Skip to main content

A PT by Any Other Name

Anchorage, Alaska, skyline.

In 1952, my dad was recalled to active duty in the Navy and deployed to Japan in support of the Korean conflict. My 25-year-old pregnant mother, 3-year-old brother, and I, age 5, moved to Coronado, California. Several months after our arrival, the 1953 polio epidemic broke out. Public swimming pools were closed, and group social activities were canceled. (Sound familiar?)

Listen to 'Defining Moment' in the author's own voice and words.

Log in or create a free account to keep reading.


Join APTA to get unlimited access to content.


You Might Also Like...

Article

Physical Therapy in the News: June 2026

"Physical Therapy in the News" is a monthly series that highlights recent media coverage of the profession and APTA members.

Article

APTA Report Finds Demand for Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Outpaces Access

A new APTA report, "APTA State of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy," examines the current state of pelvic health physical therapy in the U.S. and identifies

Article

Federal Grant Rule Could Reshape Physical Therapy Research, Education, and Care

A proposed rule that would reshape how federal grants are awarded across nearly every federal agency could threaten the physical therapy profession's capacity