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Colorado Chapter
Outstanding PT for 2008
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BRITT SMITH, PT
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Introduction
by Ira Gorman --
This year's
Colorado outstanding physical therapist is a person I have known
for a long time. I guess that means we are both old. In fact we
entered the profession nearly the same time. I believe I
actually graduated the year he began PT school. That makes me a
bit older but
certainly not any wiser. We both married women who are PTs and
that was probably the smartest thing we ever did. Since I have
known him so long, let me tell you a bit about him.
Our recipient has quite an extensive resume. He graduated from
PT school in 1981 from NAU and then received a master's degree
in PT from Samuel Merritt College in 1997. He ultimately
completed his DPT in 2007 from Regis University. He was board
certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist by the American
Board of Physical Therapy Specialists in 1995.
What makes this person such a deserving recipient of this award
is that he exemplifies all three important aspects of an
outstanding physical therapist. Scholarship, practice and
professional service.
First he is a scholar, having published in Physical Therapy,
JOSPT and in a textbook. He has presented at many conferences
including APTA, AAOMPT and the American College of Sports
Medicine. He has attended many conferences including the
prestigious Evidence Based Medicine Conference in Vail. He is an
affiliate faculty member at Regis University and an adjunct
faculty member at NAU in Flagstaff, Az. I have heard this person
referred to by colleagues as the most well read PT they know.
That includes professional literature in and out of the PT
field, as well as being able to cite most popular culture
literature.
 He
is committed to service to our professional association being a
member of APTA since 1980 including the education, orthopedic
and research sections. He is a fellow of the American Academy of
Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy and a member of the American
College of Sports Medicine. He has served the Colorado Chapter
of APTA as the west district chairperson from 2004-2007, a
member of the Chapter's Referral for Profit Task Force, a member
of the Continued Competency task force, board member of the
western slope study group and the chair of the Public relations
committee of AAOMPT. Due to his efforts the west district has
generated the highest amount of district revenues in Colorado
thanks to the continuing education programs he has brought to
Grand Junction. He was invited to serve on a task force for the
treatment of low back pain by the Mesa County Independent
Physician's Association. He organized a legislative coffee and
town hall meeting with Rep. Bernie Buescher for the West
District.
And lastly is his commitment to practice and his patients. He is
the owner of SOAR Physical Therapy in Grand Junction a small
business private practice. He believes that businesses are
guests of the host society and that relationship should be
mutually respectful and reciprocally nurturing. But most
important to me is his understanding of what it means to be a
doctor and the value of listening to a patient. A quote from
"How Doctors Think" by Jerome Groopman, a favorite of his is
that "William Osler essentially said that if you listen to the
patient, he is telling you the diagnosis. He has further stated
"Clinical practice only occurs at one level: One-on-one with the
patient. We must listen and observe the particularity of their
problem and respond in a unique way every time we step into the
therapeutic relationship. The therapeutic relationship is sacred
and defines who we are as clinicians".
As I have said I have known Britt a long time. We have traveled
together teaching courses on two continents and in 4 countries!
We have drunk in many places together (in the name of research
of course). I believe that is where he has picked up some
interesting accents and colloquialisms.
Most importantly Britt is an exceptional man, a father, a
husband and a person I am honored to call colleague and friend.
It is a privilege and honor for me to present the 2008 Colorado
Outstanding Physical Therapist Award to
Dr. Britt M. Smith
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