David M. Morris, PT, PhD, FAPTA

Morris is professor and chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where, since 1991, he has taught in the entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy and PhD in Rehabilitation Science degree programs.

Morris earned a BS in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; a MS in physical therapy education and a PhD in health education/promotion from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is also a Credentialed Fellowship Graduate from the APTA Education Leadership Institute Fellowship. His educational and scholarly interest include the PTs role in health promotion, prevention in wellness; examination and management of PT patients/clients social determinants of health, and inclusion excellence in PT education and clinical practice.

He has held multiple leadership roles in several APTA components including being a member of the founding Executive Committee and serving two terms as President for the APTA Aquatic PT Section. He also served three terms as Vice President and two terms as President for the Alabama Chapter of the APTA. He has authored and/or co-authored numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters concerning the topics of aquatic physical therapy, neurologic physical therapy and the PTs role in health promotion, wellness and prevention.

Diane Clark, PT, DScPT, MBA

Clark is an associate professor emerita and former Program Director of the Doctor of Physical Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

During her tenure at UAB, Clark implemented two integrated clinical experiences for students at two pro bono clinics. Equal Access Birmingham was a student-led physical therapy clinic that introduced students to underserved and uninsured populations. The second clinic served uninsured patients who had complications from uncontrolled diabetes.

Currently, Clark is course director for two courses in the Graduate Certificate in Primary Physical Therapy for Underserved Populations. She volunteers at shelters for the homeless and serves at the Food Connection, an organization that provides meals to those unable to access healthy foods. Her research has focused on personal leadership and primary care physical therapy.

Jeremy Fletcher, PT, DPT, OCS

Fletcher is a distinguished physical therapist specializing in program development and primary care physical therapy. With a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of South Alabama and nearly two decades of clinical experience, Fletcher has made significant contributions to both military and civilian healthcare systems.

Fletcher’s expertise in program development is exemplified through his roles at the Veterans Recovery Resources, where he served as Chief Operations Officer and Director of Community Integration. Here, he successfully planned and executed a $4M SAMSHA grant program, improving access to integrated mental and physical health services for veterans. Additionally, he secured over $6M in funding to establish the nation’s first Veteran-specific Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic.

In the realm of primary care physical therapy, Fletcher has played a pivotal role. As an Assistant Professor at the University of South Alabama, he developed and taught graduate-level courses, including those focused on primary care in physical therapy for underserved populations. His commitment to integrating physical therapy within primary care settings was further demonstrated during his tenure at Winn Army Community Hospital, where he was among the first embedded physical therapists in a Patient-Centered Medical Home, overseeing the intake and evaluation of injured soldiers.

Currently, Fletcher continues to impact the field as the founder of Community Health Strategies LLC and a practicing physical therapist at Encore Rehabilitation LLC. His work consistently emphasizes holistic and innovative approaches to physical therapy, ensuring optimal outcomes for diverse patient populations.

Donald H. Lein Jr., PT, PhD

Lein is the Bergman/Pinkston Endowed Professor and the director of the Graduate Certificate in Primary Care Physical Therapy for Underserved Populations.

He was part of the Alabama delegation that introduced and helped pass HOD P06-18-22 in the American Physical Therapy Association’s position on primary care physical therapy, which reads: PTs make unique contributions as individuals or members of primary care teams and are entry-point providers into the health care system.

He currently works in a multidisciplinary team in the UAB Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Center at Kirklin Clinic where he helped develop many of the patient education materials including the award-winning website https://www.uab.edu/shp/toneyourbones. In addition to working in a multidisciplinary team, his work in the clinic also includes helping patients adopt healthy behaviors as part of their treatment to prevent or treat osteoporosis and its related fractures. Lein’s research efforts include peer-reviewed presentations and publications that concern primary care physical therapy and health promotion.