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Author: Sarah Caston, PT, DPT

Sarah Caston, PT, DPT is an assistant professor in Emory University’s Division of Physical Therapy, and a member of ACAPT’s Consortium for Humanities, Ethics, and Professionalism. She is a board certified neurologic clinical specialist in physical therapy. Dr. Caston incorporates humanities and narrative reflections into her areas of teaching. Dr. Caston demonstrates her passion for DPT student growth and well-being through co-directing Emory DPT’s Learning Community Program, and directing research on methods to improve student well-being. Dr. Caston’s additional scholarly interests include the intersection of the lived experience of individuals with disability with rehabilitation education and practice, ethics in rehabilitation, and DPT student well- being. She is passionate about promoting humanities practices and student self- reflection around the lived experiences of individuals in marginalized populations, social justice, and rehabilitation ethics.

Special Issue Editorial: An Invitation to Reorient and Re-imagine

In her editorial, Sarah Caston, PT, DPT, lays the groundwork for this special JHR issue and the importance of disability inclusion and equitable access within the rehabilitation profession. She argues that inclusiveness and justice are not inherent to caring professions and that clinicians and educators should seek spaces that encourage curiosity and vulnerability. She provides readers with action steps to “inspire[s] the moral courage needed to continue the vital and necessary work of caring for each other.”

Forging a New Future

While exploring the ongoing effects of disability on students, clinicians, and patients alike was a key aspect of the Summit, another crucial takeaway for attendees was a reference list offering guidance on moving forward. How do we improve our efforts to create equity of access, inclusion, and anti-ableism? In this introduction, Deana Herrman, PT, PhD, honors the groundbreaking work of disability rights activist Judy Heumann, and notes a good place to begin is with her book, Being Heumann. Along with co-authors, Sarah Caston PT, DPT and Priyanka Bhakta PT, DPT, she has created a list that offers a variety of self-education materials. “It is never too late to start, and it is always okay to keep learning, recognize when we don’t know enough, and strive to do better—for the future,” Herrman concludes.

Resources to Promote Inclusion and Belonging

For Spring 2022, the JHR is publishing for the first time a resource list related to cultivating belonging for students and patients in healthcare education and healthcare settings. This exceptional compilation of articles, books, movies, and artwork could serve as “an academic course in and of itself,” according to one of our editors.