The first program faculty was eclectic in its approach to Manual Therapy. As described by Barbara Stevens:  “In the beginning, there were no teaching strategies to learn from in the USA. Thus, the faculty employed the teaching strategies they had…

Eileen Vollowitz becomes the first program director and led the program for 2 years, writing the proposal for the initial funding for the program, then developing and teaching the initial curriculum.

Peter Edgelow presented a proposal to Kaiser, as a component of his master's degree thesis at San Francisco State University, for a post professional program emphasizing manual therapy, modeled after the Adelaide, Australia program. (Photo of Eileen Vollowitz)

Kaiser accepts the proposal. Using Peter’s master thesis for guidance, Eileen Vollowitz submitted a  proposal for a post professional manual therapy program. The Community Benefits Division of Kaiser Foundation Health (KFH) funded the program in 1979 for one year. Barbara…

At the request of Richard Erhard, then president of the International Federation of Orthopedic Manual Therapists, known as IFOMT. Peter sponsored a local course to bring manual therapy into the community and raise the level of  orthopedic physical therapy practice…

Peter Edgelow, the Director of the Kaiser Hayward physical therapy department, travels to Adelaide to study with Geoff Maitland for 3 months. When he returned, he wanted to create a similar program in the States.