On Wednesday, Nov. 12, Samuel R. Ward, PT, Ph.D., researcher and professor at the University of California San Diego, will deliver, “The Chart, Compass, and Sextant: Calibrating Your Professional Navigation Tools.” His talk, the Physical Therapy Department’s 11th annual Charles M. Magistro Professionalism Lecture, will begin at 3 p.m. in the Commons Great Room.

Through these lectures, the Physical Therapy department aims to reiterate the core values of the profession and inspire innovation among faculty and students. For Phil McClure PT, Ph.D., FAPTA, professor and chair of the Physical Therapy department, the lecture series upholds a tradition within the department of connecting students to visionary leaders.

“Students beginning their professional life benefit greatly from exposure to these exceptional role models,” said Dr. McClure. “Our goal is for students to not only become excellent clinicians, but to also be fully engaged as professionals in our association and in their communities.”

Though the department’s professional lectures began 21 years ago, it was named in honor of Charles M. Magistro, PT, FAPTA, in 2004. Magistro “has led a distinguished career in physical therapy as a practitioner and educator and recognized for his numerous publications and presentations in matters related to the practice, education, and administration of physical therapy programs,” said Rebecca Craik, PT, Ph.D., FAPTA, professor of physical therapy and dean of the College of Health Sciences.

For more information, contact Cheryl Lewis at lewisc01@arcadia.edu.

Samuel R. Ward, PT, Ph.D., is interim vice chairman of Orthopaedic Research and director of the Muscle Physiology Laboratory in the Departments of Radiology, Orthopaedic Surgery, and Bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Ward’s research focuses on skeletal muscle design and plasticity with special emphasis on the shoulder, spine, and knee. He has published approximately 80 peer-reviewed manuscripts and is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.

Dr. Ward has received several awards including an Early Career Investigator Award from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and American Society of Biomechanics, a Eugene Michels New Investigator Award from the APTA, and a Kappa Delta Award from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Within the APTA, Dr. Ward has been active in the Orthopaedic and Research Sections, most recently completing his term as president of the Section on Research. Outside of his work, he is an active member of Operation Walk, a volunteer organization dedicated to joint reconstruction in underserved countries.