The hashtag #GlobalPT emerged on the social media network Twitter at the World Confederation of Physical Therapy (now World Physiotherapy) Congress in Capetown, South Africa in 2017. It worked to connect digital commentary and build international camaraderie amongst practitioners, including those who could not be physically present. In this article, past World Physiotherapy president Marilyn Moffat explores the life of the extraordinary woman who contributed most to making global physiotherapy a reality.
Mildred Orcott Elson was born in Stafford Springs, Connecticut on May 25, 1900. She was a graduate of Sargent School of Physical Education in 1921 and went on to complete her certificate in physical therapy from Harvard Medical School’s Courses for Graduates in 1922. She furthered her certificate education in physical therapy at Northwestern University Medical School and graduated from there in 1936.
Elson’s practice career began in 1922 at the Mayo Clinic. She went on to hold physical therapy positions at the: University of Wisconsin; Curative Workshop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and the office of Emil Hauser, MD. During that latter time, she was also an Instructor in Physical Therapy at Northwestern University Medical School.
Elson’s professional activities and contributions were many. She was:
- first President of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Physiotherapy Association (APA);
- National Chairman of the Committee on Education of the APA;
- member of the Advisory Committee for the Services for Crippled Children at the United States Children’s Bureau;
- Editor-in-Chief of The Physiotherapy Review;
- physical therapy consultant to the Veteran’s Administration;
- chairman of the International Committee to Form the Federation of Physical Therapy Societies;
- National consultant to the US Army’s Women’s Medical Specialist Corps;
- chairman of the Scholarship Committee of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis;
- member of the President’s Committee on National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week;
- member of the Board of Directors of the National Health Council;
- member of the United States Committee for the International Society for The Welfare of Cripples;
- member of the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults.
- coordinator of the Third Inter-American Conference on Rehabilitation in Guatemala City, Guatemala;
- special consultant to the World Rehabilitation Fund in Spain and Portugal;
- president of the Boston University-Sargent College Alumnae Association; and
- member of the International Society for Rehabilitation of the Disabled.
In 1944 the American Physiotherapy Association (later the American Physical Therapy Association) moved into its first official headquarters in New York City and Elson became the first executive director of the association; serving in that position until 1956.
Elson was a visionary in many ways and one of which was a proposal she put forth in 1954 of establishing a physical therapy tax-exempt fund. This led to the development of the Physical Therapy Fund (today’s Foundation for Physical Therapy Research) that sought to advance the profession and science of physical therapy.
After leaving the American Physical Therapy Association, Mildred served as Co-coordinator of the Homestead Study Project of the Goldwater Memorial Hospital in New York City. This project, with its emphasis on mobility and self-responsibility, treated patients who were no longer hospitalised but unready or unable to be cared for at home.
International activities
The push for international concern was put forth by Mary McMillan, the first President of the American Women’s Physical Therapy Association (later the American Physiotherapy Association), and she and Mildred Elson sought ways foster the development of physical therapy in countries where it was sorely needed. In addition, post World War II, physical therapists were taking part in tours and conferences overseas, and several international organisations were formed, notably the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Interaction began post World War II between Mildred Elson and Miss M J Neilson, the Honorary Secretary of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). According to Elson:
Right after the War, on the first voyage of the Queen Elizabeth, was an important visitor to the American Physical Therapy Association, Miss M J Neilson….. This was the beginning of a most rewarding friendship and professional relationship. We both were aware of the international trends and the pitfalls ahead if nothing was done. Worldwide standards were highly desirable, but were they attainable? We thought so, but it was going to be rough going. Discussions with leaders of other organisations concerned with the physically handicapped convinced us that there was no alternative to an international physical therapy organisation.” (WCPT: 50 years 1951-2001)
In 1948, the CSP invited international participation in their annual Congress. Representatives from 13 countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, USA) met and agreed there was a need for an international organisation to give guidance to the profession, to the United Nations and its specialised agencies (such as WHO), and to international voluntary organisations sponsoring rehabilitation programmes.” (WCPT: 50 years 1951-2001). A provisional committee was elected, including Elson as Provisional Chairman, and at the inaugural meeting of the World Confederation of Physical Therapists (WCPT) in 1951, Elson was elected the first President.
At the London General Meeting of the WCPT in 1953, Elson noted:
Our financial resources are small, but our combined professional and spiritual resources are great. Thus, the profession is strengthened in every country by being a member of a distinguished and honorable family, the World Confederation. Our Confederation is just two years old – we are only just beginning to stand firmly and confidently face our future. The future depends not on a few, but on every physical therapist, through his work with patients, through his participation in the activities and business of his association, and through working with professional colleagues and private individuals devoted to our common goal – the recovery of the patient, physically, socially and economically.” (WCPT: 50 years 1951-2001)
Five years later, in 1956, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) would cohost the Second Congress of the WCPT (third General Meeting) in New York City. Elson was the Chief Coordinator of this Congress. Mary McMillan gave a warm welcoming greeting at this meeting, and Elson was one of the dignitaries on hand as WCPT honored Jonas Salk for the introduction of his widely acclaimed Salk vaccine for polio the previous year. Elson completed her term as WCPT President that year.
In 1958 she served on the APTA’s Advisory Committee on the World Confederation for Physical Therapy Affairs.
The depiction of Miss Mildred Elson as the “Mother of #GlobalPT” is made all the more poignant by the knowledge that she had no children of her own.
Awards
Elson’s contributions to the profession were recognised by the APTA by electing her to Honorary Membership in 1956, celebrating “Mildred O Elson Day” during the Annual Conference in New Orleans in 1958, and selecting her to present the first Mary McMillan Lecture in 1964.
WCPT also recognised her contributions by electing her the first Honorary member in 1963 and establishing the Mildred Elson Award in 1987 to honour outstanding leadership in the development of physiotherapy internationally.
In 1959 Elson was the recipient of the Annual Achievement Award from the United States Committee of the International Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled for her contributions in the field of international rehabilitation.
References
“WCPT:50 years 1951-2001 ”. 2001. The first 50 years. WCPT: London.
