Dr. Carmen Elliott, DHS, CAE – President and Chief Executive Officer
Carmen Elliott, DHS, CAE, is an experienced association executive and healthcare leader whose work centers on strengthening organizations, improving healthcare coverage and participation, and building strong professional communities. With more than two decades of leadership experience in healthcare associations and nonprofit management, she brings a proven record of guiding strategy, leading high-performing teams, and advancing initiatives that respond to the evolving needs of the healthcare sector.
Qualifications Summary:
Association Executive & Strategic Leader
- Executive leader with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), a national healthcare professional society representing more than 100,000 members and a $50 million operating budget.
- Served as Acting Chief of Staff, working closely with the CEO to oversee key strategic initiatives, organizational alignment, and performance tracking through objectives and key results (OKRs).
- Experienced in leading large staff teams, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, and aligning staff and volunteer leadership to advance organizational strategy and long-term goals.
- Certified Association Executive (CAE), the highest professional credential in the association management field.
Fundraising & Organizational Growth Leader
- Served as Executive Director of the Physical Therapy Fund, a 501(c)(3) scholarship foundation supporting the next generation of physical therapy professionals.
- Led a multi-year fundraising campaign that doubled the organization’s endowment and generated approximately $1 million in annual donations.
- Developed donor acquisition and retention strategies designed to grow the endowment to $10 million while strengthening scholarship opportunities for students.
- Expanded partnerships and sponsorship opportunities that increased the organization’s long-term sustainability and reach.
Public Policy & Healthcare Strategy Leader
- Former Vice President of Public Policy at APTA, where she led national policy strategy on behalf of the profession.
- Built partnerships with healthcare organizations, policymakers, and national stakeholders to improve healthcare coverage and support patient care.
- Led efforts that expanded telehealth coverage by major payers and improved payment policies affecting physical therapy services nationwide.
- Served as a national spokesperson on healthcare policy, reimbursement, and market trends affecting patient care.
Education & Professional Leadership
- Doctor of Human Services in Organizational Leadership, Capella University
- Master of Science in Healthcare Management, Marymount University
- Bachelor of Science in Biology, Bowie State University
- Active leader in the association community, serving on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and contributing to national leadership initiatives across the nonprofit and healthcare sectors.