BCU Assistant Professor Named APTA South Dakota’s Physical Therapist of the Year

September 14, 2023

Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, Erin Vogel, PT, DPT, OCS, WCC, AIB-PT, was honored at the Fall Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association: South Dakota (APTA-SD) on Thursday night with the Physical Therapist of the Year Award. This Award is given annually to one physical therapist in South Dakota who has been a member of APTA-SD for a minimum of 75% of their physical therapy career, demonstrates community involvement, shows a commitment to continuing education, and demonstrates dedication to the advancement of the profession through lifelong learning and practice. 

Over the last few years, Dr. Vogel has tirelessly advocated for several legislative bills in South Dakota, including continuing education requirements for licensed therapists, the inclusion of dry needling into the South Dakota Physical Therapy Practice Act, the allowance for physical therapy compact privileges, and the establishment of an independent physical therapy licensure board. Various nominators for this award recognized the leadership skills Dr. Vogel demonstrated during the various legislative processes. As one nominator noted, Dr. Vogel “demonstrated excellent initiative, courage, and follow-through” while gaining legislative approval for an independent physical therapy licensure board in South Dakota.

Dr. Vogel has been employed as a core faculty member in the Physical Therapy Department at Briar Cliff University since May 2019. Dr. Vogel obtained her Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from the University of South Dakota in 2009 and has worked as a physical therapist in outpatient, inpatient, long-term care, and home health settings. She has obtained various specialist certifications, including musculoskeletal ultrasound, wound care, vestibular rehabilitation, dry needling, and as an American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. Additionally, Dr. Vogel has served in multiple professional leadership roles over the years within APTA-SD, including serving Secretary, President-Elect, and is the current President. In Spring 2023, Briar Cliff University recognized Dr. Vogel with the Emerging Faculty Scholar Award for the numerous peer-reviewed scholarly products she has disseminated over the last four years.