Your Physical Therapist Assistant career can be bigger than a job title—and Sara Conrad is living proof. Sara shares how she built a career blending outpatient ortho, sports performance, ethics, leadership, and education while staying rooted in patient care.

You’ll hear:

• How Sara found the PTA path through a truly nonlinear journey
• What licensure boards actually do (and how they differ from association work)
• How FSBPT involvement can open doors for PTAs
• Why ethics and leadership aren’t “extra”—they’re part of practicing well
• How to take the first step if “boards and legislation” sounds intimidating

Guest

Sara Conrad, PTA, ART — Twin Cities Orthopedics Twin Cities Orthopedics

Resources Mentioned

• Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy — Sara’s bio mn.gov // Minnesota's State Portal
• Paradis Sport — Sara’s feature Paradis Sport+1
• APTA — Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapy Profession (effective Jan 1, 2026) American Physical Therapy Association+1
• Afton Trail Run interview (2019 Afton 50K Winner) Afton Trail Run

Connect with Sara

• LinkedIn: LinkedIn

New York’s move to general supervision for PTAs is a major win—and a powerful case study in why advocacy matters.

In this episode, Katie sits down with clinic leaders to unpack:

• What general supervision really changes for PTAs
• How advocacy led to meaningful policy reform
• Why rural and outpatient clinics are expanding PTA-led models
• The truth about the PTA modifier and reimbursement
• How mentorship sustains careers—not just clinics

This conversation is essential listening for PTAs, students, educators, and anyone invested in the future of rehab.

Jessica Hochberg proves that being a PTA is not a limitation - it is a launchpad. In this episode, Katie talks with Jessica (former Director of Rehab, certified stroke rehab and fall prevention specialist, and MBA in healthcare management) about the career moves PTAs are not always taught: how to build leadership skills, reframe your transferable strengths, and pursue non-clinical paths like quality, documentation review, and health tech.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why leadership roles often default to PT, OT, or SLP, and how PTAs can still rise
• The evaluation barrier and what it means for career ladders
• Real-world value of documentation, compliance, and quality improvement work
• Health tech roles PTAs can pursue (product, sales, clinical support)
• How to rewrite your resume in business language (numbers, outcomes, impact)
• Using LinkedIn strategically to learn, connect, and find opportunities
• Letting go of guilt: leaving bedside care does not mean you stopped caring
• Myth vs Reality game and Jessicas PTA+ Point hero moment

Links and mentions:

Guest: Jessica Hochberg

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-hochberg-mba-pta-csrs-cfps-b14106220/

Host: Katie Sutton / PTA+

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093326902910

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pta_plus/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-sutton-0725/

Mentioned:

APTA Advanced Proficiency Pathways (APP) and volunteer opportunities

https://www.apta.org/for-ptas/pta-advanced-proficiency-pathways

Mentioned:

The Non-Clinical PT

https://thenonclinicalpt.com/