USC Honorary Degree: Scott Ward

With USC graduation commencement ceremonies fast approaching, this week’s blog post is dedicated toward my nomination for the prestigious honorary degree. We were faced with a challenge this week; we were to find an outstanding person in our field of study that not only deserves this nomination but truly exemplifies the characteristics that the University of Southern California strides to represent. I have chosen non other than the most influential and powerful man in the field of physical therapy, Scott Ward, for the doctoral degree in science.

The University awards these degrees to “honor individuals who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary achievements in scholarship, the professions, or other creative activities, whether or not they are widely known by the general public,” to “honor alumni and other individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the welfare and development of USC or the communities of which they are part,” to “recognize exceptional acts of philanthropy to the university and/or on the national or world scene,” and to “elevate the university in the eyes of the world by honoring individuals who are widely known and highly regarded for achievements in their respective fields of endeavor.” While I do agree with the majority of the criteria for this award, I have decided to strain away from using financial donations or contributions with any influence toward my nomination. I feel that these awards should be based on achievement rather than as a tool to say “thank you” to financial supporters of the University. In his comments about the honorary degree, James Freedman, president emeritus of the University of Iowa and Dartmouth College, noted the recent trend; the “purpose of honoring distinguished personal achievement has been widely modified.. to flatter generous donors and prospective benefactors.” I agree with his outlook on these nominees as being “ill-chosen,” and that this award should instead “celebrate distinguished and sublime achievement.”

Scott Ward is a perfect candidate for the honorary degree at USC, and a pinnacle of “distinguished and sublime achievement.” Ward (pictured to the right) is an accomplished physical therapist who always took an active role to advance the field of physical therapy as a whole. Ward received his BA in physical therapy in 1980 and has been very active in the field ever since. He joined the American Physical Therapy Association that very year. The APTA is a national organization that represents over 66,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students nationwide. The goal of the association is to further advancements in physical therapist education, practice, research, and to address current issues in or related to the field. Throughout his years in the association, Ward has held numerous positions and has worked his way up to becoming the president of the association just last year. The president of the APTA is arguably the most influential position that someone can hold in the physical therapy field. Ward has taken a proactive role in the field; since day one, he has been involved in research as well as countless case studies. Ward has focused his research toward physical therapy for burn-related wounds, and he has published countless papers on his case studies, research, and findings. He has always encouraged physical therapists to reach out of the field and take a proactive role in problem solving. In his acceptance speech for the presidency of the APTA, Ward commented, “I am looking forward to contributing to creative solutions for physical therapists to focus on evidence-based practice in delivering consistent, quality care and being proactive in networking with other organizations related to issues involving physical therapy.” Ward is an extraordinary character in the field; he is both an outstanding physical therapist and leader. Ward is not only the president of the APTA; he is the chair of the Rehabilitation Committee in the American Burn Association as well as the chair of the Division of Physical Therapy at the University of Utah, where he received his PhD in physiology. Ward values education greatly; this is evident in his own personal pursuit for the highest level of education (B.A., PhD, and ongoing research) as well as his years as a teacher of Physical Therapy in the University of Utah.

Ward has received many awards since his entry into the field in 1980. A few of the awards include APTA’s Lucy Blair Service Award, Utah Chapter of APTA’s Physical Therapist of the Year Award, and the Barbara Knothe Burn Therapists Achievement Award from the American Burn Association. Ward’s accomplishments are enough to qualify him for the honorary degree on its own, but it is his character and values that make him stand out as the perfect person to give a commencement speech to the graduating class. Ward would deliver a speech that will not only inspire, but will urge students to take a proactive role in whatever field they pursue. He would stress the importance of education, as well as furthering your knowledge as much as possible with your own research and studies. He would urge to challenge norms and go out and make changes. Ward has done just that since he began as a physical therapist; he has constantly sought out to work hard and make changes to better the field as a whole. He has worked his way from being an average physical therapist all the way up to the president of the APTA, and he has contributed so much through his research and countless studies. In response to Ward accepting the presidential position of the APTA, a member mentioned that “Scott brings a broad view of the physical therapy profession to his presidency… He will challenge both the APTA and the profession to achieve great things for physical therapist patients in the coming years.” In Ward’s twenty-seven years in the field, he has done just that, constantly challenging and advancing the field as a whole.