Amanda Packard, MS PT

Amanda works Portsmouth Regional Hospital as an acute care therapist.  Amanda is the NHAPTA Federal Affairs Liaison "in training".

Why are you an APTA/ NHAPTA member? 
I am an APTA member for a number of reasons. Besides the membership benefits of continuing education, access to research, and professional growth opportunities, I see it as an investment in my career and in the future of the physical therapy profession. The APTA advocates on our behalf to ensure that we continue to “have a seat at the table” when important healthcare policies and laws are being created that affect our profession. The APTA works hard to ensure our best interests and profession are protected, and to improve the health of our society. Without membership, this important work is difficult.
 
What is your favorite moment or memory as an NHAPTA member? 
My active involvement in the NHAPTA is new, and I am training with the current Federal Affairs Liaison, Ami Faria, with the plan to take over in that position next year. My favorite NHAPTA moment happened just a couple of weeks ago when we attended the 2019 Federal Advocacy Forum in Washington D.C. The conference was so informative and engaging and really got me excited for our day on Capitol Hill. The next day, almost 300 physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, and students covered Capitol Hill, meeting with senators and legislative staff to advocate for the PT public priority policies. To have the opportunity to advocate for our profession at the highest level of government and see that people are interested and willing to listen was exciting and encouraging. To say that I am hooked is an understatement! Playing ping pong at the PT-PAC event with Ami and other PT’s that I just met was also a super fun highlight of the whole experience.
 
Tells us something fun about you? What do you do in your spare time? A fun PT experience? 
Oh, I always love questions about my spare time! I work full time and I am at the stage in my life where I’m wondering if grocery shopping and vacuuming pretzels from my couch is considered a hobby? I really do find it very important to have balance in life, so even though you are most likely to find me on the sidelines of my son’s soccer games or in the checkout line of Market Basket, I actually do have other interests. I love spending as much time as possible with my 12-year-old son, my husband, my large extended family, and keeping in touch with my friends. Finding time to take a walk, have coffee, or a long dinner with a friend is one of my favorite things to do. I really enjoy live music/concerts, theater, museums, playing silly backyard games like cornhole and ladder ball, and anything outdoors. Just ask, and I am usually up for it! Laughing and creating memories with family, friends, and colleagues/friends at work is one of my highest priorities. I love to travel and have a goal to do more of it, and I really enjoy planning trips to the point where I sometimes wonder if I should have been a travel agent (just kidding)!
 
 
 APTA

APTA NH PO Box 459
Tolland, CT 06084
(857) 702-9915
nhapta@libertysquaregroup.com