Awards

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2009-10

The Awards Committee of the Section on Research is seeking nominations for the following American Physical Therapy Association national awards:

Marion Williams Award for Research in Physical Therapy
Eugene Michels new Investigator Award
John P. Maley Award
Helen J Hislop Award

Please address questions and forward nominations by September 12, 2009 to the Chair of the SOR Awards Committee, Roberta Henderson (847.578.8699) or roberta.henderson@rosalindfranklin.edu

Nominations must include the CV of the candidate and a preliminary letter of support from the nominator (electronic submissions preferred). The SOR Awards Committee will submit recommended SOR nominees for the 2009-10 awards to the SOR Executive Committee by October 3, 2009.

A description of each award, including eligibility and criteria for selection of candidates, follows.

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Marian Williams Award for Research in Physical Therapy (see past award winners)

History

In 1963, the Marian Williams Award for Research in Physical Therapy was established to recognize individuals who have performed sustained and outstanding basic, clinical, and/or educational research pertaining to physical therapy.

The award is named in honor of Marian Williams (deceased 1964), whose life was dedicated to promoting the profession of physical therapy through teaching, writing, and research. Dr Williams received her doctorate degree from Stanford University

and was an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Anatomy at Stanford for many years. Dr Williams' research interests and scholarly publications covered the areas of kinesiology and electromyography, and she co-authored books on biomechanics, muscle testing, and therapeutic exercises. Dr Williams also initiated one of the first post baccalaureate master's degree programs in physical therapy. Dr Williams' superb teaching skills enabled students to understand very complex concepts, and her skills as a mentor fostered analytical thinking in her students.

Purpose

To acknowledge an individual who has made significant contributions to physical therapy through excellence in research as exemplified by the professional and research career of Marian Williams.

Eligibility/Criteria for Selection

The nominee has:

1. Outstanding basic clinical and/or educational research that pertains to physical therapy, is sustained for at least 10 years, and makes a meaningful contribution to the scientific basis of physical therapy.

2. Published scientific studies with sufficient frequency in appropriate scientific and/or professional publications.

3. Presented his/her scientific studies orally with sufficient frequency to the appropriate audiences.

4. Demonstrated continuity of professional commitment to physical therapy.

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Eugene Michels New Investigator Award (see past award winners)

History

In 1989, the Eugene Michels New Investigator Award was established to recognize physical therapists engaged in independent research.

The award is named in honor of Eugene Michels (deceased 1996) who, as APTA's Associate Executive Vice President for Research and Education provided the major impetus in the Association's plans to foster research in physical therapy. Michels received his physical therapy education and completed his graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania, where he then taught for twelve years. He was known by all as an excellent teacher and mentor. For many years, through his famous road shows, Michels generously gave his time to teach students and clinicians the basics for conducting clinical research, and to advise developing researchers on numerous aspects of designing, conducting, and reporting results of research in physical therapy. His sustained and outstanding contributions to the Association at the component, national and international levels are well known. He served as APTA President for two terms (from 1967 to 1973), as APTA Treasurer (from 1964 to 1967), as President of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (from 1974 to 1982), and was an active member of the Section on Research. The Annual Eugene Michels Researcher's Forum was established in his honor in 1982, and the Foundation for Physical Therapy established the Eugene Michels Fund for Educational Research in his honor in 1984. Eugene Michels received the Mary McMillan Lecture Award and was selected as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA in 1986. His record of leadership and vision will continue to guide efforts to develop and improve physical therapy.

Purpose

To acknowledge an outstanding new investigator who has demonstrated a commitment to a defined research theme as exemplified in the professional and research career of Eugene Michels.

Eligibility

1. Nominees must be physical therapists who, at the time of nomination, have been engaged in independent research activities for not more than 5 years after completion of their first physical therapy degree or post-professional doctoral degree [other than a transitional DPT degree], whichever was completed last (i.e., from the time the degree is granted until the time of the nomination for this award is submitted on December 1).

