Rupal Patel, Be the Change You Want to See in the World

Profiles in Leadership

Rupal M Patel, PT, PhD is an Associate Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) in Houston, Texas. Dr. Patel received her PhD in Health Promotion and Wellness from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah in 2016, her MS in PT from TWU in Houston in 1991 and her BS in PT and biology from TWU in Denton in 1990. Her research streams include reduce risk factors for diabetes among an at-risk population, social and structural determinants of health and their impact on rehabilitation outcomes, factors influencing health behaviors among populations, and issues related to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in physical therapy. Besides her DPT teaching responsibilities, Dr. Patel also mentors PhD students during their didactic and dissertation phases.

Service is part of Dr. Patel's life work and passion. She has been an active member of the APTA since 1988 and has served in various roles at the component and national level over the past 30 years. She was elected to national office to the APTA Nominating Committee in 2017 and served a chair in her final year (2020). Dr. Patel is a founding and current member of the APTA's Council on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Wellness, the Academy of Prevention and Health Promotion Therapies (APHPT), a board member and DEI Committee Co-Chair of the Physical Therapy Learning Institute (2018-present) and a board member of Empowering Women as Leaders, Inc. Houston Chapter (2023 – present). Dr. Patel currently serves as: the Federal Advocacy Liaison (FAL) for the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy (ANPT), the co-chair of the APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation (ALI) Research Committee, a member of the ACAPT NEDIC PT Education and Advancement Pathway Task Force. She was recently elected to serve as chief delegate for Texas to the APTA House of Delegates (2024 – 2027) and has been appointed as the FAL for the APTA Academy of Education (2024). Leadership is a verb - defined by your actions, rather than a noun - defined by your title is a philosophy that Dr. Patel lives by in her ongoing service and leadership journey. Dr. Patel has presented at national and state physical therapy, public health, and rehabilitation conferences, has delivered one of the This I Believe speeches for The Graham Sessions, and also has appeared on numerous podcasts and national panels.