We kick off heart month with Ellen Hillegass a specialist in Cardio Pulmonary Physical Therapy. Ellen gives you the why and the what to do with your patients that you might be overlooking regarding their cardiac function.

Ellen Hillegass, EdD, PT, CCS, FAACVPR, FAPTA,is an experienced educator and clinician, and a dynamic teacher. She is an adjunct associate professor in the DPT program at Mercer University, Western Carolina University, and Touro University. Dr. Hillegass serves as president of Cardiopulmonary Specialists and is an instructor of continuing education programs across the country. She draws upon her expertise as a board-certified cardiovascular and pulmonary clinical specialist to create a clinically relevant classroom experience for her students. Dr. Hillegass is a Fellow of the APTA and has been active in the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Section for many years as VP and Payment and Policy Chair. She has also been active and is a Fellow of the American Association of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). She is editor of Essentials in Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy, an entry-level text with the third edition published in 2010, and working on the fourth edition for 2014. She is the author of a clinical notes book titled PT Clinical NOTes. Ellen holds a Masters of medical science in cardiopulmonary physiology from Emory University and a doctorate in exercise physiology from the University of Georgia. She received entry-level training in physical therapy from the University of Pennsylvania.