It is with heavy hearts that the Department of Physical Therapy announces the passing of Sandra (Sandy) K. McCuen on February 5, 2024. McCuen was a 1968 graduate of the D.T. Watson School of Physical Therapy and an active Pitt alumna. She and her husband Eric, also a physical therapist, started McCuen & Associates Physical Therapy in Camp Hill, PA, near Harrisburg and added several more offices over the years until they moved to Colorado in 2020.
McCuen was a key member of the Pennsylvania Direct Access Task Force and worked for years to make patients’ direct access to physical therapists happen in Pennsylvania. “It took about 15 years and several legislative sessions to get direct access legislation passed,” remembers Carol Galletta, McCuen’s good friend and colleague.
The PA direct access legislative team taking a break from their hard work at Rick and Mary Read’s home on the New Jersey shore circa 1989. Pictured left to right: Judy Bowman, Carole Galletta, Ray Schaney, Rick Read, Sandy McCuen, Mary Sinnott and Tom Stewart. McCuen knew how to work hard and knew how to enjoy life.
Gerri Gryzbek, a board-certified geriatric specialist and the physical therapy clinical coordinator of the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, reflects on McCuen’s impact:
“Sandy McCuen’s dedication to our professional association was truly remarkable. She served many years as a volunteer on various committees within our state chapter. She may be best known with her work as the co-chair of the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, (now APTA-PA) Insurance Relations Committee. Her attention to detail and constant reading and research led to countless physical therapists having a greater knowledge of the complicated puzzle of reimbursement policies.
Eric and Sandy McCuen co-sponsoring the Issues Forum at the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Meetings.
Gryzbek continues, “Sandy later served as the chapter’s reimbursement specialist, devoting more time to our profession and service to our members. She sat at the table, meeting with leadership of several insurance carriers, informing them of the impact that their decisions will have on their members and service providers. Sandy McCuen truly served our profession. As a former chapter president, I am truly grateful for her expertise and contributions to our professional community.”
"There aren't many successful PT private practices owned and managed by married PTs, but the practice that Sandy and Eric McCuen built in Southcentral Pennsylvania was that and more. Great clinicians with a love for their profession and a commitment to advancing not only their practice, but to the profession itself. Sandy's service to APTA PA was exemplary, both in her many volunteer roles and also as the chapter's reimbursement specialist. Sandy was the embodiment of the servant leader and will be greatly missed." (Karl Gibson, PT, MS)
Carol Galleta wrote in summary, “Sandy poured her heart and soul into promoting and elevating our profession. Her love of our profession was surpassed only by the love of her family. Sandy's husband and soulmate, Eric, also a PT, along with their children, Leigh, Derrick and Doug, were the absolute finest of "care partners", shepherding Sandy through a difficult journey. Her light will continue to shine through her family, friends, and the many physical therapists who benefited from her years of dedication to our profession.”
Sandy McCuen made a big difference to all of us in the state of Pennsylvania by her contribution and unwavering support of adequate reimbursement for physical therapy services and provided a model for successful women co-owning physical therapy practices. We were always proud to have her as a Pitt graduate and appreciated her support of the educational program at Pitt.