THE LINDA CRANE MEMORIAL LECTURE: Striving for Excellence: Thursday February 18, 2010: APTA's CSM San Diego, CA

Abstract

Historically, invited lecturers have often challenged us to define excel lence in physical therapy practice, or in our academic programs. While some have addressed different char acteristics of excellence, our profession has not really come together to address 2 very important questions: what does "quality" mean in physical therapist education? And how do we measure it? Using 3 elements of Friendship, Leadership, and Mentoring, and Defining Excellence and juxtaposing these with Linda Crane and her life, a vision of excellence in physical therapy educational programs was explored in this invited lecture. The text of that lecture ensues.

Figure 1

“I Heart U(M).”

Figure 2

Linda Crane and Meryl Cohen, on a Faculty Retreat Sail.

Figure 3

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. – Mark Twain