Caribbean-American Achiever: Dr. Arthur Ronald Peterson, Doctor of Physical Therapy/Clinical Geriatric Specialist/Professor of Physical Therapy

By: Shama Harrysingh

WEST PALM BEACH – Dr. Ron Peterson, a certified and accomplished health care professional offering over 40 years of experience in the areas of Physiotherapy, Program Development and Physical Therapy Education. He was trained in London, England and has instituted and supervised many rehabilitation clinics throughout the world, including facilities in England, the United States, Europe, the Caribbean and the Far East.

He is a Professor and Program Director of the Physical Therapist Assistant program at South University, West Palm Beach, Florida, supervising a faculty comprising of four doctoral professors.

Among his many accomplishments are the following:

 In Education:  Dr. Ron Peterson is a Licensed Physical Therapist and holds his Doctorate in Health Services with a major in Rehabilitation. He also obtained his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Boston University.

He holds the Teacher’s Diploma in Further Education from Ewell Technical College, Surrey, England., and has taught in several different Physical Therapy programs throughout Louisiana and Florida.

Dr. Peterson is a former Principal of the School of Physical Therapy, University of the West Indies in Jamaica, where he was instrumental in training and graduating the first Physical Therapists for the English-speaking Caribbean.

While at Slidell Memorial Hospital in Louisiana, he was the Center Coordinator of Clinical Education and Clinical Instructor for physical therapy students from Louisiana State University. He was responsible for ensuring that students received predetermined clinical experience and education during their tenure at the hospital.

Currently, in West Palm Beach, he holds a similar position and works with students from training institutions in the area. He also works with the School Board of Palm Beach County to accommodate High School Students in the Medical Magnet Program who wish to pursue a career in Physical Therapy.

In Clinical Practice: After graduating as a Physical Therapist in England,

Dr. Peterson worked for two years at the Joint Services Medical Rehabilitation Unit in Chessington, Surrey, treating a variety of combat-related injuries and specializing in the rehabilitation of hand injuries resulting from war. In 1973, he went to Belfast, Northern Ireland, as the Senior Physiotherapist to the British Armed Forces, and spent one year at Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast, treating injuries resulting from war-related activities. After his tenure as Principal of the School of Physical Therapy at the University of the West Indies, Dr. Peterson returned to his birthplace in Trinidad and went into Private Practice for 4 years. While there, he treated a variety of conditions and interacted with various health practitioners on an advisory basis. In 1981, he was requested by the Minister of Health to initiate and develop a rehabilitation service for the Island of Tobago. While in Tobago, Dr. Peterson was involved in the Nurse Training program and worked closely with his friend and mentor Dr. Kenneth Delpeche, Consultant Orthopaedist and Medical Director of the Tobago General Hospital.

Currently, Dr. Peterson is the Chief Executive Officer of Peterson Rehabilitation, Inc., and oversees the operations of this company. He is very involved in consulting, teaching, and helping his staff achieve the highest possible level of clinical competence.

In Program Development: Dr. Peterson was invited in 1981 to develop a rehabilitation service for the island of Tobago. Between 1981 and 1988, his expertise was used to assist in the healthcare delivery services in Tobago. After leaving Tobago, he proceeded to Louisiana where he was a Clinical Specialist with the New Medico Neurologic Rehabilitation Center and, after one year, he moved up to a new appointment as Director of Rehabilitation at Slidell Memorial Hospital, directing the activities of the Inpatient and Outpatient Physical Therapy Departments, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology Departments, along with the Departments of Audiology, Sports Medicine, Fitness Center, Industrial Therapy and Work Hardening, Cardiac Rehabilitation and the Skilled Nursing Unit.

In Professional Activities: Dr. Peterson is a Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the professional association for Physiotherapists in England. While in Jamaica, Dr. Peterson served on the Board of Directors of the School of Physical Therapy. He was also Chairman of the Friends of Mona Rehabilitation Center, an organization which raises funds to further the programs of the rehabilitation center. He also organized and convened the first Caribbean Regional Conference on Physical Therapy in 1975 in Kingston. In Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Peterson served as President of the Trinidad and Tobago Physiotherapy Association for 1982-1983, and served on the Editorial Board for the Association’s Journal the following year. In Tobago, he was a Member of the International Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled and a Consultant in Physical Therapy for the Tobago Chapter. He delivered the Keynote Address for the Tobago Chapter in 1983, and again in 1984, when he shared that distinction with the Minister of Health. Dr. Peterson is a Member of the following organizations:

