Physical Therapy to the Rescue

Sic vivant ut alii.

That phrase is repeated during training and afterward among the brotherhood of SAR (search and rescue) swimmers in the US Navy and US Coast Guard. It's SAR's motto. It's Latin for "so others may live," and it's been my motivating theme—in military life and beyond.

In August 2001, I left the comfort of home, family, and friends to do something more with my life. At 18, I enlisted in the Navy to be trained as a helicopter SAR swimmer, seeking camaraderie in the form of training, discipline, and service. A month later, while I stood in ranks with my shipmates during basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois, the second of the World Trade Center's twin towers fell in New York City.

Join APTA to get unlimited access to content.

Create a free account Log in

Mathias T. US Regulators Snip Red Tape for Medical Devices to Curb Opioid Crisis. Reuters. November 9, 2018. www.reuters.com/article/usa-opioids/corrected-focus-u-s-regulators-snip-red-tape-for-medical-devices-to-curb-opioid-crisis-idUSL2N1XJ1NE. Accessed December 17, 2018.
Gaskin DJ, Richard P. The economic costs of pain in the United States. J Pain. 2012;13(8): 715-724.

You Might Also Like...

Article

APTA Report Finds Demand for Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Outpaces Access

A new APTA report, "APTA State of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy," examines the current state of pelvic health physical therapy in the U.S. and identifies

Article

Physical Therapy Education Applicant Numbers Reach Record in 2025–2026 Cycle

Interest in physical therapy careers remains strong, with the number of applicants to Doctor of Physical Therapy programs reaching a record high in the

Column

President's Note | What It Means to Be Your Professional Home

In this issue of APTA Magazine, we focus on the second pillar of APTA's Strategic Framework for 2030: Empowering Our Members. The goal of this pillar?