For over two decades, Dr. Heidi Jannenga, PT, DPT (USAHS MPT ’96), has been a powerful force in reshaping the landscape of the rehab therapy profession. As a clinician, entrepreneur and changemaker, she blends her deep understanding of patient care with a bold commitment to solving complex industry challenges.
“Never forget that at the heart of what we do is problem-solving,” says Dr. Jannenga. “This has been part of my ethos since my graduation and embarking on a rewarding career as a sports medicine and orthopedic therapist.”
Leading through innovation
After working as a physical therapist for 25 years, Dr. Jannenga recognized a major gap in the tools available to her peers—specifically, the lack of a sophisticated electronic medical record platform designed for rehab therapy.
That insight led her to co-found WebPT, now one of the leading software platforms serving physical, occupational and speech therapists. As Chief Clinical Officer, she helps steer the company’s vision, ensuring it remains rooted in the needs of clinicians and the patients they serve.
Through her leadership at WebPT, Dr. Jannenga has elevated healthcare technology. She has amplified the voice of rehab therapy professionals worldwide, supported independent rehab clinics and fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration.
Expanding access equitably
Her influence extends beyond software and clinical advocacy. Dr. Jannenga is also the founder of Rizing Tide, a foundation focused on building a more diverse and inclusive rehab therapy workforce. Rizing Tide provides scholarships and support to students from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing their Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) or physical therapy residency programs.
She aims to create lasting change. “Based on my life experiences, I genuinely believe that with a more diverse workforce, everyone in the physical therapy industry—including providers, patients, vendors and the profession as a whole—wins,” Dr. Jannenga shares. “That environment doesn’t exist today, and I want to change that.”
Since its launch in 2021, Rizing Tide has committed $1.7 million to advance education, supporting Rizing Tide scholars from 47 DPT programs nationwide. All four cohorts of the organization’s scholars have achieved a 100% graduation rate, a testament to the drive of the students and the foundation’s mission.
“My goal is to make a meaningful, generational impact on this amazing profession that has given me so much,” says Dr. Jannenga.
Investing in transformation
Beyond her work with WebPT and Rizing Tide, Dr. Jannenga plays an active role in shaping the broader healthcare ecosystem. She’s involved with multiple healthcare, economic and community boards, foundations and councils, is an active member of the sports and private practice sections of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She also mentors students and entrepreneurs.
A champion of women in business and healthcare innovation, she’s also a founding member of the Arizona chapter of Golden Seeds, a network that supports female entrepreneurs, and launched Rootstock Ventures, an investment fund focused on early-stage capital for founders in SaaS and healthcare.
“Being a healthcare professional is not just about treating patients; it’s about being a catalyst for positive change in the world,” she says. “Together, we have the power to transform lives, to restore hope and to empower individuals to reach their full potential.”
Whether through technology, education, or investment, Dr. Jannenga continues to redefine what’s possible in physical therapy—championing innovation, equity and the next generation of leaders.
Dr. Jannenga has been recognized as one of Health Data Management’s Most Powerful Women in Healthcare IT, a 2024 Philanthropic Champion winner by the Phoenix Business Journal and as Ed Denison Business Leader of the Year at the Arizona Technology Council’s Governor’s Celebration of Innovation, among other honors.
Follow her journey at webpt.com.
