In 1996, Shirley A. Sahrmann became the first recipient of the prestigious John H.P. Maley Lecture Award. The award was established to recognize an APTA physical therapist member who demonstrated clinical expertise and significant contributions to the profession, with the recipient delivering a lecture at APTA’s annual meeting. Sahrmann presented hers on June 18 at the APTA annual conference in Minneapolis. Her lecture topic was “Innovations in Clinical Practice.”
John Maley touched the lives of members and staff of APTA for many years. As long-time chairman of Chattanooga Group, he spearheaded the company’s enormous and generous commitment to physical therapy over time — from investments in research and development activities within the company to advertising, exhibiting, and sponsorship dollars in support of the association. He also sponsored APTA’s Jack Walker Award and Chattanooga Research Award. He served for four years on the World Confederation for Physical Therapy’s Congress Organizing Committee, and for many more on the Board of Trustees for the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (then called the Foundation for Physical Therapy). The John H.P. Maley Lectureship was established to honor Maley and his many achievements.