Peter A. Huijbregts

Abstract

Too soon and too young, on Saturday, November 6, 2010, Dr. Peter Huijbregts died of a heart attack while asleep at home in Victoria, BC. Peter was born and grew up in Reusel, a small town in the Netherlands. In addition to earning a 4-year baccalaureate diploma in physical therapy at the Hogeschool Eindhoven, the Netherlands (1990), he completed a Master of Science in Manual Therapy at the Free University of Brussels, Belgium (1994); a Master of Health Science in Physical Therapy at the University of Indianapolis (1997); and a Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in Florida (2001). He was board certified in orthopaedic physical therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and held postgraduate certificates in strength and conditioning, manual therapy, functional capacity evaluation, clinical education, and intramuscular stimulation. He also attained Fellowship status in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists and the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Therapy. Peter taught in both entry-level and postgraduate education programs. He served as adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan (2000), and at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon (2001). Beginning in 2002, Peter held an appointment as assistant professor at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, where he taught and developed online courses in the areas of orthopaedic basic science, spinal instability, and statistics and research methodology. In 2008, he was appointed as an advisory faculty member to the North American Institute of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy. Beginning in 1990, Peter worked in a variety of clinical settings, with an emphasis on orthopaedic manual physical therapy. His last place of employment was Shelbourne Physiotherapy Clinic in Victoria, where he worked as a physiotherapy consultant with a special interest in assessment and management of patients with chronic spinal pain syndromes, shoulder pain, headache, and dizziness. Peter’s writings include 60 scientific publications and textbook chapters on topics related to various areas in manual physical therapy, produced between 1990 and 2010. His editorials were of great interest to colleagues in the field of manual physical therapy and showed a clear vision of the future. After serving as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy from late 2004 to the end of 2007, Peter continued to function as its consulting editor; he was a sought-after peer reviewer for several international journals. Beginning in 2006, Peter worked as consulting editor for Jones and Bartlett Publishers and editor of its Current Topics in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Medicine series. Among his many interests were jazz and classical music, science fiction, weight training, and judo. He loved his family in the Netherlands. Since Peter lived in the United States and Canada, his Dutch family often missed important events in his life. Besides his many international contacts, Peter stayed in touch with his Dutch and Belgian colleagues. He contributed regularly to the Dutch Manual Therapy Journal, which will shortly publish one of his last articles. The news of his death was devastating to his colleagues in the Netherlands, Belgium, and throughout the world. He was liked and respected by all who knew him. Peter will be missed as an enthusiastic, persistent, intelligent, and friendly colleague. I remember him with respect and friendship. I have lost one of my best students, whom I considered a good personal friend. After his busy and fulfilling life and career, I hope that Peter will rest in peace. Peter is survived by his wife, Rap, and their two young children, Arun and Annika. I hope that his memory will be a comfort to them.