Call for Proposals
The American Physical Therapy Association, South Carolina Chapter (APTA SC), is accepting proposals for its 2027 Annual Conference in Columbia, SC. APTA SC is the only professional organization representing physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in South Carolina. The purpose of APTA SC’s Annual Conference is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education. Speaking at the APTA SC Annual Conference is a great opportunity to share your knowledge and enthusiasm.
Access to laboratory space and most equipment is available for the educational sessions. You are asked to seriously consider using this space and technology when developing your session. Sessions engaging students, laboratory workshops, and hands-on sessions will be given top consideration. Programming sessions are either 1 or 2 hours in length, with possible breaks.
APTA SC encourages speaker participation and offers incentives such as free registration in lieu of honorarium. PTs, PTAs, and all others with expertise in the topic of their presentation are welcome to submit a proposal for this conference.
Proposal submissions are being accepted until October 31, 2026. Decisions regarding proposals accepted for the Conference are expected by mid-December.
Lisa Saladin Lecture
The Lisa Saladin Lecture was established in 2019 to honor the great achievements, innovation, and commitment to the profession as demonstrated by Lisa Saladin. Nominees must have made distinguished contributions to the profession of physical therapy in the areas of administration, education, patient care, or research.
The Lisa Saladin Lecture Award recipient is asked to deliver a lecture at a general session during the APTA SC Annual Conference, March 20, 2027, in Columbia, SC. The lecture should not be more than 60 minutes in length and as each learning event offered by APTA meets high standards of quality, the lecturer is required to submit to APTA SC a lecture description, measurable learning objectives, a bibliography of reference materials, and a brief biography. The title of the lecture if the recipient chooses to have a title in addition to the standard title will be left to the discretion of the recipient.
Nominees must have made distinguished contributions to the profession of physical therapy in the areas of administration, education, patient care, or research.
Depth, Scope, and Quality of Contributions:
- Wide-reaching effects of contributions, as documented in the nomination
- Previous recognition of contributions, as demonstrated by other awards and honors
- Professional public visibility of contributions, as demonstrated by publications, presentations, invited lectures, appointed and elected positions held, and other information in the nominee’s curriculum vitae *Sustained and continuous contributions in more than one of the areas of administration, education, patient care, and research, as documented in the nomination
- Qualitative effects of contributions on one or more areas of administration, education, patient care, and research, and on the image of the profession, as documented in the nomination *Enduring quality of contributions, or potential for continuing effects of contributions on the physical therapy profession
General Esteem in Which Nominee is Held by Peers
- Ability to Present a Noteworthy Lecture: Acknowledged skills in the organization and presentation of written or oral communications, as documented in the nomination
Submission Requirements:
- Current curriculum vitae or resume of the nominee
- Letter of nomination that specifically focuses on the strengths of the nominee in relation to the award criteria, not to exceed 4 pages
Submit a Nomination:
- Nominations must be submitted electronically via the linked form. All materials completed and submitted for each nomination must be received by October 31, 2026 to be considered for the upcoming year’s Honors and Awards Program. Please note that the nominator is responsible for reviewing and ensuring the proper completion of all steps within the online nomination submission process before final submission.
If you have any questions, please contact Info@aptasc.org
5×5 Presentations
The 2027 APTA SC Annual Conference will take place on March 20, 2027 in Columbia, SC. We are continuing to use the electronic format called a 5×5 presentation instead of the traditional poster format.
Presentations must be limited to 5 minutes maximum each for the presentation and no more than 5 content slides and 1 title slide. References should be in full at the bottom of the relevant slide. Do not include a reference slide. You will be required to submit your final 5 slides prior to the conference. As you prepare, remember that your presentation is limited to five (5) minutes. Please practice so that you can maintain that time frame. This allows time for Q&A, at the end of all presentations.
5 x 5 presentations are reports in which information is summarized using brief written statements and graphic materials, such as photographs, charts, graphs, and/or diagrams. Speakers will be assigned a specific 5 minute time when they must present their research using slides and to be available to answer questions.
Important Dates (subject to change):
Deadline for All Submissions: October 31, 2026
Submitted proposals notified of acceptance – mid-December
Speaker Agreements Due – early January
Schedule of Sessions and Speakers Published – early January
