Over 45 Years of PT Education
Over 45 years ago, in 1979 the Community Benefits Division of Kaiser Foundation Health (KFH) funded the post professional manual therapy program for one year. The program was successful and continued to be funded year after year and has grown into the well-respected Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT) Fellowship Program that it is today. Kaiser Permanente Northern California Rehabilitation Services Education currently offers post-graduate residency programs in neurological physical therapy and orthopedic physical therapy in addition to the Fellowship program in orthopedic manual therapy.
The journey began with a vision…
…and continues the pursuit of service to the profession, excellence in patient care and scholarly endeavors through Residencies and Fellowships.
The journey began because Peter Edgelow had a vision. That vision has grown to now include at least 244 Residencies and 44 Fellowships. Programs have expanded beyond orthopedics and manual therapy to include Neurology, Geriatrics, Sports, Women’s Health Acute Care, Pediatrics, among other subspecialty areas.
1970’s
The 1970’s: Creation of the Manual Therapy Program
1970
1970-Peter Edgelow
Peter Edgelow, Director of the Kaiser Hayward physical therapy department, travels to Adelaide to study with Geoff Maitland for 3 months. When he returns, he wants to create a similar program in the States.
1972
1972-Richard Erhard
At the request of Richard Erhard, then president of the International Federation of Orthopedic Manual Therapists, known as IFOMT. Peter Edgelow sponsors a local course to bring manual therapy into the community and raise the level of orthopedic physical therapy practice as he experienced in Australia.
1976
1976-Proposal Presented
Peter Edgelow presents a proposal to Kaiser Permanente, 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 program in Australia. (Photo of Eileen Vollowitz)
1978
1978-Grant Approved
Kaiser accepts the proposal. Using Peter Edgelow’s master thesis for guidance, Eileen Vollowitz submits a proposal for a post professional manual therapy program. The Community Benefits Division of Kaiser Foundation Health (KFH) funds the program in 1979 for one year. Barbara Stevens and Linda Van Hoesen, like Peter Edgelow, had completed manual therapy training in Adelaide, Australia. They, along with Norwegian-trained Eileen Vollowitz, develops the initial program curriculum.
1979
1979-Eileen Vollowitz
Eileen Vollowitz becomes the first Program Director and leads the program for 2 years.
1979-1980's
1979-Mix of Teaching Philosophies
The first program faculty are eclectic in their approach to teaching 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 been exposed to in the countries they were trained in. This faculty decided to work together, learn from each other despite differing clinical philosophies. The faculty was incredibly dedicated to patient care and had the passion to teach!” Peter Edgelow, Barbara Stevens and Linda Van Hoesen, along with Jim and Jennifer Lynn teach the Australian Approach based on Geoff Maitland’s principles. Bob Simpson teaches the approach from James Cyraix of Great Britain. Eileen Vollowitz and Dennis Morgan teaches the Norwegian Approach, from Freddy Kaltenborn and Olaf Evjenth. And to round things out, the McKenzie Approach and principles of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation PNF are also taught.
1980’s
The 1980’s: Many approaches to Manual Therapy are taught including the Australian Approach based on Geoff Maitland’s principles. The first class graduates and the program continues to evolve.
1980
1980-First Class
The first class graduates: Kathy Hoyt, Hugh Murray, Dan Kelley, Cammy Porter Garey, Martha Plescia, Janet Yamada Soto.
1980's
1980-Choosing a Foundation
Feedback from alumni strongly suggests that clinical reasoning, the foundation of Australian Approach, makes the greatest impact on their ability to manage patients. As described by Barbara Stevens: “Even in the beginning of the program when McKenzie’s influence as well as Norwegian philosophies were taught; the faculty realized that teaching multiple approaches was not working due to the lack of a concrete manner of thinking and teaching.” Joe Farrell and Margaret Anderson joins the faculty. Joe Farrell earned his master’s degree in manipulative therapy in Australia and Margaret Anderson studied with Maitland in Australia. The Australian Approach is adopted as the primary teaching philosophy with integration of other OMPT approaches, therapeutic exercise and self-management concepts.
1981
1981-Fran Finney
Fran Finney becomes the second Program Director in 1981. The KFH Community Benefits Division grants permanent funding status to the program, allowing Fran to develop training sites in Fremont, San Francisco and Oakland. University affiliations were expanded, tuition reimbursement encouraged graduates to continuing working at Kaiser Permanente.
1989
1989-Carol Jo Tichenor
Carol Jo Tichenor (“CJ”) becomes the third Program Director. She directs the program from 1989-2014. During this time she steers the program through major funding issues and changes in the physical therapy job market. Factors such as the expanding amount of evidence-informed practice and information on the internet and social media influences clinical practice during these years, and continues to influence clinical practice.
1990’s
The 1990’s: The program transitions into a 3-month Mentorship and 9-month Fellowship. Advanced Skills weekend courses allowed PTs to participate in labs, earning CEUs.
RotaCare: An innovative community service program, run by faculty and Fellows-in-Training, brings physical therapy services to the under- and un-insured.
1991
1991-AAOMPT
The American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Therapists (AAOMPT) is established. The Founding Fellows of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists or AAOMPT comes together to pursue a common goal to foster the educational growth of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy in the United States. The 8 Founding Fellows are: Joe Farrell, Dick Erhard, Kornelia Kulig, Ola Grimsby, Michael Moore, Stanley Paris, Mike Rogers and Bjorn Svendsen.
1992
1992-IFOMT
IFOMPT accepts AAOMPT as a member organization in 1992. Along with Carol Jo Tichenor, Joe Farrell and Kornelia Kulig writes the successful application for the United States to become a member of the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapists (IFOMT) in 1992. During the Vail, Colorado IFOMT meeting the USA application is unanimously approved by member countries with the AAOMPT and designated as the manual therapy organization representing the USA. Now that the US had a national organization representing manual therapists and supporting post-professional education, work needs to be done to integrate manipulative therapy into physical therapy programs, both post-graduate and undergraduate, and to define our standards of practice.
1996
1996-MEM
Consultants from the Orthopaedic Section, Education Section, APTA, and AAOMPT creates the Manipulation Education Manual (MEM). The group of consultants includes Joe Farrell, Bill Boissonnault and Steve McDavitt. Educators, clinicians, and legislation experts formulate a national plan to combat chiropractic attacks and the MEM is used as guidelines for content in manipulation education in PT programs across the USA. Recent graduates of PT programs are often exposed to high velocity, low amplitude thrust techniques, alongside goniometry, manual muscle testing, exercise prescription and standard PT clinical practice. But in 1996, HVLAT manipulation is not taught or accepted universally. Consultants from the APTA Orthopedic section, APTA Education section and AAOMPT create the Manipulation Education Manual, which is a stepping stone to help integrate manipulation education into graduate and undergraduate programs. A national plan was formulated to protect our organization or profession from outside entities.
2000’s
The 2000’s: Technology transitions the program into a blended online format, with a 6 month Mentorship and 12 month Fellowship, with traveling Mentors.
2014
2014-Eric Robertson
Eric Robertson becomes the fourth Program Director and leads the program for 5 years.
2020
2020-Sue Grieve
Susan (“Sue”) Grieve becomes the fifth Program Director, leading from 2020 to the present.
2021
2021-Cindy Walton
Cindy Walton becomes the Assistant Program Director and Co-Coordinator of the Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship Program.
2022
2022-Becky Hartman
Becky Hartman becomes the Co-Coordinator of the Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship Program.