Connecting Physical Therapy Practice, Social Justice, and Health Equity

Dr. Keshrie Naidoo PT, DPT, EdD, is an Associate Professor and the Interim Chair of the Physical Therapy Program at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. Her research focuses on social belonging, culturally responsive pedagogy, and equity in health professions education. Dr. Naidoo is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Physical Therapy Education.

Growing up in an immigrant household, Dr. Wong found a passion for serving Asian American communities through various volunteer and job opportunities in his upbringing. His academic practicum during his final year of graduate school focused on a Strength and Balance interventional program for Cantonese-speaking older adults in Boston’s Chinatown. He works as a board-certified orthopaedic clinical specialist at Spaulding Outpatient Center in Malden while also teaching as a lab instructor at MGH IHP’s physical therapy program. 

Dr. Rimmel is an outpatient physical therapist and recently completed a year-long public health fellowship to further develop her expertise in health inequity. Currently, she works at The Brigham and Women's Health Center in Chestnut Hill, where she sees patients with a variety of health conditions including orthopedic, vestibular, and oncology management. She also conducts clinical research to better understand the extent of racial inequity in physical therapy care.

Dr. Rucker-Bussie has experience working in hospital-based outpatient, skilled nursing facilities, and private practice settings post-doctorally. She became a Board Certified Neurologic Specialist in 2020, and she primarily treats vestibular disorders, post stroke, brain injury, MS, Parkinson’s Disease, and neuropathies. She is involved in the local DC Chapter of the APTA as the co-chair of the Health Equity and Anti-Racism Team. 

Dr. Washington is a proud product of Detroit, MI and is the founder, CEO, & Lead Therapist and Educator at Pelvic Noire Physical Therapy & Wellness in Detroit, MI. She serves the community as a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, a First Time Mom coach for black women, and an online maternal wellness educator. Her interest in this specialty peaked after an introduction to Black Maternal Mortality rates and how pelvic floor physical therapy can help this crisis.

Dr. Godsey is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy at Johns Hopkins hospital. He is the Coordinator of the Johns Hopkins Sports Physical Therapy Residency program. He has worked as a lab instructor at MGH’s Institute of Health Professions, and teaches about transgender health care. Dr. Godsey earned his Doctorate from Northeastern University in 2010, and completed his fellowship through Kaiser Permanente in Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy in 2020. Dr. Godsey is passionate about transgender health care and equity in sports. He was the first out transgender athlete competing in the NCAA. He represented the US National track and field team for the Pan-American games and has competed in the US Olympic trials twice as an out transgender athlete.