Roy J. Film, PT, MPT, DPT , OCS, FAAOMPT
- Academic Title: Assistant Professor
- Primary Appointment: Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
- Secondary Appointment(s): Orthopaedics
- Administrative Title: Director for Residency & Fellowship Education
- Additional Title: Director for Residency and Fellowship Education Program Director, UMSOM Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Academic Director, University of Maryland Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program
- Email: rfilm@som.umaryland.edu
- Location: AHRB
- Phone (Primary): (410) 706-4544
- Fax: (410) 706-6387
Education and Training
• PhD candidate in Epidemiology, University of Maryland Baltimore
• Master of Physical Therapy, Temple University, 1996
• Doctor of Physical Therapy, Temple University, 2012
• Board-Certified Orthopaedic Certified Specialist since 2007
• Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists since 2006
• Certified Ergonomist since 2002
Biosketch
Dr. Roy J. Film is an assistant professor and the Director for Residency and Fellowship Education at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) in the Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science where he teaches in the areas of orthopaedics, persistent pain, and evidence-based practice. He is the Program Director for the UMSOM Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy as well as the Academic Director for the University of Maryland Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency. He is Board Certified in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT).
Roy serves as the President of APTA Maryland as well as the Secretary of AAOMPT. He has been an invited member of the UN’s World Health Organization Peer Review Group for Musculoskeletal Conditions and a former taskforce leader for nonpharmacological pain management for US Army MEDCOM’s National Opioid Crisis Community Summit. On campus, he has served on the UMB Faculty Senate and the SOM Diversity Advisory Committee in addition to the many departmental service roles he has played in PTRS over the years. He is currently a part-time PhD student in Epidemiology at the University of Maryland Baltimore where he studies health services research and nonpharmacological pain management treatment to mitigate opioid use.
Research/Clinical Keywords
Non-pharmaceutical pain management, conservative orthopedic management, opioid crisis, epidemiology
Highlighted Publications
Film R, Fritz J, Adams T, Johnson A, Sun N, Falvey J. Racial Disparities in Outpatient Physical Therapy Use After Hip Fracture: A Retrospective Cohort Study. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2024 Dec;54(12):1-7. doi: 2519/jospt.2024.12641. PMID: 39602204.
Zarro M, Film R. Bone Stress Injury and Sacralization of the Lumbar Spine in a Division 1 Athlete with Low Back Pain.JOSPT cases (Online). Published online 2024:1-8. doi:10.2519/josptcases.2024.12165
Film RJ. Chasing the Dragon: Driving the Paradigm Shift to Move Beyond Opioids. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2020 Dec;50(12):661-663. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2020.0611. PMID: 33256511.
Mitchell JM, Reschovsky JD, Film RJ, Franzini L. Examining Drivers of Health Care Spending: Evidence on Self-Referral Among a Privately Insured Population. Med Care.2017 Jul;55(7):684-692. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000000732.
Additional Publications
Film RJ. Frontiers in Chronic Pain: Nonpharmacological Presurgical Management to Reduce the Risk of Chronic Postsurgical Pain, Part 1. Topics in Pain Management. 2021;36(6):1- doi: 10.1097/01.TPM.0000725600.07662.43
Film RJ. Frontiers in Chronic Pain: Nonpharmacological Presurgical Management to Reduce the Risk of Chronic Postsurgical Pain, Part 2. Topics in Pain Management. 2021, 36(7):1-10. doi: 10.1097/01.TPM.0000732816.12506.58
Ortega MAC, Marchese VG, Zarro MJ, Film RJ, Shipper AG, Felter C. Digital and blended curriculum delivery in health professions education: An umbrella review with implications for Doctor of Physical Therapy education programs. Physical Therapy Reviews. 2021, 27(1):4-24. doi:1080/10833196.2021.2000286
Awards and Affiliations
AWARDS
Faculty of the Year, Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science - 2015, 2017, 2018
Adjunct Faculty of the Year, Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science - 2010, 2012
Distinguished Service Award, American Physical Therapy Association of Maryland - 2017
Outstanding Reviewer Award, Musculoskeletal Science and Practice - 2017
Elite Reviewer Award, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - 2017
AFFILIATIONS
APTA
APTA of Maryland
AAOMPT
Grants and Contracts
Entry-Level DPT Orthopaedic Curriculum Guideline: a Delphi Study. APTA Orthopedics Grant 2025. PI: Massey J; Baldwin T; Film RJ; Schenk RJ; van Duijn AJ; Kolb WH; Vraa M; Varnado K; Polk K. $4,500.
