We Are Better
When We Rize Together

Every patient deserves to feel represented by their healthcare provider—and have access to affordable care. That’s why we’re offering student scholarships to inspire more diversity and inclusiveness in the physical therapy workforce.

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We all benefit from better representation—but the physical therapist workforce faces a serious diversity gap.

Every year, the U.S. patient population becomes more and more racially and ethnically diverse—but the physical therapist workforce has not evolved alongside it. To help close the diversity gap, Dr. Heidi Jannenga, a physical therapist, industry advocate, and thought leader, founded Rizing Tide: a foundation that provides scholarships to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) PT students while partnering with industry leaders to advance diversity and inclusiveness in the physical therapy workforce.

%
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Of the United States population is Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color (BIPOC).¹ 

%
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Of employed physical therapists are Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color (BIPOC).²

%
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Fewer BIPOC applicants who use the PT Centralized Application Service are accepted into a program compared to their white counterparts.³

We Believe

Physical therapy is for everyone. That's why our vision is to broaden the reach, impact, and accessibility of physical therapy by advancing diversity and inclusiveness in the PT workforce.

To that end, Rizing Tide is a scholarship program designed to empower a new generation of BIPOC leaders in the physical therapy profession. We partner with PT and PTA students, PT residents, and industry leaders to advance diversity and inclusiveness in the physical therapy workforce and inspire better—and more accessible—patient care.

Scholarships

Each year, Rizing Tide presents scholarships to five promising BIPOC students who are on the path to earn their Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) or are furthering their PT education by pursuing a residency program. Scholarship recipients are selected by our Beachcombers committee on the basis of merit.

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Crest

Each year, Rizing Tide awards the Crest scholarship to three incoming undergraduate DPT star studentsor PTAs attending a PT bridge programwho are conscientious, studious, and natural-born leaders with a passion for patient care.
 
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Surge

Rizing Tide annually awards the Surge scholarship to two graduating DPT students who are on a quest to achieve personal excellence, provide exceptional patient care, and develop leadership skills through a residency program.
 
JFK

"A rising tide lifts all boats."

John F Kennedy

Resources

Liam Henson smiling while on a virtual phone call. Next to them, green text reads "Rizing Tide, Liam Calvin Odesa Henson, 2022 Crest Scholar."

Providing Care for All: Meet Rizing Tide Scholar Liam Calvin Odesa Henson

This is the seventh installment of the 2022 Rizing Tide…

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Maya Jones smiling while on a virtual phone call. Next to her, green text reads "Rizing Tide, Maya Jones, 2022 Crest Scholar."

A Future Traveling PT: Meet Rizing Tide Scholar Maya Jones

This is the sixth installment of the 2022 Rizing Tide…

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An illustrated black woman shouts into a red megaphone. She's popping out of an illustrated phone that's sitting next to a green potted plant. The background is beige with abstract blue and red accents.

6 Steps to Becoming a Physical Therapy Advocate

Physical therapy (PT) is a discipline that is often overlooked…

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