What began as an effort to help older adults in her home community move more safely has earned recognition as an example of a national priority for the physical therapy profession.
Campbell University Doctor of Physical Therapy student Anna Fish presented her Move With Purpose: A Rural Mobility & Wellness Initiative at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) North Carolina Annual Conference, held Oct. 9–10 in High Point. Following her presentation, APTA President Kyle Covington, PT, DPT, PhD, recognized her project as a strong example of the association’s “Evolving Our Practice” strategic priority, outlined in its Strategic Framework for 2030.
That priority calls for transforming physical therapy practice models and services to better meet community needs and expand access to high-quality care. By bringing mobility and fall-prevention programming directly to older adults in rural Harnett County, Fish’s initiative demonstrates how community-based services can put that vision into practice.
The recognition marks a new chapter for Fish’s student-led project, which began with a goal of making fall prevention and mobility resources more accessible to older adults in rural Harnett County.
“Growing up in Harnett County, I saw how important it is for people to have access to resources that help them stay active and independent,” Fish said. “To see an idea that started in my own community have the potential to reach people across the country is incredibly meaningful. I’m grateful to my faculty mentors, fellow students and everyone who supported this project.”
Fish received an APTA North Carolina Community Impact Challenge grant for Move With Purpose earlier this year. The initiative brings physical therapy programming into community settings, where older adults can participate in activities designed to improve strength, balance and functional mobility and learn strategies to help prevent falls.
Read the original story about Fish’s grant and the inspiration behind Move With Purpose.
During the initial program, eight participants with an average age of 82 took part in eight sessions at one location. Campbell DPT faculty and students supported the project, which included an initial evaluation, progressive functional training and a re-evaluation.
The project’s impact extended beyond the measurements collected during the program. Fish’s presentation also highlighted the value of observing participants’ progress throughout the sessions.
“Anna recognized a need in her community and took the initiative to create a program that could make a difference,” said Dr. T.R. Goins, assistant professor of Physical Therapy and one of Fish’s faculty mentors. Seeing her work gain national attention is a wonderful reflection of her commitment to service and her ability to connect what she is learning at Campbell with the needs of the people around her.”
Move With Purpose also created an opportunity for Campbell DPT students to apply their skills while serving community members. Fish’s plans include handing the project off to other students so the work can continue, with the goal of reaching more participants in churches and community centers throughout rural Harnett County.
“Anna’s project demonstrates the impact students can have when they combine clinical knowledge with a genuine understanding of their community,” said Dr. Karlyn Green, assistant professor of Physical Therapy and one of Fish’s faculty mentors. “We are proud of the work she has done to build this initiative and excited to see how it can continue to grow.”
As Fish looks toward the future of Move With Purpose, she hopes to expand participation and volunteer involvement while addressing barriers such as transportation, scheduling and communication.
The national interest in her project offers an opportunity to share that vision beyond Harnett County and help more communities consider ways to support older adults in staying active, confident and independent.
