Nitin Madhvani officially assumed the role of Council President in June 2023. Already an experienced and respected Council member, Nitin’s election is a notable indication of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario’s commitment to serving the public interest. It is also historic – marking the first time in the College’s 32-year history that a non-physiotherapist is Council President. 

“I’m honoured to be chosen by my colleagues for this important role,” he said. “As a member of the public, I will bring a renewed sense of public engagement with our valued partners and collaborators. I look forward to hearing from both the profession and members of the public on how we can continue meeting the demand for physiotherapy, while promoting safety and inspiring public confidence.” 

Nitin joined Council in December 2019 and has served on various committees including the Executive, Finance, and Discipline Committees. He has been involved in the College’s response to the pandemic, several key discussions around entry to practice and pathways to registration, the launch of the Ontario Clinical Exam, hiring a new Registrar & CEO, and has participated in training around governance, equity, diversity and inclusion, and financial literacy.

“Nitin has been a valuable addition to Council, and I know that Council and the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario will continue to thrive under his leadership,” said Theresa Stevens, current Council Vice-President and outgoing Council President. “He has a breadth of experience working and volunteering in the public sector, and will continue to foster transparency, accountability and collaboration in our work.” 

Serving the public has been core to Nitin’s professional career outside of his College work for more than 15 years. He has worked with public health and indigenous groups before accepting his current role where he helps hospitals and health systems transform how they manage relationships with patients. 

In Ontario, health regulatory colleges were established to regulate health professions like physiotherapy in the public interest. There are 26 health regulatory colleges in Ontario. Only three, including the College of Physiotherapists, currently have a public Council member serving as president, while a handful of others have previously had public member presidents.

During his tenure, Nitin plans to build on the key strategic areas identified in the College’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan with a renewed focus on the core activities of regulation and managing risk.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to further amplify the College’s commitment to serve the public interest through an approach that fully explores the needs of our partners, squarely addresses egregious behaviour and supports physiotherapists in delivering high-quality care,” he said. “As the health landscape continues to evolve, it’s imperative that we remain nimble and able to respond to changing expectations.”

This approach is rooted in the concept of ‘right-touch’ regulation, which specifies that: “Regulation is based on a proper evaluation of risk, is proportionate and outcome focused; it creates a framework in which professionalism can flourish and organizations can be excellent.” It means understanding the problem before implementing a solution, and making sure the level of regulation is proportionate to the risk to the public.

“The College has accomplished so much, and in several ways has been a leader in our space – but there’s always room to grow. Achieving excellence requires innovation and agility. I aspire to have my appointment as Council President serve as a key building block on that journey,” said Nitin.

We welcome the opportunity to connect with physiotherapists, patients, students, regulatory partners and other collaborators. Please email president@collegept.org and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.