Innovation, Risk, and Reward

Abstract

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” —Eleanor Roosevelt Every time an author puts pen to paper, or more likely fingers to the keyboard, he or she takes a risk. Every time a researcher conceives and conducts a study, he or she takes a risk. Every time that study is about something innovative, the risk increases. Thank goodness for the risk takers! All of the papers in this issue are the result of physical therapists being willing to take these risks to help the rest of us improve our ability to educate the best possible practitioners. Each of the papers is innovative, often in different ways. Addressing the need for standardized outcome measures: Fike et al have added to this body of work on the specific, important topic of cultural competence. Integrated interprofessional education: Kapasi et al have described an innovative program for physical therapist students to earn joint degrees. Technology and social media: Lee and Boissonnault have provided a unique perspective using a radio show as a learning tool. Technology: Sabus and Macauley, and Silberman et al focus on simulation. Sabus and Macauley place simulation in a teaching and learning context and identify many questions that need to be answered as they move to adopt this innovative technique. Silberman et al contribute to the growing body of specific data about the utility of simulation. Health and wellness: Tapley and Patel address both the addition of this relatively new topic in physical therapist education and offer a model that can be used to develop this area of the curriculum. As always, we provide an array of topics to meet the needs of educators in physical therapy as they seek innovative ways to meet their ongoing responsibilities. We encourage all of our readers to take the following risks: identify innovation, study it, and write about it. We will all be better for it!