SHEILA K. NICHOLSON, PT, DPT, JD, MBA, MA, Esquire 6143 Whimbrelwood Drive, Lithia, 33547 Work: (813) 286-8818; Home: (813) 571-3599 or Cell: (813) 323-8080 E-mail: Home: snicholson2@tampabay.rr.com or Work: snicholson@qpwblaw.com or APTA: sheilanicholson@apta.org EDUCATION: Institution Degree Confirmed Sage Colleges DPT 12/ 2011(Transitional Program) Stetson University JD/MBA 12/2002 GPA: 3.2 College of Law Honor Graduate Cum Laude St. Petersburg, FL Honors/Activities: Walter Mann Award; Victor O. Wehle Award; William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award; Who s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges; National Moot Court Competition-Fall, 2001; Finalist at the E. Earle Zehmer Moot Court Competition - August, 2001 and Competed August, 2002; Round Winner in Phelps Dunbar LLP First-Year Appellate Advocacy Competition; Phi Delta Phi Induction Fall-2001; Elder Law Society-President for school year 2001-2002; All-American Scholar; Teaching Assistant for Chief Judge David A. Demers in Trial Advocacy for Spring and Fall, 2002; Awarded Nader Zrake, Cecil Bailey, and Chesterfield Smith Scholarships; Barney Masterson Inn of Court Spring 2002 and SY 2002-2003. Major University of Alabama MA 1988 Health Education Tuscaloosa, Alabama Exercise Physiology Honors/Activities: GPA: 4.00; Nominated by College of Education for University s Outstanding Thesis Award; Kappa Delta Phi. Georgia State University BS 1984 Physical Therapy Atlanta, Georgia Honors/Activities: GPA: 3.78; Magna Cum Laude; Phi Kappa Phi; Clinical Excellence Award given by Faculty. LAW EXPERIENCE: September, 2001 present Partner (January 2007) at Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. Currently manage team of 3 Partner, 7 Associates and 10 support personnel. Primarily insurance defense litigation including Medical Malpractice, Licensure Defense and Compliance for Independent Living Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Homes, Health Care Providers and premises liability cases. Law Clerk from September, 2001 until becoming Associate in April, 2003. Licensed in FL & MS Law Clerk at Bartow Public Defender s Office from July 16, 2001 - August 17, 2001 Winter 2001 & 2003 Legal Pro Bono on Elder Homestead Exemption Completed additional applications, assembled necessary documentation, and processed applications under supervision. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: Director on APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) Board of Directors 6/2014 present - Board Work Group on Appointments 2014 present - Board Work Group on Transforming Association 2014-2015 o Member Subcommittee on PTA 2015 - Board Work Group on Transforming Profession 2016 - Board Work Group on Journal Publication 2016 - Board Work Group on Motions 2016 - Board Work Group on Scope of Practice (Chair) 2016 - present - Board Liaison to Home Health Section 2014 6/2016 - Board Liaison to New Jersey - Board Liaison to West Virginia 2014-2016 - Board Liaison to South Carolina 2014 6/2016
- Board Liaison to Wyoming 2015 present - Board Liaison to Colorado 2016 - Board Liaison to Texas 2016 - Board Liaison to Federal Society 2015 present - Board Liaison to Geriatric Section 2016 - present - Board Liaison to American Board of Physical Therapy Residencies & Fellowships (ABPTRFE) - Board Member to Task Force on Scope of Practice #2 2015 o Chair 2015 2016 Member APTA Task Force on Scope of Practice 2013-2014 Member Advisory Board Nova Southeastern University HE-DPT Program 2011 to present President of the Florida Physical Therapy Association 2009 2013 Member Committee on Risk Management & Member Benefits APTA 2008 June 2011 Member Board of Directors Florida Physical Therapy Association (FPTA) August 2005-2013 Member Executive Committee of Board of Directors FPTA 2006 & 2008-2013 Delegate to the American Physical Therapy Association s House of Delegates 2004-2014 Assembly Representative for West Central District Florida Physical Therapy Association 2004 and 2005 Regional Director for West Central District of Florida Physical Therapy Association 2005 to 2009 Co - Coordinator Membership Panel FPTA 2007 to 2009 Health Care Compliance Association of ABA 2007 to 2011 Florida Health Care Association 2007 to present - Member of Legislative Committee 2011 to present - Member of Rules and Regulations Committee 2011 to present American Bar Association 2000 to present DRI (Defense Research Institute) member ABA Health Law Section 2000 to present Florida Bar Association 2003 to present Mississippi Bar Association 2004 to present Hillsborough County Bar Association 2003 to 2015 American Physical Therapy Association 1982 to present (with absence during law school) Florida Physical Therapy Association (FPTA) 1988 to present (with absence during law school) FPTA Legislative Committee 2003-2013 Standards of Practice Committee of FPTA 1984 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Spring 2012 - present Spring 2013 Spring 2009 to 2013 June, 1984 Present August, 2000 Present December, 1999 August, 2000 April, 1995 to December, 1999 April, 1994 to April, 1995 March, 1990 to April, 1994 June, 1984 March, 1990 Adjunct Professor Stetson College of Law teaching Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiating Client Skills. Adjunct Professor Nova SE University in Leadership Training for faculty Adjunct Instructor The Sage Colleges teaching Administration, Leadership and Business Management to Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy program online. Physical Therapist Pool Physical Therapist The Pines of Sarasota - Director of Rehabilitation IHS of Venice North & IHS of Port Charlotte-Director of Rehabilitation Ballard & Associates, Inc. - Vice President of Operations CMS Therapies - (formerly Communi-Care/Pro-Rehab, Inc.) Clinical Consultant/Administrative Regional Director/ Clinical Regional Director/Physical Therapy State Manager Staff Physical Therapist in Hospital, Outpatient Clinic, Home Health; Sports Medicine, Wellness Center, and developed Work Hardening Program which included Functional Capacity Evaluations.
