Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association, Inc, Proposes to Change Name to “Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Inc” |
Background: In 2012, APTA conducted a governance review that resulted in multiple recommendations, including the reorganization of the sections into academies, councils, and communities. While that reorganization met with considerable resistance, the idea of renaming sections as academies has been embraced by two sections (“Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy” and “Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management, APTA”) and is under consideration by many others (including the Neurology Section).
As defined by Dictionary.com, an academy is both "an association or institution for the advancement of art, literature or science" and "a group of authorities and leaders in a field of scholarship...who are often permitted to dictate standards, prescribe methods, and criticize new ideas." Based on these two definitions, and in alignment with the other Sections who are going through this process, we propose to replace "section" with "academy." We are a group of leaders and authorities in the field of pediatric physical therapy practice, and we help to determine the standards and methods of that practice and provide a forum for the evaluation of new research that applies to our field. Thus, the title of academy reflects how we currently function.
As defined by Dictionary.com, an academy is both "an association or institution for the advancement of art, literature or science" and "a group of authorities and leaders in a field of scholarship...who are often permitted to dictate standards, prescribe methods, and criticize new ideas." Based on these two definitions, and in alignment with the other Sections who are going through this process, we propose to replace "section" with "academy." We are a group of leaders and authorities in the field of pediatric physical therapy practice, and we help to determine the standards and methods of that practice and provide a forum for the evaluation of new research that applies to our field. Thus, the title of academy reflects how we currently function.
The proposed name change to "Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy" would give our organization a title that is recognized by our other health profession colleagues and would stand alone in the medical world at large, while the more cumbersome "Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association" does not. Using the term "academy" will align us with our colleagues in medicine who are represented by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine.
Since the Section was first incorporated in 1974, it has provided leadership and innovation in pediatric physical therapy education, research, and practice. We wish to take this opportunity to continue that leadership by making this name transition, which we think more clearly defines who we are to our other healthcare colleagues and to the children and families that we serve.
We are interested in your thoughts, as members of the Section on Pediatrics. The cost of the change will be updating the SOP’s articles of incorporation to reflect the new name (nominal fee of $30); changing the SOP logo, which the Section had planned to do anyway; and swapping out the logo on our website, and in online and printed materials as reprints are ordered. We are interested in your feedback. Please participate in our survey – your input is valued!