Eligibility Examples:

a.     A physical therapist professional degree is awarded in 1990, a post-professional doctoral degree in 2001, therefore the 5-year window for eligibility begins in 2001, making the individual eligible for this award through the 2006 Honors and Awards Program.

b.    A physical therapist professional degree is awarded in 1990, a post-professional doctoral degree in 2001, a post-professional doctoral fellowship is from 2001-2004, therefore the 5-year window for eligibility begins in 2001, making the individual eligible for this award through 2006.

Honors and Awards Program.

c.     A post-professional doctoral degree is awarded in 1990, the first physical therapist professional degree in 2001, therefore the 5-year window for eligibility begins in 2001, making the individual eligible for this award through the 2006 Honors and Awards Program.

2.   Nominees may be employed in any aspect of physical therapy including, but not limited to, research, education, clinical practice, consultation, etc.

3.   Research activities for which the therapists are being nominated must have been undertaken after completion of all formal education (i.e., completion of the first physical therapy professional degree or post-professional degree [other than a transitional DPT degree], whichever was completed last).

4.   Activities for which the therapists are being nominated must encompass a specific research theme.

5.   There must be a demonstrated relationship between the research theme and the field of physical therapy.

6.   Nominees must have demonstrated their accomplishments through primary authorships in peer reviewed (refereed) journals.

Criteria for Selection

1.   Nominees must have been engaged in independent research activities for not more than 5 years after completion of formal education (i.e., completion of the first physical therapy professional degree or post-professional degree [other than a transitional DPT degree], whichever was completed last) and have demonstrated a relationship between the research theme and the field of physical therapy.

2.   Research activities must have been undertaken after completion of all formal education (i.e., completion of the first physical therapy professional degree or post-professional degree [other than a transitional DPT degree], whichever was completed last) and must encompass a specific research theme. Grant funding and extramural funding will also be considered.

3.   Accomplishment(s) must be demonstrated to be outstanding by the nominator. Evidence must be presented to indicate why it is believed that this contribution will have a present or future impact upon the profession to include, if possible, ways in which the accomplishment has impacted and will impact upon specific members, components (chapters, sections or assemblies), or the practice or teaching of some content related to the field.

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John P. Maley Award/Section on Research (see past award winners)

Criteria for Selection

1. Outstanding contributions to leadership in research over a sustained period of time
2. Results of the leadership must be documented
3. Individual must show evidence of sustained contact and interest in research in physical therapy

Procedure

1. Nomination may be by any member of the Section on Research.

2. A letter of nomination for the candidate, a current curriculum vitae, and names of five other persons to be solicited for support letters are to be submitted. These persons shall be able to make judgments about the nominees contribution as a leader in physical therapy research

3. Nominations should be submitted to the Awards Committee of the SOR no later than September 26, 2009.

4. The Awards Committee reviews the materials and makes a recommendation to the SOR Executive Committee.

5. The decision of the Executive Committee will be final and the reasons for the decision will not be disclosed. In the case where members of the Awards Committee or the Executive Committee are closely associated with the nominee, those so associated will voluntarily abstain from participating in the review and selection process.

6. A maximum of one award will be given at each Combined Sections Meeting of the APTA.

7. Nominees may have the materials resubmitted in the following year for reconsideration. New materials must be submitted for any subsequent nomination.

Helen J. Hislop Award (see past award winners)

History

In 1991, the Helen J Hislop Award for Outstanding Contributions to Professional Literature was established to recognize a life-long commitment to writing and publishing professional literature.

The award is named to honor Helen J Hislop, PT, PhD, FAPTA, who retired in June 1998 after serving thirty years as the Professor and Chair of the Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California. Dr Hislop received her undergraduate education at CentralCollegeand her certificate in physical therapy and master's degree, and doctoral degrees in Physiology from The University of Iowa. Dr Hislop is widely recognized for her superb thinking and writing skills; her exceptional contributions to many professional journals and monographs in the health and science areas; and her skills in communication which provide a model for other physical therapists in their professional writing endeavors.