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS: Liability for PT Mock Trial FPTA Fall Conference (scheduled for September 2017) Liability & Risk Management for Physical Therapist University of Miami 3 rd year students (scheduled September 2017) Medical Errors for PT SW District FPTA (scheduled August 2017) Hiring & Firing; Contract Negotiations ASHA Health Care Institute (scheduled July 2017) Medical Errors for PT WC District FPTA (scheduled May 2017) Ignite Talk & Standard of Care FTPA Student Conclave January 2017 Liability & Risk Management for Physical Therapist September 2016 University of Miami 3 rd year students Hot Topics in Elder Law Stetson University Webinar July 2016 Liability and Physical Therapy: Any Concern WCD FPTA July 2016 Risk Management Speech & Policies & Procedures ASHA Health Care July 2016 Medical Error Rehab FL Medbridge June 2016 Getting Involved FPTA Student Conclave 2016 Risks in Physical Therapy FPTA Fall Conference 2015 Key Note Speaker White Coat Ceremony University of Vermont September 2015 Risk Management for Speech Therapy Managers ASHA Health Care July 2015 Risk Management Seminar with HPSO APTA CSM (Combined Sections Meeting) February 2015 How Science Can be Used in the Courtroom: Whiplash APTA CSM February 2015 Jurisprudence for PT (LA, NJ, TN, IN, GA & WI) Planned release 2017 Medical Errors for PT for FL - MedBridge 2016 to present Medical Errors for PT Polk Community College 2015 HIPAA for Rehab MedBridge OSHA for Rehab MedBridge Sexual Harassment for Rehab MedBridge Medical Errors Polk Community College & SW District 2013 Keynote Speaker Daytona State College Daytona State College May 2013 Keynote Speaker FGCU DPT Graduates Florida Gulf Coast University (May 2013 & May 2014) Preparing for Deposition APTA CMS 2013 White Coat Professionalism UNF 2012 University of North Florida Medical Errors APTA National Convention Keynote Speaker SSU PTA Graduates 2012 Seminole State University (May 2012) Keynote Speaker FGCU DPT Graduates 2012 Florida Gulf Coast University (May 2012) Documentation FTPA Student Conclave (January 2012) Keynote address FPTA Student Conclave FPTA Student Conclave (January 2012) Anatomy of Medical Malpractice & Mock Trial FPTA PAC event (October 2011) Vision for the Future of PT Education APTA Education Section (September 2011) Understanding Florida s Laws & Rules FPTA Annual Conference (September 2011) Speaker LAMP LAMP C1 (July 2011) Documentation is your BEST Defense APTA Annual Conference (June 2011) Medical Errors for Physical Therapy FPTA WCD meeting (April 2011) Medical Malpractice 5 lecture series Stetson School of Law (March 2011) Documentation & Medical Malpractice Tri-State Forum, Washington, DC (October 2010) The Art of Leadership FPTA Annual Conference (September 2010) Documentation is your BEST Defense APTA Annual Conference (June 2010) Chicago Rehab Director s Forum November 2009 HCCA Physician s Compliance October 2009 ASHRM (Risk Managers) October 2009 NAMWOLF October 2009 Understanding How Plaintiff Uses Documentation FADONA Region IV September 16, 2009 Will you Lose your License CSM APTA (February 2009) & Annual APTA (June 2009) Medical Errors for Physical Therapist WCD of Florida Physical Therapy Association (April 2009) Understanding Medical Malpractice 2 nd year PT students at USF (April 2009) Legal Documentation & Mock Trial CSM APTA (February 2009) Assessment Tools that Create Legal Risks ASHRM (October 2008) Understanding 1823s, Assessment & Service Plans FALA (August 2008) Will Rehab Survive Audit? FHCA (August 2008) Litigation Bloopers FAHSA (July 2008) Emerging Litigation Issues in Physical Therapy Combined Sections Meeting APTA (February 2008) Key Compliance Issues in Rehabilitative Services: Health Care Compliance Association (January 2008) How to Survive a Medicare Audit
