Highlights from Stanley V Paris, PT, Speaker at the Annual Conference and Expo of APTA in Orlando, FL

Stanley V. Paris, PT spoke of autonomy of the physical therapy profession in his presentation entitled, “In the Best Interest of the Patient,” the 37th McMillan Lecture at the annual APTA Conference in Orlando, FL.

Mr. Paris is the president of Florida’s University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences and co-editor of the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy. A heralded contributor in establishing manual therapy principles as an accepted component of physical therapy, Mr. Paris discussed the importance of positioning and marketing of physical therapy so that “we become the primary rehabilitation profession in this country.” He also pointed out that the Guide to Physical Therapy and Vision 2020 are two instrumental documents that could bring the profession to a new level.

Mr. Paris spoke of the profession’s obligation to elevate the skill set of therapists so that the profession is viewed as a leader and gatekeeper and ultimately the practitioner of choice for the country. He addressed the issue of the shortage of physical therapists, suggesting an adjustment be made in the cost of education, school outcomes like student satisfaction and salaries after graduation be published, the importance of research not only in the academic setting but for the entire profession, suggested an increase in the number of available residencies to accommodate certified clinical specialization, mentoring from employer’s, and most importantly, Mr. Paris discussed in his words the need to do, “something desperate to establish an identity for this profession.” Calling for an aggressive marketing plan, Mr. Paris states, “It is the Guide and Vision 2020 that will get us to the summit, but it’s marketing that will have us reach the tipping point.”