Ryan Bannister is the Director of Student Recruitment at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), working with Physical Therapist Assistant, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and physical therapist residency and fellowship education programs on access, career pathways, and belonging within the PT profession with particular focus on recruitment program initiatives. With over 20 years’ work experience in higher education, Mr. Bannister is recognized nationally as a leader in health professions education admissions and student recruitment practices.

Mr. Bannister currently serves as the staff liaison from the APTA to the HOSA: Future Health Professionals HOSA 100 Advisory Council, the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) Advisory Council, and Liaison International Centralized Application Services for Health Professions Executive Group (CEG). Mr. Bannister is a past co-Chair of the CEG (2018-2020), past Chair of the national Health Professions Week student recruitment event (2020), and past Chair of the NAAHP Advisory Council (2021-22). In addition, Mr. Bannister has served on several national work groups and delivered national conference presentations related to holistic admissions.

Prior to coming to APTA in October 2017, Mr. Bannister was the Director of Specialized Application Services at the American Dental Education Association working with international dental school admissions and dental hygiene education program admissions. Mr. Bannister’s previous work includes time spent in undergraduate admissions at the University of Connecticut and serving as Director of Account Management and Client Services with Liaison International, an educational technology company focused on admissions and enrollment management software.

Mr. Bannister earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Political Science and Sociology from the University of Connecticut and has completed graduate coursework in organizational and non-profit leadership at Eastern Washington University and Western Governors University. Additionally, Mr. Bannister has earned his Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in January 2024.