The Compass

Newsletter

Volume 3, Number 2

May 2026

Even as a child, Karin was fascinated by foreign countries and cultures. Her first foray into a cross cultural relationship was at age 10, when she starting corresponding with a young girl in Ireland, a pen pal that turned into a 60 year friendship.

Originally from Vermont, Karin earned a Bachelor of Science in biology in1968 from the University of Vermont. Her inspiration to become a physical therapist and her interest in global health originated in the Philippines where she served in the Peace Corps from 1968-1970. While there, she taught biology and initiated a program called Medical Assistance Cooperative (MAC) which provided cleft palate and lip surgeries for indigent children. That rewarding experience led Karin to the idea of a future career in physical therapy working with children with disabilities

Photos: Top left: Peace Corps Philippines 1968-1970 Karin playing basketball with street kids, walking in sugar cane fields. Top right: Karin as a Northwestern PT student in 1973 - uniforms required! Bottom left: Karin returns to the Philippines in 1995 to teach a PNF course.

Below left: Karin with Dorothy Voss (PNF pioneer) and mother at PT graduation, 1973.

Returning to the US, Karin earned her PT/BS certificate from Northwestern in 1973. After 10 years of working in acute care, acute rehab and home health care, she realized she wanted a larger picture of disability around the world and enrolled in an MPH program at the University of Michigan. There she focused on Health Behavior and Health Education, learned about social determinants of health and recognized its strong relevance to physical therapy and rehabilitation all over the world.

"The spark that set me actively on the organizing path (to starting our SIG) occurred in 1983 when I read an interview with Elizabeth McKay, then WCPT Secretary-General, in APTA’s monthly Progress Report newsletter." In the interview, Ms. McKay stated that WCPT did not prioritize membership from, nor activities in, “third world” or “lesser developed” countries, but that any country that had an “established organization” of PTs was welcome to join. Karin initiated a back and forth conversation with Ms. McKay via letters to the editor, challenging her and WCPT's approach.

Galvanized by the exchange which seemed shortsighted, and sensing there were other PTs in the US who valued global health work, Karin submitted an announcement in the APTA Progress Report in spring of 1985 that she would organize a meeting for those PTs interested or experienced in cross-cultural and international work at the upcoming national APTA conference.

On June 18, 1985, Karin organized the first meeting of our SIG at the APTA annual conference in New Orleans and 35 people showed up. At the meeting, Karin met Ronnie Leavitt for the first time and invited her to work with her to develop this group, named the Cross-Cultural and International PT Interest Group (CCIIG.) The group grew quickly; from 35 initial members to 400 in 1989-1990. 

From 1985-2003, Karin served as Chair of the SIG and along with her Co-Chair, Ronnie Leavitt, helped establish the mission, vision and goals, a resource directory for overseas work, planned speakers for the yearly APTA conference, and in 1990, launched a (paper!) newsletter published 3 times per year. The group name changed to the Cross Cultural and International Special Interest Group (CCISIG) in 1996, and found a home within the Health Policy and Administration section (the precursor to the Academy of Leadership and Innovation). 

Photo above: Karin with Kira, in Pune, India on adoption day in 2001.

Karin stepped down as Chair in 2003 when she adopted a child from India but has remained a member since. In 2020, she was awarded the GHSIG’s Dr. Ronnie Leavitt Award for Leadership in the Promotion of Social Responsibility.  

Photo above: Karin with daughter Kira in 2025.

"It is now past the 40th anniversary of CCIIG-CCISIG-GHSIG. The group is strong and thriving and an integral part of the APTA now, with an excellent leadership team. I am grateful to all the therapists who have contributed to its growth and continue to participate now. I am especially grateful to the Republic of the Philippines, where as a young adult, my experiences over 2 years fostered my love and passion for working with persons with disabilities."

Resources

Global webinar series on rehabilitation in conflict

World Physiotherapy is working in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and rehabilitation organisations from around the world to deliver a ten-part webinar series exploring the role of rehabilitation in conflict and humanitarian settings. FREE.

Cochrane Rehabilitation, Functioning and Disability Thematic Group latest newsletter, which highlights global work to strengthen evidence-based rehabilitation, including new research initiatives, methodological developments, and efforts to translate evidence into practice and policy. It also showcases international collaboration and ongoing projects aimed at improving functioning, inclusion, and quality of life for people with disability. FREE.

World Physiotherapy Region Conferences in 2026

Africa region conference, June 5-6, 2026 | Kigali, Rwanda

Asia Western Pacific region conference, September 26-27, 2026 | New Delhi, India

Europe region conference, November 5-6, 2026 | Madrid, Spain

Thank you to our CSM 2026 ALI Fest Sponsors

Mission Statement of the Global Health SIG

We champion global health advocacy through the sharing of resources for

physical therapy practice, education, and research to support equitable access to health care

in partnership with communities worldwide.

APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation

7780 Elmwood Ave, Ste 130, Middleton, WI 53562

608-360-6420 www.aptaali.org