Steve and Lois Wolf Invest in the Future of the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research

Longtime contributors join Legacy Society, naming the Foundation as beneficiary of a $100,000 gift

Steven L. Wolf, PT, PhD, FAPTA, and wife Lois B. Wolf, PT, have dedicated their lives to physical therapy. Now, they are honoring the profession by investing in its future. The motivation? Giving back to a profession that has given to them over the years.

“Steve and Lois have been generous champions of the Foundation for decades,” said Foundation CEO, Barbara Malm. “Their decision to leave a legacy through a planned gift shows their commitment to making the profession stronger through evidence.”

Early in his career, Steve was prompted to further his education after recognizing how little he knew when it came to justifying the nature of his treatments. He was often asked by students and other clinicians to validate the effectiveness of the physical therapy services he provided, but he lacked sufficient answers. During this period, he gained an appreciation of the Foundation’s value to the profession. As an early member of the Foundation’s Scientific Review Committee and current member of the Scientific Advisory Committee, he continues to play an integral role in shaping the future of healthcare through research.

“The future of our success lies in the ability to inquire and make contributions to the understanding of the science and art of physical therapy,” said Steve. “This not only requires furthering education but also supporting people in making inquiries.”

The couple emphasized that funding streams for research are not only limited but also highly competitive, and that it is their desire to help support students and clinicians by making more funds available.

“With our small contribution, we hope the researchers that are funded will go on to continue to make great strides in our profession,” said Lois.

Today, Steve serves as a Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Physical Therapy Education at Emory University. Lois is retired with over 20 years in the fields of Neurologic and Orthopaedic physical therapy.

The Foundation’s Legacy Society is a group of supporters who have left the Foundation in their will or made estate plans that include a future gift.  The Legacy Society allow those with a passion for the profession to have a lasting impact. Learn more about this opportunity at legacyfpt.org. Thanks to generous and forward-thinking donors like Steve and Lois, we can continue our work to fund physical therapist researchers for future generations.