Melissa Smith, DPT

We have to do a better job of helping our new grads look out for themselves. Since it’s interview season, I’m compiling some interview questions in the form of “🚩Red Flag, ✅ Green Flag” to help interviewees identify & avoid potentially toxic workplaces. Feel free to add 👇

🎉 BREAKING NEWS! #Duchenne #MuscularDystrophy is now included on the Recommended Newborn Screening Panel, making early diagnosis & care possible for newborns across the U.S. #NewbornScreening @MDAorg prnewswire.com/news-releases/… @MDAorg

We are thrilled to announce Dr. Jill Heathcock, PT, MPT, PhD, as the next Editor in Chief of Pediatric Physical Therapy — effective January 1, 2026. A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Linda Fetters for her decade of transformative leadership.

Read our release at Sarepta.com.

Don't forget, it's better to have a finished draft than a perfect draft! unfortunately, my draft is both unfinished and awful...

In children with toddler’s fractures, a removable boot was as effective as circumferential casting for pain recovery and demonstrated better outcomes for return to baseline activities, caregiver preferences, and childcare-related challenges. ja.ma/44PlQxK @NPoonai

We are offering our new professionals and students and opportunity to attend this conference for free. Visit the link below to submit your nomination for the Annual Conference Attendance Scholarship Award. Deadline to apply is August 1st. pediatricapta.org/sl_files/21070…

This week, the Senate is expected to vote on a broad budget reconciliation package that includes significant proposed changes to Medicaid, including stricter eligibility requirements and major funding reductions. Take action today: engage.parentprojectmd.org/component/sbxa…

Webinar recording now available: @Sarepta recently joined PPMD for a community webinar to share details from the company’s recent safety update on ELEVIDYS. Watch the recording now: parentprojectmd.org/aiovg_videos/w…

@NickHoopes_ Had this happen to me once too! 😂 I didn’t realize you had to justify the pneumatic + airless inserts vs standard. I’m sure you got it, but if you need my blurb for this happy to share!

Working on a letter of medical necessity for a manual wheel chair: “Please explain why this patients wheelchair needs (Tires)…” You have to be kidding me… Cause it’s a WHEELchair. Would you also like me to tell you why it needs a seat? (The answer to that is also yes…)

Today's decision is about undermining independent medical expertise and will only further endanger the health of the American public, especially children. bit.ly/43Bwd80

The NCH Neuromuscular team is hiring another research PT! If you love neuromuscular and developmental pediatric populations, interdisciplinary clinics, clinical trials, and research, then this may be a great fit! …onwidechildrens.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/NCHCaree…

i like staying up at unhumanly hours but i also like getting 12 hours of sleep do you see my problem

submit to a different journal

actually lowkey devastated how my generation is now going to be locked out of PhDs and becoming professors

Every time Baby sleeps, try Sleep Switch, Left, Right, Repeat! This simple trick helps prevent flat spots & tight neck muscles. Learn how it works & why it matters: pathways.org/do-the-sleep-s… #SleepSwitch #BabySleeping #SleepingTips #Parents

Our hearts ache for this family. We recognize the courage it takes to pursue new treatments, and this loss highlights the urgent need to fully understand the risks associated with gene therapy in our current therapeutic landscape to ensure patient safety. parentprojectmd.org/a-safety-updat…

We are deeply saddened by the loss of a young member of our community following treatment with ELEVIDYS. The individual with Duchenne received ELEVIDYS and later suffered from complications of acute liver failure.

“love is in the air” WRONG. airborne diseases

This May, the ACHDNC plans to vote on whether to add #Duchenne to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) for #newbornscreening. To support a push for evidence about the impact of early diagnosis on outcomes, PPMD hosted the Duchenne Early Intervention Symposium.