Foundation for Physical Therapy Announces Name Change in Conjunction with 40^th Anniversary Celebration

The Foundation’s new name punctuates decades of growth and positions the organization for a future of enhanced investments in physical therapy research and researchers.

ALEXANDRIA, VA (January 10, 2019) – After forty years of funding physical therapy research and early-career researchers, the Foundation for Physical Therapy is changing its name. The Foundation for Physical Therapy is now the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research. Along with the name change the Foundation is unveiling a newly updated logo.

This change is the result of a nearly two-year communications assessment to prepare for the milestone anniversary. Among the findings cited by Foundation supporters – including past and present leadership, donors, and alumni – was the need for a simple way to more effectively communicate the organization’s work through its name.

“After much consideration, the Board of Trustees concluded that this addition to our name would more clearly define what we do,” said Edelle Field-Fote, PT, PhD, FAPTA. “Research has always been the core of our identity. Now it’s part of our name.”

Since its establishment, the Foundation has awarded more than $17 million in grants, scholarships, and fellowships. Through these awards, nearly 600 physical therapist scientists have launched their careers. These researchers have secured more than $800 million in follow-on funding to build on the Foundation’s initial investment. The Foundation will continue to fund research under its new moniker through its core mechanisms including the Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) I & II Scholarships, research grants, and the New Investigator Fellowship Training Initiative (NIFTI).

“These remarkable decades of advancement would not have been possible without our community of supporters,” said Field-Fote. “Although our name and logo have changed, we would like to emphasize that our everyday work and enduring commitment to the profession remain unwavering. As we prepare for the next period of growth, we stand firm in our mission to fund research and develop researchers to optimize movement and health.”

The Foundation will also launch a newly designed website in mid-January and extend the organization’s presence at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Combined Sections Meeting to be held in Washington, D.C., on January 23-26, 2019.

The Foundation was established in 1979 with the vision and financial support of APTA. Now an independent 501(c)(3) organization, the Foundation’s partnership with APTA continues. APTA is the Foundation’s Pinnacle Partner in Research and the lead donor on key Foundation initiatives including the Center on Health Services Training and Research (CoHSTAR), a five-year, multi-institutional research and training program established in 2014 with a Foundation grant of $2.5 million.

In recognition of the 40^th anniversary milestone year, the Foundation will hold special events and post updates from Foundation alumni throughout 2019. The Foundation is also launching a special campaign to raise $40,000. To contribute to this fund, visit Foundation4pt.org/forty.

About the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research

The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research is the only national nonprofit solely dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare through physical therapy research. The mission of the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research is to fund research and develop researchers to optimize movement and health. Learn more at www.Foundation4PT.org.

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