Stanley Paris receives Mildred Elson Award

Acceptance Speech, Stanley Paris
– WCPT, Amsterdam, June 2011
 
It is indeed an honor to receive the Mildred Elson Award.  I am sure there are others who are entitled to this award and so it is my sincere wish for them that they live as long as me to improve their odds. Incidentally, I have personally met all previous recipients.
 
My life, and that of my father and my wife, Dr. Catherine Patla, has centered on physical therapy.  My father was for instance the first male physiotherapist in New Zealand.
 
I gained my diploma in NZ in 1958, and soon thereafter took graduate studies in England, France, Norway, Canada and the United States before earning my doctorate in the United States. I have been licensed and practiced in NZ, UK, Canada, Bermuda and the United States and have given instruction in many countries and through my university, the University of St. Augustine, we have issued degrees to students and therapists from some _11_____ nations. Thus I suspect I have been involved internationally.
 
What I have noticed over the years, is that the gap between nations in terms of practice standards is narrowing. This organization, WCPT in conducting this and Regional Conferences, combined with published research, and travel by distinguished speakers, has helped place the international community of physical therapy on a more level platform. 
 
It seems that the next big step is to achieve practice autonomy for all physical therapists, in all nations, for only when we have the right to self destiny and do not depend on referral from physicians can we fully exploit the opportunities to deliver health care at times competitive with the self interests of the medical community.
 
As a profession we are universally under appreciated for our skills in restoring, maintaining and enhancing the physical functioning of the individual.  This is true - not only of the lay public, but also unfortunately of our referral sources that often would prefer to medicate or operate rather than to refer for our interventions.
 
What is needed to address this unfortunate reality is more research that speaks to the long term outcomes of our interventions – research that is only feasible when we have control of the patient by direct access and autonomy.
 
I am absolutely convinced that with our growing emphasis on wellness and with increasing numbers of studies that are beginning to show in such areas as hip, knee and spinal complaints, that physical therapy is equal to or better than medical and surgical care that the tide is changing in our favor.
 
I have often said, and I see it becoming more true with each passing year especially now with the increase of life expectancy and the desire on the part of many to stay engaged during those increased years, that while medicine and surgery may save lives, no profession speaks to the quality of those lives better than does physical therapy.
 
Through research, maintaining and enhancing our clinical skills, and through PR and marketing the future of our profession is very bright.
 
In closing I wish to accept this award and hope to continue to serve its purpose.
 
Thank you.
 
Stanley
 
 
Mildred Elson Acceptance  
 
I accept this great honor in full recognition that there are others as well qualified to receive this award. I only hope that they like me, live long enough to receive it.
 
Of the six previous recipients of this award I am privileged to say that I have met all six of them.
 
I am one of those who believe in the greatness of the services that we as physical therapy professionals offer to the health and welfare of our respective nations.
 
However our services are almost universally under appreciated and under reimbursed.  None the less I see a brighter future for us, largely through our contributions to the evidenced based literature, and to our growing autonomy and advocacy, that one day we will become to be seen as the primary professional of the neuromusculoskeletal system. I have said before that medicine and surgery may save lives, but no profession speaks to the quality of lives more so than does physical therapy.
 
Our role in restoring, maintaining and enhancing the physical functions of our patients will be especially needed with the advancing recognition of the concepts of wellness and the ageing of the population.
 
Again I thank you for this honor.
 
Have a great conference.
 
Stanley
 
 
Mildred Elson Award, WCPT, June 2011
 
Wording in Stanley’s citation from WCPT Awards Committee:

The Mildred Elson Award for 2011 is presented to Stanley Paris.  Stanley Paris has been a driving force in the physical therapy profession across the world.  From New Zealand, where he earned his physical therapist entry-level qualification and first awards in the 1950s, to the United States of America where he lives and works today,  Stanley has influenced the world of physical therapy through his writing, teaching, clinical practice, and advocacy efforts.  His work has furthered the development of the PT profession.

He has played a founding and influential role in various organisations.  He was the founding chairman of the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physiotherapists, IFOMPT, and also its second president.  He was the founder and President of the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists.  He also founded the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy.

Over his career, Stanley has been equally energetic in the pursuit of excellence as in his own many physical activities and adventures.  He has proved to be an inspiration to many and, in common with Mildred Elson, has served as an outstanding role model and leader in the physical therapy profession.  Stanley Paris is a deserving recipient of the award named in her honour.




The Mildred Elson Award:

The Mildred Elson Award is for sustained and continuous leadership over a career and is to honour physical therapists who, like Mildred Elson, have contributed significantly to the development of physical therapy at an international level.  It is the highest honour that WCPT can