Dr Hislop has made sustained and outstanding contributions to APTA, serving as Editor of Physical Therapyfrom 1961 to 1968, on the Board of Directors from 1976 to 1982, and playing a leading role in the development of the post-professional education program. Dr Hislop has consistently worked to uphold the standards and quality of education and is well known as a mentor of both faculty and students.

Purpose

To acknowledge an individual physical therapist who has made significant contributions to the literature in physical therapy or in other health care disciplines in the areas of theory, practice, basic or clinical research, education and administration as exemplified by the professional career of Helen J Hislop.

In addition to the information provided in the APTA Board of Directors' Policy on Honors and Awards, Guiding Principles for Honors and Awards:

Eligibility
Nominees must have been actively engaged in writing and publishing professional literature for a sustained period of not less than ten (10) years.

Criteria for Selection

1.   The nominee must be a physical therapist who has made a significant contribution to health care by writing in the areas of theory, practice, basic or clinical research, education or administration.

2.   The nominee must have published in at least two (2) different health care professional journals, or contributed to at least two (2) books or monographs or proceedings from scientific meetings.

3.   The scientific writings must reflect expertise of subject matter, innovation of ideas and clarity of expression.

4.   Examples of the nominee's published writings must be provided. These examples should be from health profession's publications, both within and outside the discipline of physical therapy. Publications can include scientific journals, books, monographs or proceedings from scientific meetings. [Note: Since all materials have to be sent to five (5) individuals for review, it is not practical to submit books or other bulky or expensive publications.]

Procedure for Nomination

1.   Nomination packages must be submitted with the current nomination form provided by APTA’s Honors and Awards Program. Forms can be obtained from APTA’s Honors and Awards Program Call for Nominations Packet or downloaded from APTA's Web site. The current nomination form indicates the year in which the award nomination will be considered.

2.   ONE (1) ORIGINAL nomination package (completed nomination form with original signatures and original supporting documents) and FIVE (5) DUPLICATE collated sets of all materials completed and submitted for each nomination must be received by APTA’s Honors and Awards Program by December 1, for consideration for the award.

3.   The nominator is responsible for submitting identified documents as a single award nomination package. For the best possible presentation of the nomination package, please do not provide materials other than those outlined below. Please present the documents in the following order:

    A.    Current nomination form.

    B.    Current curriculum vitae or resume of the nominee.

    C.    A collated set of three (3) letters of support that specifically focus on the strengths of the nominee in relation to the award criteria, obtained from the following:

    * the nominator, not to exceed three (3) pages; and
    * two (2) individuals who can demonstrate the relationship of the nominee's published work to the purpose of the award, not to exceed two (2) pages. Letters of support may be from physical therapists or from health care professionals in other disciplines.

Letters of support should:

    * Explicitly state how the nominee is qualified under the criteria for selection by providing details on what significant contributions have been made by the nominee to the literature in physical therapy or in other health care disciplines in the areas of theory, practice, basic or clinical research, education and administration.
    * Reflect genuine knowledge and consideration of the nominee’s qualifications for this award.
    * Indicate in what capacity the author works or worked with, or otherwise knows personally, the nominee.

    D.    Copies of book reviews or abstracts of the material, or copies of portions of publications that are most illustrative of the nominee's work.

4.   Nomination packages for this award considered by the Publications Subcommittee of the Awards Committee and not selected for an award will be resubmitted for the next year’s Honors and Awards Program (ie, one year after the original nomination submission). Resubmission of nominations for this award in subsequent years will require the consent of the nominator and update of the nomination package.

5.   Send all materials to: APTA Honors and Awards Program, Executive Office, 1111 N Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1488.

Notification of Award

1.   The award recipient and nominator will be notified promptly after selection by APTA’s Board of Directors.

2.   The nominators of individuals not selected will receive a letter thanking them for their participation.

Nature of Award

An engraved pewter goblet will be presented to the awardee by APTA’s Board of Directors at the Association's annual conference and an official announcement of the award will appear in an Association publication.
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Additional links on this topic:

Past Award Winners