Veatrice Cook: Building a Network of Minority Physical Therapists

In this episode, Dr. Jenna Kantor, PT, DPT is joined by Veatrice Cook, PT, MA, to discuss her long career in physical therapy and the incredible legacy she will leave for generations to come. Veatrice is a leader in physical therapy and one of the founders of the American Academy of Physical Therapy. Beatrice shares her journey into physical therapy, which was sparked by watching a physical therapist on a soap opera. She discusses her passion for healthcare and how she found her calling in physical therapy. Tune in to be inspired by Beatrice's story and learn about the impact physical therapists can have on the profession.

 

Show notes: 

[00:01:12] Soap opera inspires career choice.

[00:06:33] Mental health and leadership.

[00:09:42] Lack of representation in leadership.

[00:17:30] The logo design.

[00:19:25] Impact on students.

[00:25:47] Working with the organization.

[00:28:13] Fighting for equal job opportunities.

 

More About Veatrice:

Veatrice A. Cook is a native East Texan, born in Livingston, Texas, where she grew up and graduated from Livingston High School in Polk County.   In her junior year of high school she realized that she wanted to be a physical therapist, and researched more about the profession, only to discover the challenges facing admission into a college program, as an African American student.  The number of African Americans that made up the physical therapy profession in 1968 was less than 2%. Ms. Cook received a BS degree in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas in1976, and a MA degree in Special Education, from the University of Texas, Austin, Texas in 1981.  As a clinician, she has been trained in the John F. Barnes’ Myofascial Release Approach, and continues to use it in her practice setting.  Currently she is the Director of Rehabilitation for TeamCareRehab, Inc in San Antonio, Texas. After practicing for over 47 years she is often asked about retiring, and her reply is always, “ I love the work that I do, and it’s really not work when it’s something that you enjoy”.

The limited number of African Americans in the profession of physical therapy, and the lack of mentors was the inspiration that gave Ms. Cook the zeal to help found and organize two professional Physical Therapy organizations:  The Texas Network of Minority Physical Therapists (TNMPT) in 198