Former APTA president R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD, FAPTA, has been appointed by the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) to serve as the presiding officer of its 19th General Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, May 7-9, 2019.

The General Meeting of the WCPT draws together delegates from over 100 member organizations, representing the primary physical therapy associations in their respective countries around the globe. As the presiding officer, Ward will conduct and coordinate the business of the delegate assembly of the General Meeting.

Ward brings to this prestigious appointment a wealth of experience and expertise in governance, leadership, scholarship, and international service. He served as APTA’s delegate to the 17th WCPT General Meeting in Amsterdam in 2011 and as alternate delegate to the 18th General Meeting in Singapore in 2015. While president of APTA, Ward represented APTA at all meetings of the North American Caribbean region of WCPT. For more than 8 years he has provided education to physical therapists under the World Health Organization’s curriculum for the provision of manual wheelchairs in less-advantaged countries.

Ward led APTA as its president from 2006 to 2012, was a member of APTA’s Board of Directors, was president of APTA’s Utah Chapter, and has received numerous awards and recognition for his longstanding service and contributions to physical therapy. He currently is chair of the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training at the University of Utah and is a board member of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy.

"Scott stands out as a leader, and his experience in the US and internationally are well suited to WCPT,” said APTA President Sharon Dunn, PT, PhD in an APTA news release. “He has been an asset to APTA, both as a member, former president, and friend. And I am sure his leadership and guidance will be invaluable during WCPT’s General Meeting.”

APTA is a founding member of WCPT and has participated in all 19 General Meetings. Dunn also will attend as a voting delegate along with 2 nonvoting delegates from APTA.