Faculty Spotlight: Charlotte Anderson

Physical therapists can take on unique and diverse roles in our health care system. For Charlotte Anderson, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, these roles happen all at once. 

We asked Anderson about her roles as a clinician, an entrepreneur, a teacher and an advocator and how they intersect.

Tell us about your work as a clinician. 

I have been a practising physical therapist since graduating from the program here at the University of Toronto. After working for a year in Toronto, I decided to open my own clinic, ALPHA Health Services. From there, I have opened more clinics with different practice models.  

One of these clinics is a public-private partnership with Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital where we are able to bridge the gap between public and private health systems. This model is the first of its kind in Ontario. Since we are located in the hospital, we can provide care for patients while they are in the hospital and continue to treat them as out-patients in the community. It allows for continuity of care and expedited recovery. 

The other clinic, 360 Concussion Care, has a couple of locations in Ontario. It’s an interdisciplinary clinic but we receive a lot of funding through research grants so it operates like a learning clinical lab. We treat patients post-concussion but also conduct clinical research that helps us to better understand treatment and clinical interventions for patients post-concussion. 

You joined the department a couple of years ago as an assistant professor and academic lead. What do you like most about teaching physical therapy students? 

I love teaching! Working with students helps me keep a finger on the pulse of where the profession is going. It keeps me energized, motivated and surrounded by colleagues I really respect. I feel very lucky to work with the amazing faculty at U of T and the students. 

Can you tell us about your new role as the Implementation and Stakeholder Engagement Lead for SAMIH and how you will be engaging the Scarborough community? 

I have recently been tasked with the leadership role of making sure the curriculum is supported when we open our doors to students at Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) by ensuring we have enough support staff in place and establishing relationships with the clinical community. Beyond that, I will be looking at opportunities for our students and how they can contribute to the Scarborough community. 

The opening of SAMIH brings an opportunity to re-evaluate our curriculum to make sure our students are ready to enter the community so I will be looking at what new methods, protocols and positions should be in place.

You are also involved with the Ontario Physiotherapy Association. Why is it important for  you to be involved with this association? 

I have been on the board there for two years and as of May 1, 2025, I am the incoming president for the Ontario Physiotherapy Association. Whether you are in private practice, public practice, an educator, a clinician or a researcher, if you are a registered physical therapist in Ontario, the association is there to represent you at the different advocacy tables that we need to be at. 

It’s important to me to be involved with the association because they make sure we are at the conversation table with the Ministry of Health to identify collaboration opportunities to improve health care in Ontario. 

With all your different roles, how do you balance your commitments? 

They are all symbiotic, to some extent. My practice informs my teaching, and my teaching informs my advocacy. There is a synergy between all of them, and it keeps me current and motivated. The beauty in our profession is there are a lot of hats we can wear but I always stay grounded in the fact that I am part of the physical therapy community. 

I feel really fortunate to be a physical therapist and to practise, teach, advocate and own businesses. And the people I have met throughout my career have been instrumental in my professional (and personal!) life and I am grateful to be surrounded by such amazing colleagues.