sutton on LinkedIn
• PTA Plus Podcast YouTube

In this insightful episode, host Katie Sutton sits down with Drew Contreras of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) to unpack the five biggest reasons PTAs (and other rehab professionals) must pay attention to the Future of Rehab Therapy Summit, happening July 9–10 in Washington, DC.

This is not just another conference—it’s a pivot point for the entire rehab profession.

If you're a PTA, PT, OT, SLP, or healthcare innovator, this summit is where you'll find the conversations that are shaping the future of rehab. From tech innovation to interprofessional collaboration, it’s all covered here.