Hislop used an avian metaphor in her presentation entitled “Getting the Balance Right Between Basic and Clinical Research, and Implementation of Research Findings into Clinical Practice” given during the World Confederation for Physical Therapy Congress in London in 1990. She symbolized physical therapy faculties as various species of birds particularly noting the eagles among us: those research scientists who have the capacity to soar, to see things others cannot, who energize the rest of us, and who perform with style, raising our profession to new heights. Her elegant message is most relevant to a new generation of therapists. In her words: “Scholarship. . .is an attitude, a behavior, a calling and has little to do with choice of profession, place of employment, age or …rank.”
Listening to Jette’s excellent keynote address at the ceremony to recognize our new clinical specialists this February in San Antonio, I heard his call for our specialists to become clinical scientists who are not just about justifying what we do, but who are the dreamers and creators of new science in physical therapy. Although I agree with Jette that our clinical specialists are likely the source of good clinical science, we must remember that those with passion conduct good scholarship and science. We must encourage our clinical specialists to develop their unique passions, for as Hislop pointed out, it is the manner in which they express their passion that makes them eagles, not the content or focus of their research. If our profession only fosters those specialists who have a passion for clinical research, we may drive some of our eagles to new territory—outside the physical therapy profession. Although creating advanced degrees within our profession for our clinical specialists to help them become clinical scientists is a wonderful idea, this is not the only source of fuel for their passions. We need to embrace eagles that follow other paths to good science. It is okay to go outside physical therapy to follow one’s dream. We need not worry that we will loose these eagles if the nest is welcoming and supportive.
We all know eagles when we see them, and I believe we have a nest full in our new clinical specialists. They are our future and they need to be nurtured, supported, and given the wind to soar.
