History of the American Academy
of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
On September 12, 1938, the Society of Physical Therapy Physicians was
founded during the annual meeting of the American Congress of Physical
Medicine at the Palmer House in Chicago. The group elected Walter Zeiter, MD,
as executive director, a position he held for 22 years.
John S. Coulter, MD was elected as the first president.
Membership was limited to physicians with at least five years’ experience
in full time practice of physical therapy, with a teaching appointment in a
medical school or the director of a department. Membership was by invitation
only and was limited (until 1944) to 100 doctors. Dues for the newly formed
organization were $5 a year, a rate that continued until 1956.
In 1939, the Society was formalized in New York and had 40 charter members.
Beginning in 1958, the Academy assumed the responsibility for continuing
medical education (CME) for members. Since that decision, formal CME has
always been offered at each annual meeting.
The name of the organization continually evolved. What began as the
American Society of Physical Therapy Physicians in 1938 became the American
Society of Physical Medicine in 1944. In
1951, the words “and Rehabilitation” were added. The present name, “The
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, was adopted in 1955.
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Other notable dates for AAPM&R: |
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1940: |
Due to national emergency, membership requirements lowered from 5 years
experience to 3 years experience. (The requirements went back up to five
years in 1947.
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1952: |
Membership opened up to diplomates of ABPMR
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1956: |
President’s Award established - awardee receives a certificate and $50
(funded by an anonymous donor); dues raised for the first time since 1938
from $5/yr to $10/yr.
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1959: |
Board votes that Academy should have a separate scientific program at
Annual Session from the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
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1967: |
AAPM&R membership tops 500; First
accreditation given by CARF |
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1971: |
Self-assessment exam for residents created by Academy’s Graduate
Education Committee; Krusen Award established
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1972: |
The Committee on Graduate Education distributes the “First Annual
In-Training Examination in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,” to
PM&R residents - the first physiatric self-assessment exam. That exam
evolved into what is now the Self-Assessment Exam for residents and
practitioners (SAE-R and SAE-P).
This was also the first year that Academy members presented scientific
papers at the Annual Assembly and that the Academy presented its first Frank
H. Krusen award. (The unanimous choice for the first awardee was Dr. Frank
Krusen himself.)
Academy and Congress agree to joint Editorial Board for Archives
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1974: |
Professional Standards for PM&R published by ad hoc Academy Committee
and was used by AMA in its overall guidelines for medical practice standards
of PSROs; scientific presentations at Annual Assembly were first accredited
for Category I CME credit;
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1976: |
“Syllabus” is produced for the first time to provide members with an
at-home study program; the PM&R-Education and Research Foundation is
established
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1977: |
Self Assessment Examination combined with the Syllabus to form the
Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP)
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1978: |
Membership tops 1000
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1981: |
Separate self assessment examination developed for practitioners
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1985: |
Inaugural issue of The Physiatrist published and distributed to
membership; membership tops 2,000
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1987: |
The Residents Physician Council (RPC) holds its first meeting of 40
members during the Annual Assembly
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1988: |
Membership tops 3,000; the Academy celebrates its 50th
Anniversary
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1991: |
Eighty members participate in the first Congressional Visitation program;
the Academy and the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine enter into
a separation agreement and the Academy became solely responsible for all
obligations under its lease agreement.
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1992: |
Membership tops 4,000
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1995: |
Academy commissions a PM&R Workforce study. It projects that the
supply of PM&R physicians will double by the year 2017, and the demand
for these medical specialists will keep pace with that growth
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1996: |
Academy establishes a Wide World Web site |
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2001: |
The Academy's educational and research arm
– the Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – is established. |
Go to History of the PM&R Specialty
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