Merit Award

PURPOSE

To recognize an individual who has contributed to the advancement, knowledge, and/or recognition of the Academy of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Physical Therapy. Such contribution may be defined as: 

  1. practice, which includes excellence in patient/client care, clinical accomplishments, in addition to efforts in securing favorable legislation governing clinical practice and reimbursement; and/or
  2. scholarship, which includes teaching (patient, clinical, continuing education, academic), or research, and/or authorship (book, journal, editorial board); and/or
  3. service, which includes contributions on behalf of the Academy through one’s membership and substantial involvement in support of the Academy.

CRITERIA: 

The nominee must be a member in good standing of the Academy of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Physical Therapy at the time of the nomination. Individuals in all APTA membership categories are eligible with the exception of those who are classified as “Student,” “Honorary” or “Retired.” 

Award criteria are divided into specific categories (Practice, Scholarship, or Service) and are described below. A nominee must fulfill the required criteria in at least one category to be considered for the award. 

Practice 

  1. Required: Evidence of a minimum of five years of clinical practice in the area of cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy
  2. Required: Evidence of clinical recognition by patient/family, peer, and/or employer
  3. Suggested: Board Certification as a Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Clinical Specialist
  4. Suggested: Evidence of legislative efforts governing practice and/or efforts to support payment for cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy services 

Scholarship 

  1. Required: Evidence of extensive patient, clinical, and/or academic teaching
  2. Suggested: Participation as faculty in continuing education conferences sponsored by the Academy
  3. Suggested: Formal invited presentations as an Academy representative
  4. Suggested: Research or program development advancing the knowledge of cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy.
  5. Suggested: Published author of research, book, chapters; or service in an editorial capacity for peer review journal supporting cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy. 

Service 

  1. Required: Evidence of Academy committee, task force, and/or officer participation
  2. Suggested: Evidence of other contributions of service to the Academy of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Physical Therapy
  3. Suggested: Evidence of liaison activities with other professional groups on behalf of the Academy of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Physical Therapy

PROCESS: 

  1. Nominators must be members in good standing of the Academy of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Physical Therapy at the time that they submit a nomination for this award.
  2. A current nomination form must be completed in typewritten or printed format and submitted to the Chair of the Nominating Committee no later than October 15. Forms may be downloaded from the Academy website.
  3. The Nominating Committee will collect and review all nominations submitted by the deadline. During their review, the Nominating Committee will:
    1. verify that all nominations are complete
    2. verify that nominees are members in good standing with APTA and the Academy
    3. rank the nominees according to the number of criteria categories for which information has been provided
  4. Review of the nominations will take no longer than 4 weeks from the deadline. Upon completion of the initial review, the Nominating Committee Chair will forward the nominations and the results of the review to the Academy Officers for final review and award determination.
  5. The award will be determined based upon the substance of the contributions made, not simply the number of activities listed.
  6. The award winner will be notified by the Academy President no later than one month prior to the Combined Sections Meeting at which the award will be presented.
  7. Award recipients receive a plaque acknowledging their contributions. The plaque will be presented at the Academy's Annual Membership Meeting at CSM if the recipient is in attendance. If the recipient is unavailable to attend CSM, then the plaque will be mailed to him/her following the meeting. An announcement celebrating their award also will be placed in various Academy media.
Merit Award Nomination Form