Jun 3, 2026
VCU Physical Therapy shines at APTA Combined Sections Meeting in Anaheim
Faculty, students and alumni from VCU’s Department of Physical Therapy left the 2026 American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting in Anaheim feeling energized, connected and proud of the program’s growing national impact.
Held Feb. 12-14, CSM is the largest physical therapy conference in the country, drawing more than 15,000 attendees for three days of education and professional connection. With more than 400 sessions and over 1,400 posters presented, the meeting offered an expansive platform for sharing research and advancing clinical practice.
VCU’s presence was felt across multiple sections of the conference, from faculty and student presentations to milestone celebrations and alumni engagement.
One highlight was the recognition of Chelsea "CJ" Duppen, DPT, Ph.D., assistant professor, who received the Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group Research Award. Duppen’s research focuses on mobility impairments in people with neurologic conditions, particularly Parkinson disease, aligning closely with the VCU department’s commitment to evidence-based, patient-centered care.
Third-year DPT student Manolo Anleu Tuquer earned Top 5 poster recognition from the Degenerative Disease SIG for his presentation, “Automated Assessment of Hand Myotonia Using Markerless Tracking in Myotonic Dystrophy."
In addition to individual achievements, APTA’s Global Health SIG celebrated its 40th anniversary, including a special moment connecting Kai Kennedy, PT, DPT — the SIG’s current chair and an associate professor at VCU — with the SIG’s founders and past award recipients. Faculty, students, alumni and friends of VCU’s PT program also gathered at a luncheon during the conference. This annual CSM event provided a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with others from across the country.
As the conference closed and plans turned toward next year’s meeting in Philadelphia, the VCU delegation returned to Richmond with new ideas, strengthened partnerships and renewed enthusiasm for the work ahead.