Optimizing Ergonomics in Dental Education: A Simulation and Clinical Training Approach Through Collaboration with Physical and Occupational Therapy. University of Maryland, Baltimore Center for Interprofessional Education, Interprofessional Education (IPD) & Interprofessional Care (IPC) Seed Grant. Multiple PI: Alania Y (5%) and Film RJ (5%). $24,958.
A Better Way to Manage Pain: An Interprofessional Student Symposium on Pain Management and Mitigating Risk for Opioid Misuse and Addiction. 2019 IPEC Interprofessional Faculty Development Institute. May 22-24, Washington, DC. PI: Liberto J; Co-I: Welsh C, Film R, Fornili K, McPherson ML. $15,000.
Effects of Multi-Modal Exercise Intervention Post Hip Fracture companion study: Mechanistic Pathways to Community Ambulation (CAP-MP). Research Team member. NIH, National Institute on Aging. Grant #R37 AG009901. 1/16-6/17. PI: Magaziner J. $685,573.
In the News
Film RJ. Preparing to Apply to a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Rehab 2 Perform podcast, December 2020.
Film RJ. Postural Correction, interview by Tony Dormann. Men’s Health, July/August issue, 2015.
Major Invited Speeches
- Management of Post-operative Pain in the Age of an Opioid Epidemic, Annual Musculoskeletal Conference, Dodd Center for Human Rights, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, Apr 2023
- Shelter from the Storm: Mitigating the Risk of Chronic Postsurgical Pain, Society for Opioid Free Anesthesia, 3rd Annual SOFA Congress, Panama City, FL, April 2023
- Constrained Education in Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic. World Physiotherapy Educational Taskforce Webinar Series - Teaching Spaces with Restrictions: Impact of COVID-19 on Physiotherapist Entry-Level Education, Sep 2020
- Physical Therapy: An Evidence-Based Pain Management Approach to Limiting Opioid Consumption, 2019 Solutions Summit: Policies to Address Acute Pain and Opioid Addiction in America, Voices for Non-Opioid Choices, Washington, D.C., December 2019
- Physical Therapy to Facilitate Non-Opioid Pain Management, Society for Opioid Free Anesthesia, 2019 SOFA Congress, Panama City, FL, October 2019
- Non-Pharmacological Pain Management: Transforming Care to Combat the Opioid Crisis, US Army MEDCOM,National Opioid Crisis Community Summit, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, December 2018
Community Service
Catonsville High School, track and field, assistant coach, long jump, 2026-present
Catonsville Cougars, youth track and field club, sprints and jumps coach, 2020-present
Kids Mini-Med Day, physical fitness presentations, 2013-2020
APTA of MD representative at local highschool and college Career Day - 2011-2012
US Bone & Joint Initiative, Presenter at various local community centers - 2011
Howard County Public Schools, Gifted & Talented program mentor - 2009-2012
Greater Baltimore Swing Dance Committee, President - 2025-2010
Pennsylvania Center for Adaptive Sports, adaptive rowing crew - 1997-2000
Professional Activity
Foundation for OMPT Steering Committee, Clinical Science in OMPT - 2023-present
APTA Orthopedics, Orthopedic Faculty Workgroup - 2023-2029
APTA Orthopedics, Research Committee, abstract reviewer - 2018-present
World Health Organization, Peer Review Group for Musculoskeletal Conditions, 2021-2022
US ARMY - MEDCOM, National Opioid Crisis Community Summit, Nonpharmacological Pain Mgmt Access National Taskforce Leader - 2018-2020
APTA Maryland, President, 2023-2025
APTA Maryland, Vice President, 2019-2023
APTA Maryland, Opioid Task Force, Chair, 2020-present
APTA Maryland, HEAL Committee, Board Liaison, 2021-2023
United States IFOMPT Bid Committee, 2019 to 2020
APTA House of Delegates, Maryland Delegate - 2010-13,’15,’18-'21
IFOMPT External Assessor of US Fellowship Programs - 2018-present
ACOMPTE, Lead Accreditor, 2021-2025
ABPTRFE Accreditation Services Committee, Lead Accreditation Specialist - 2016-2022
ABPTS Specialty Academy of Content Experts, orthopaedics content expert - 2016-2022
AAOMPT Secretary - 2021-present
AAOMPT Nominating Committee - 2017-2020
AAOMPT Media & Marketing Committee - 2015-2017
AAOMPT Conference Committee - 2009-2016
AAOMPT International Affairs Committee - 2007-2009