Emerging Liability Issues Team Physician 2 nd Annual Conference Behind Scenes Sports Physicians (January 2008) Legal Issues & Medical Malpractice FGCU 1 st year Physical Therapy Students (November 2007) Liability & Risk Along the Geriatric Continuum Florida Medical Directors Association (October 2007) Medical Errors West Central District Florida Physical Therapy Association Liability & Risk to Physical Therapist (October 2007) Texas Physical Therapy Association Annual Conference (October 2007) Legal Issues & Medical Malpractice FGCU 2 nd year Physical Therapy Students (October 2007) Nursing Home Assessments 3 rd Year Law Students at Stetson University (October 2007) Litigation Bloopers Florida Health Care Association (July 2007) Emerging Liability Issues in Home Health Associated Home Health Industries of Florida Annual Conference (June, 2007) Legal & Medicare Documentation/Corporate Compliance Mid-South Rehabilitation Company (January 2007) Legal Issues & Medical Malpractice UF 2 nd year Physical Therapy Students (January 2007) Legal Issues & Medical Malpractice USF 2 nd year Physical Therapy Students (January 2007) Legal Documentation for Long Term Care Mississippi Health Care Association (October 2006) Legal Documentation for Directors of Nursing Florida Association of Directors of Nursing (September 2006) Documentation for Activities Directors Florida Association of Activities Directors (August 2006) Liability Risks: New Ideas for Old Issues Florida Health Care Association (July 2006) Mock Trial & Rehabilitation Liability New Mexico Health Care Association (May 2006) Nursing Home Assessments 3 rd Year Law Students at Stetson (February 2006) Using Therapy to Mitigate Risks with Dementia Residents Florida Association of Homes for Aging (February 2006) Medical Malpractice and its impact on SLP Miami Speech Therapy Group (December 2005) Dementia Specific Training for Therapist (Legal Aspects) Sponsored through Florida Health Care Association September 23 & 24, 2005 (Orlando & Tampa, FL) July 2006 (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Legal Documentation in Long Term Care Douglas Jacobson VA s Nursing Home (June 2005) Rehabilitation: Liability Driven Benefits and Ass. Risks Mississippi Health Care Association, Tunica, MS (June 2005) Medical Malpractice and its Impact on PT APTA Annual Conference, Boston, MA (June 2005) Medical Malpractice and its Impact on SLP FLASHA Annual Conference (May 2005) Medical Malpractice and its Impact on OT FOTA Annual Conference (December 2004) Legal and Ethical Issues USF 2 nd year Physical Therapy Students (April 2004) Medical Malpractice and Physical Therapy West Central District FPTA (April 2004) Medical Malpractice and its Potential Impact on PT FPTA Spring Conference (March 2004) PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Documentation Book (Chapter on Legal Documentation) Jones & Bartlett 2016 A Vision for the Future of Physical Therapy Beyond 2020 PT Journal (November 2011) Understanding Risks of Electronic Medical Records PT Magazine (September 2011) Medical Malpractice Podcast PT Talker (Summer 2011) Physical Therapy Compliance Issues Podcast PT Talker (Summer 2011) A Hands-on Approach to Hands Off Communication PT in Motion (April 2010) Tips for Preventing Medical Malpractice HPSO Newsletter (Summer 2009) Direct Access and Risk Management Today in PT (Publication Fall 2008) Emerging Liability Issues for PTs & PTAs in Nursing Homes PT Magazine (June 2008) Authored book Physical Therapist Business Practice & Legal Guide Jones & Bartlett Publisher - 2006 - Currently working on 2d Edition Liability Awareness: Courtroom Awareness PT Magazine (December 2006) Medicare Part B s $1740 Therapy Cap and New Exception Process March 7, 2006 (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys) Medical Malpractice and Therapy (Advance for Rehab Directors) January 2006 Medical Malpractice and Therapy Eli Rehab Report (2005) Co-authored Chapter on ATC legal documentation Published by Slack in January 2005 Article on Reduce Legal Risk for Advance for Speech-Language Pathologist & Audiologist September 12, 2005 PPS Training for Rehab Services 1998 Hosted HIV 101 course for PT Credit 1998 Guest Lecturer on Medicare/OBRA to Alabama OT Association 1993 Guest Lecturer for Medicare Video used for Company training 1993 Guest Lecturer for Medicare Orientation 1992-1994 Developed "Super Home" rehab model for nursing homes for CMS 1992
Participated in mission trip as a Physical Therapist to rural area of Guatemala 1991