In delivering the 31st Mary McMillan Lecture in 2000, Ruth Purtilo, PT, physical therapist and ethicist, urged the profession to develop a "period of societal identity" and become full partners with society. To do so would fulfill what she called the profession's promise "to show care and accept responsibility for the well-being of all members [of society] who can benefit from our services" (Purtilo, 2000).