April 9, 2020

Hanna Alzoubi selected as MPTA Federal Advocacy Student Liaison

Wayne State Doctor of Physical Therapy student Hanna Alzoubi was selected as the Michigan Physical Therapy Association (MPTA) Federal Advocacy Student Liaison for 2020. In this role, she will represent Michigan PT and physical therapist assistant students in nationwide advocacy issues and meetings, communicate information from state and federal levels back to her fellow students, and encourage other students to join in advocacy efforts.

“With a volatile political climate, uncertain future of the healthcare system and current opioid crisis, federal advocacy has never been more important,” Alzoubi said. “Throughout the course of my academic career, my involvement in advocacy efforts has evolved into a passion, and I am grateful for the platform and resources this position provides to meet with members of Congress to discuss current issues facing Michigan and my profession.”

Had it not been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Alzoubi would have represented Michigan students at the Federal Advocacy Forum in Washington D.C. in March. While there, she would have met with federal representatives to advocate for the PT profession and the role it can play in widespread issues such as the opioid crisis.

“I have experienced firsthand the important role physical therapy can play when treating patients with opioid addictions,” she said. “Physical therapists can provide an effective alternative to pharmacological methods of pain management, especially when managing long-term pain, saving lives and altering the trajectory of the opioid crisis.”

A regular on the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Dean’s List, a Wayne State Presidential Scholar and the recipient of multiple scholarships, Alzoubi is the SAY Detroit Physical Therapy Clinic coordinator and its leadership committee co-president. The pro-bono clinic is dedicated to improving the lives of Detroit’s neediest citizens through regular PT care. Additionally, she is a co-founder and committee member for Research Advocacy in Physical Therapy (RAPT), which was established by Wayne State’s Department of Physical Therapy in September 2018. She is on track to graduate in 2020.

“I decided to pursue a career in PT because I want to help patients achieve the highest quality of life possible while having the chance to build strong relationships with the people I treat,” she said. “For me, this goes beyond my work as a clinician, extending to advocacy efforts that ultimately improve the profession and the well-being of the patients we serve.”

Alzoubi has been a vocal student advocate for several years. She stepped up during APTA’s #ChoosePT National Opioid Awareness Campaign, and she recruited all three PT classes at Wayne State to participate in the APTA’s Flash Action Strategy to support legislation that adds physical therapists to the National Health Service Corps, a competitive federal program that awards scholarships to students in return for a commitment to provide care in underserved communities.  

“Hanna’s academic accolades are long, her volunteer work is exemplary and her drive and motivation for advocacy is second to none,” said Tom Barba, MPTA’s federal affairs liaison to the American Physical Therapy Association. “I am pleased to have her on our federal legislative team.”

The Michigan Physical Therapy Association is a professional organization representing physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and students who have joined together to assure that high ethical professional standards are maintained and that quality health care in the areas of prevention, education and rehabilitation of movement dysfunction and wellness are received for all consumers in the state of Michigan.

The Wayne State University Doctor of Physical Therapy program is housed in the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Learn more on our website, and follow the DPT program on Facebook and Instagram.

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