Valerie Rucker-Bussie Joins Rizing Tide as Community Development Officer
Rizing Tide is excited to welcome Valerie Rucker-Bussie, PT, DPT, NCS, as its new Community Development Officer. A seasoned physical therapist with a strong focus on workforce development, Valerie brings extensive experience to the table—alongside a fiery passion for improving lives. We recently sat down with Valerie to learn more about her journey, her vision for this role, and her aspirations for the future of Rizing Tide and the physical therapy community.
Discovering Physical Therapy
Valerie Rucker-Bussie’s journey into the physical therapy field began with a love of movement. As a lifelong athlete and dancer, Valerie expressed herself through physical activity. However, her path took a turn in high school when she decided to step away from sports to help others move their bodies.
“I was kind of burned out by moving my body, and I wanted to just help other people move theirs,” Valerie says. That decision led her to become a student athletic trainer for her high school football team. This experience exposed her to the world of athletic training, but the grueling hours of the profession steered her toward physical therapy—a field she discovered by shadowing a physical therapist. From that moment on, Valerie knew her calling. Her path to becoming a physical therapist, however, was anything but traditional—a journey that she embraces and appreciates today.
Valerie’s professional career closely reflects her fascination with the connection between mind and body. Though initially drawn to sports and orthopedics, she found her passion in neurological physical therapy and later expanded into pelvic health. Valerie’s time at the MGH Institute of Health Professions, where she was inspired by neuroanatomy and neuromuscular disorder professors, helped solidify her path forward. “I’ve always been interested in the mind-body connection,” she says. “Neuro made sense to me, and later, pelvic health and chronic pain also aligned with how my brain operates.”
Connecting with Rizing Tide’s Mission
While she will continue treating clients on a one-on-one outpatient basis, Valerie’s new role as Community Development Officer for Rizing Tide brings a fresh set of opportunities into her life. Her introduction to Rizing Tide came through the 2024 North Star Summit, where she delivered the keynote address. The energy of the event, coupled with the foundation’s mission, deeply resonated with her. “It was just this community vibe, this palpable energy. I really wanted to be a part of it,” Valerie says. That connection eventually led to the creation of her current role.
Now, Valerie focuses on fostering partnerships with mission-aligned employers, connecting them with Rizing Tide scholars, and facilitating mentorship opportunities for students navigating the profession. She sees the work as deeply personal. “Had I not received a scholarship, I might not have attended PT school or even pursued this career. These students are incredible, and I’m excited to support them.”
One of Valerie’s primary objectives is to build upon Rizing Tide’s Employer Connect program, forging mutually beneficial partnerships between employers, scholars, and educational institutions. She also aims to explore new ways to steer the PT profession beyond the organization’s current initiatives.
Applying Lessons to Future Endeavors
Reflecting upon her career, Valerie wishes she had internalized one piece of advice earlier in her journey: trust the process. “I wanted to do everything very quickly—certifications, conferences, research, starting a business—and I burned out. It wasn’t until I slowed down after becoming a mother that I realized the importance of patience and putting energy into the right places.”
Looking forward, Valerie hopes to leave a lasting impression on both Rizing Tide and the broader PT community. She envisions a future where representation and inclusivity in the physical therapy field are second nature. “I want to contribute to the sustainability of Rizing Tide past my tenure, and ensure that representation is no longer a taboo topic. It should be embedded in our practices and culture,” she says.
With her dedication, drive, and firsthand experience building community initiatives, Valerie Rucker-Bussie is poised to make a difference—both to the scholars she mentors and within the field of physical therapy as a whole.
