People who visit APTA’s new headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, will be given a clear, health-based message: MOVE.
That’s thanks to Marilyn Moffat, PT, PhD, FAPTA, who contributed a generous gift to APTA’s Minority Scholarship Fund as part of APTA’s Campaign for Future Generations, which seeks to use APTA’s centennial year and naming rights at the new national headquarters to raise funds to support diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A sculpture of the word MOVE will display prominently in the public plaza on the north end of APTA Centennial Center, clearly visible not only those who visit APTA’s headquarters but also to people being physically active on the bike path across the street or driving down 3030 Potomac Ave. A plaque will honor Moffat’s contribution.
"The MOVE sculpture will be an important part of the APTA Centennial Center — for many, it will be the first thing they notice about our headquarters," said APTA Chief Executive Officer Justin Moore, PT, DPT. "It's difficult to imagine a more fitting person to be associated with this singular artwork than Marilyn Moffat, a singular leader for our profession."
Moffat was president of APTA from 1991 to 1997 after having served on the APTA Board of Directors for six years. While president she played a major role in the development of APTA's Guide to Physical Therapist Practice and was project editor of the second edition of the Guide.
She has a long list of professional achievements that include delivering the 35th Mary McMillan Lecture and having three professional awards named after her — the APTA Marilyn Moffat Leadership Award, the Dr. Marilyn Moffat Distinguished Service Award from the New York Physical Therapy Association, and the Marilyn Moffat Service Award from the North America/Caribbean Region of World Physiotherapy (formerly the World Confederation for Physical Therapy).
She is a full professor of physical therapy at New York University, where she directs both the professional doctoral program and the postprofessional graduate master's degree program in pathokinesiology.
"I have always believed that it is important to give back to the profession that has given me so much, through helping APTA in whatever ways I can, and I'm thrilled to be able to contribute once more," Moffat said. "As a longtime supporter of the APTA Minority Scholarship Fund, I am happy to continue my support of its important work to ensure a bright future for physical therapy."
Moffat isn’t the only one who will have her name at APTA’s new headquarters. The first 10,000 people to donate at least $10 to the Campaign for Future Generations will have their names included on the APTA community wall on the first floor.
Like the design of the building itself, the MOVE sculpture will evoke the importance of movement, with an added emphasis on community by way of its location in a public space.
APTA Centennial Center will be certified LEED Silver and receive FitWel’s best ranking (3 stars), signaling it as a workspace that supports human health.
APTA Centennial Center will begin operations in January 2021, and the MOVE sculpture will be installed during the summer.
