The purposes of the Alumni Association are to:

1) Support the continuance by the US Army of post-baccalaureate degree education for entry level preparation of physical therapists for the US Army, the US Navy, the US Air Force, and the US Public Health Service.

In the past when the program was in jeopardy, member have lobbied legislatures to fund continuing the program. The Association currently accomplishes this purposes in several ways, including the COL Marilyn J Anderson Distinguished Lecturer Series (LINK), as well as other financial support of program activities. The program reimburses the class advisor for class socials like Pizza Lunches and Ice Cream Sundae events. We ask the class advisor to use these funds at their discretion when they felt that the class as a whole can best use the encouragement! Since Army regulations do not allow for a program “social account” we also reimburse other events like taking speakers to lunch/dinner as well as receptions for class openings and graduations when families are in town. There are no military budget line items for this type of expense and the Association is glad to be able to help support the program since otherwise faculty are paying out of pocket. The Association also pays for current faculty members to attend official Association events such as Alumni Reunion meetings. Members have also donated teaching expertise to the program on a regular basis.

The Association also supports the  the Army-Baylor DPT Program through:

COL Marilyn J Anderson Lecture Series (CMJADLS)

Since 1994, the Alumni Association has funded 2 days of a Distinguished Lecturer Series for the Army-Baylor Program. This is an incredible gift to the program and to the students as it allows the program to bring in speakers that otherwise they could not fund. Working with the CMJADLS Committee, the faculty and Program Director choose the topic and speaker(s) to complement and augment the curriculum, particularly when the expertise is not readily available in other venues. Scheduling of the lecture series is left to the program’s discretion to best fit in the curriculum. This program has been a valued addition to the Army-Baylor curriculum. The program is for the students; however, when appropriate, the program is opened to program clinical faculty as well as Association members for their continuing education and CEU units. CMJADLS speakers have included Anthony (Tony) Delitto, PT, PhD, FAPTA; Ruth Purtillo, PhD; Pamela W. Woods, PhD, PT; and Mary Massery, PT, DPT. In years when there are APTA meetings in San Antonio, the CMJDLS funds the students to attend, like Annual Conference in San Antonio in 2008.

COL Marilyn J Anderson Lecture Series (CMJADLS) Endowment Fund

The Association intends the CMJADLS fund to become an en dowment of sufficient amount to provide annual lectureship funding without use of the principal. This fund is separate from the Association operating budget. The Lecture Series is a valuable addition to the program curriculum. Additionally the series often supports continuing education of program clinical instructors as well as Association members. The Association is set up as a 501-C with the IRS such that your donations support the program and are fully tax deductible. If you would like to donate to the CMJADLS Endowment Fund, please click here

2) Support the concept of quality education & research for physical therapy; the Association funds student sand recent graduates to professional meetings (CSM and Annual Meeting as well as state chapter meetings) where they are presenting their research.  The Association funds students and recent graduates to professional meetings (CSM and APTA Annual Meeting as well as state chapter meetings.

3) Support the continuance of quality physical therapy services, to include health promotion.  Association members have served as research subjects for student research projects to include falls prevention programs.

4) Strengthen communication between members of the Association and personnel of the US Army education program for physical therapists.  The Association works closely with the leadership of the Army-Baylor Program to plan and coordinate the CMJADLS program and to provide support as mentioned in #1 above. While most alumni associations are working to earn scholarship funds for students, in our case, the students are paid to be full time students. In our case, Alumni Association support Is above and beyond the regular curriculum and services, thus continuing support of the première Physical Therapy Education Program in the country! Additionally membership in the Association is a great way to keep in touch with your classmates and other Army grads. It is a vey small Army PT world!

5) Enhance communication among members of the Association through publications and social events.   In addition to annual reunion activities for classes (ex. 2010 will include all classes ending in 0 and 5), the Association schedules social events at APTA meetings, often in conjunction with the new Federal Health Care Section of APTA. APTA meetings are a great venue to reconnect with your Army PT school classmates!

Joining the Association is great way to keep in touch with your Army PT colleagues!