Elizabeth Noble Award
The Academy’s highest honor, recognizing extraordinary contributions to pelvic and women’s health physical therapy.
Nominate a Member
2027 Award Cycle Nominations are Due by October 15, 2026.
Awards & Recognition
Celebrate the people advancing pelvic health physical therapy.
Help us recognize the Academy members, volunteers, researchers, educators, clinicians, mentors, emerging leaders, and collaborative partners whose contributions strengthen our profession and improve patient care.
2027 Award Cycle Nominations Due October 15, 2026
Award recipients will be recognized during the 2027 APTA Combined Sections Meeting in Philadelphia, PA, on February 5, 2027.
Recognition can inspire an entire profession.
Every year, the Academy recognizes individuals and organizations whose work demonstrates excellence in research, education, practice, mentorship, volunteer service, leadership, collaboration, and dedication to physical therapy.
Academy members are encouraged to nominate deserving colleagues whose accomplishments, service, and leadership deserve greater visibility. A nomination is more than an award submission—it is an opportunity to affirm that someone’s work has made a meaningful difference.
Ways We Recognize Excellence
Academy Award Categories
Award categories recognize contributions across the many roles, career stages, and areas of service that move pelvic health physical therapy forward.
Distinguished Mentor Award
Honors an individual whose mentorship has meaningfully shaped the professional growth of others.
Volunteer of the Year
Recognizes exceptional volunteer commitment, reliability, initiative, and service to the Academy.
Friend of the Academy Award
Celebrates an individual or partner who has provided meaningful support to the Academy and its mission.
Outstanding PTA Award
Recognizes an outstanding physical therapist assistant advancing practice, service, education, or patient care.
Outstanding PT Resident Award
Honors a physical therapy resident demonstrating exceptional promise, leadership, and professional commitment.
Research Award
Recognizes meaningful scholarly contributions that advance evidence, clinical understanding, and patient care.
APTA Emerging Leader Award
Celebrates an emerging professional demonstrating leadership, initiative, and potential for continued impact.
Education Excellence Award
Honors excellence and innovation in teaching, curriculum development, professional education, or learner mentorship.
CSM Top Poster Award
Recognizes an exceptional research poster presented within the Academy’s programming at APTA CSM.
CSM Top Platform Award
Recognizes an exceptional platform research presentation within the Academy’s programming at APTA CSM.
Vanguard Award
Recognizes forward-thinking leadership, innovation, and work that creates new possibilities for the profession.
President’s Award
Recognizes distinctive service, leadership, or contributions selected for special acknowledgment.
Community Impact Award
Honors work that expands access, strengthens communities, or meaningfully improves public and patient outcomes.
Collaboration Excellence Award
Celebrates an organization or partner whose collaboration has strengthened the Academy’s reach, work, or impact.
Please note: Award availability and eligibility may vary by nomination cycle. Review the official nomination materials before submitting.
Recognize Someone Exceptional
How to Submit a Nomination
Thoughtful nominations help the Awards Committee understand both what the nominee accomplished and why the contribution matters.
1
Choose a Deserving Nominee
Think of a colleague, mentor, volunteer, emerging leader, researcher, educator, clinician, or partner whose work deserves recognition.
2
Select the Best-Fit Award
Review the award criteria and select the category that most closely reflects the nominee’s accomplishments and impact.
3
Tell Their Story
Provide specific examples of service, leadership, innovation, outcomes, or influence. Strong nominations demonstrate both achievement and impact.
In Their Words
Why Recognition Matters
Past recipients share what professional recognition meant to them and why celebrating excellence helps strengthen the pelvic health physical therapy community.
Ebony Jackson Clark, PT, DPT, CLT APTA Emerging Leader Award Recipient Recognizing excellence elevates the profession, inspires innovation, and reinforces the vital role pelvic health physical therapists play in improving patients’ quality of life. Professional recognition also provides visibility to individuals whose work may otherwise happen quietly behind the scenes and encourages others to continue pursuing meaningful leadership, service, education, and clinical excellence. Read full testimonial
Amanda Olson, PT, DPT, PRPC Elizabeth Noble Award Recipient Winning the award meant the world to me. It was especially meaningful to be nominated by people I deeply respect. Receiving that recognition reminded me that our work reaches beyond individual projects and that our colleagues notice the energy, care, and commitment we bring to advancing pelvic health physical therapy. Read full testimonial
Mary Dockter, PT, PhD Elizabeth Noble Award Recipient I was humbled, overwhelmed, and incredibly thankful. I encourage everyone to recognize those who have made a difference in the profession. Taking the time to nominate a colleague allows us to honor the people who have supported, educated, inspired, and led others throughout their careers. Read full testimonial
Patricia King, PT, PhD, FAAOMPT Elizabeth Noble Award Recipient Recognition fuels passion, elevates vision, and provides visibility to outstanding work and ideas. It also creates an opportunity for our professional community to pause and celebrate individuals who are advancing clinical practice, education, research, mentorship, leadership, and service. Read full testimonial
Elaine Wilder, PT, PhD Elizabeth Noble Award Recipient When I received this award in 2010, it was 33 years from my first face-to-face meeting with Elizabeth Noble...she would be thrilled to know that there are now 4,000+ members of specialists and overflowing rooms at CSM, and the Academy's many educational offerings! Read full testimonial
Not ready to submit an annual award nomination?
Recognize an Academy member through a Member Spotlight or professional shout-out. Share how their leadership, service, expertise, or support has made a difference. View Article Guidelines. Explore past Member Spotlights.
Someone’s impact deserves to be seen.
Take a few moments to recognize a colleague whose work has advanced pelvic health physical therapy, strengthened the Academy, supported others, or improved patient care.
View Past Award Recipients