• The American Physical Therapy Association
• The Florida Physical Therapy Association
• The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• The Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association
• The Royal Society of Health
• The Society of Apothecaries of London

In Specialized Areas: 

Apart from being a Licensed Physical Therapist, Dr. Ron Peterson specializes in several different areas of rehabilitation:

• He was trained and Certified in Manual Therapy by Geoffrey Maitland, Gregory Grieve and Dr. James Cyriax in 1971, following a 1-year residency at different hospitals throughout London.
• He worked with the late eminent Dr. Berta Bobath in London, England. The basis of Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) approach to Adult Hemiplegia in the United States is predicated upon the research and development in this area of Neurology by Dr. Bobath. When Dr. Peterson moved to the United States, he became certified in this area and is designated an NDT-Certified Therapist.

In 1999, he received Specialist Certification in Utilization Review by the Florida Physical Therapy Association. This area of specialization involves decision-making in determining appropriate delivery of physical therapy.

In Professional Activities: Dr. Peterson is a Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the professional association for Physiotherapists in England. While in Jamaica, Dr. Peterson served on the Board of Directors of the School of Physical Therapy. He was also Chairman of the Friends of Mona Rehabilitation Center, an organization which raises funds to further the programs of the rehabilitation center. He also organized and convened the first Caribbean Regional Conference on Physical Therapy in 1975 in Kingston. In Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Peterson served as President of the Trinidad and Tobago Physiotherapy Association for 1982-1983, and served on the Editorial Board for the Association’s Journal the following year. In Tobago, he was a Member of the International Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled and a Consultant in Physical Therapy for the Tobago Chapter. He delivered the Keynote Address for the Tobago Chapter in 1983, and again in 1984, when he shared that distinction with the Minister of Health. Dr. Peterson is a Member of the following organizations:

• The American Physical Therapy Association
• The Florida Physical Therapy Association
• The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• The Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association
• The Royal Society of Health
• The Society of Apothecaries of London

In 1999, he received Specialist Certification in Utilization Review by the Florida Physical Therapy Association. This area of specialization involves decision-making in determining appropriate delivery of physical therapy services and is used by many insurance companies as a Quality Improvement tool for reimbursement of physical therapy services.

While many people consider Physical Therapy to be a service for those who have injuries or debilitating illnesses, few realize that by maintaining an optimal level of personal fitness, they can become more independent and minimize the potential for injuries in the future. With this increasing awareness of the benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle and a high level of fitness, Dr. Peterson was certified as a Strength Training Specialist by the International Weightlifting Association in 2001.

In June, 2004, Dr. Peterson became a Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist and Diplomate of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.

 Key Skills:

Teaching at University Level; Curriculum Development; Patient Assessment; Program Design; Conventional PT Techniques; Therapeutic Exercise Programs; Director of Rehabilitation Services at Hospitals and Skilled Nursing Facilities; Home-Program Treatment Plans; Item Writer for the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy; Manual Therapy Techniques; Neurologic Developmental Treatment of Adult Hemiplegia (NDT); Statistical Data Analysis; Clinical Operations & Procedures; Risk Management and Quality Control Standards.

In The Community:  Dr. Peterson is very involved in community activities and events:

• He is a graduate of Leadership Slidell – a training program for community leaders in Louisiana
• He is a Member of the Rotary Club of Royal Palm Beach and served as President in 1998. He has served on the Board of Directors and received the award of Rotarian of The Year for 2002 – 2003. He is also a Paul Harris Fellow with the Rotary International Foundation, and a Past Assistant Governor for Rotary District 6930.
• He is a frequent speaker to many community groups and organizations on healthcare topics, including the importance of leading an active, healthy lifestyle, and the prevention and treatment of age-related illnesses.
• He is on the Advisory Board of Kaiser Career College and was the Keynote speaker for graduating Nurses on several occasions.
• He has written many articles on healthcare topics for different publications worldwide.
• He is a published author and his first novel, “Baa Baa Black Sheep” has been well-received by the literary world.
• He is a Notary Public for the State of Florida

Awards:

•  Received an Award from the Trinidad & Tobago Consulate-General in Miami for services to Education, commemorating the 50^th Year Anniversary of Independence for Trinidad and Tobago in August, 2012;

• Received the Jeffrey Englander Lifetime Achievement Award for services of national importance for treatment of brain injuries on February 28, 2013;
• Multiple Paul Harris Fellow Awards by Rotary International for Service Above Self.
• Nominated for NIHERST Award for Service to Medicine in 2013 by the Trinidad & Tobago Consulate General in Miami, Florida.