Posted on July 7, 2021 by Chapter Staff
Originally Published in APTA Hawaii’s Monthly e-Newsletter – July 2021

Marilyn Miller, PT, PhD, GCS, received a 2021 APTA Lucy Blair Service Award. Since joining the APTA in 1970, Marilyn has been active in numerous state chapters and sections, including 20 years as a HAPTA (now APTA Hawaii) volunteer leader. Marilyn is currently a corresponding member of APTA Hawaii and an associate professor in the DPT program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in San Diego, CA.

Bestowed on those whose “contributions to the association as a whole, at both the association level and the component level, like those of Lucy Blair, have been of exceptional value,” Marilyn’s contributions span the country, practice settings, and practical applications.

When Marilyn moved to Hawaii in 1981, PTs weren’t licensed, only registered. Under the umbrella of the Department of Health this was unlikely to change. Marilyn led an effort to shift oversite of PTs to where it is now – under the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. “Thus began the chapter’s development of a practice act and move to DCCA for regulatory authority and licensing of physical therapists in Hawaii,” Marilyn told Art Lum, PT, MA, who nominated her for the award.

Marilyn’s past volunteer service to HAPTA included serving as president, chief delegate, delegate, Legislative Committee chair, and legislative committee member, as well as working from within Hawaii state government to unlock solutions to move the profession forward. She was involved as the APTA Section on Geriatrics formed and served in elected or appointed positions in the orthopedic and education sections too. In addition to Hawaii and California, she has practiced in Texas, New Mexico, Alabama, and Arkansas in practice settings including military, VA, home health, acute care, outpatient, inpatient and outpatient rehab. She currently serves on the APTA Hawaii Centennial Task Force.

Congratulations on this well-served honor, Marilyn!