Cheryl
Footer,
PT, PhD
Physiopedia
Colorado,
United States
Cheryl Footer is a physical therapist (MS and PhD degrees in physical therapy-University of Miami, 1990 and 1999). Her passion for rehabilitation is evidenced through her dedication to advancing the rehabilitation professions through innovative interprofessional strategies around the world. Currently, she is a workforce development consultant with Physiopedia as part of the Learning, Acting and Building for Rehabilitation in Health Systems consortium (ReLAB-HS). At the core of Dr. Footer’s career lies a strong ethical foundation that balances power and privilege with humility and perspective in preparing future leaders to meet the growing needs for rehabilitation around the world.
Presenting at CAB 2025:
The development of local interprofessional teams has created a sustainable model for building rehabilitation capacity and advancing rehabilitation in resource-limited settings. The presentation will provide insights into strategies for building effective interprofessional rehabilitation teams to improve workforce capacity, overcoming cultural barriers, and fostering long-term collaborative practice in diverse global contexts.
This presentation examines the successful development and implementation of international rehabilitation workforce initiatives through interprofessional collaboration. By integrating diverse healthcare providers across seven countries, the project created culturally-responsive tools and established a sustainable framework for global rehabilitation workforce development, demonstrating the power of coordinated cross-cultural partnerships.