The Private Practice Section is pleased to announce that Samuel M. Brown, PT DPT is the recipient of the 2009 Robert G. Dicus Award, the most prestigious award presented by our organization. The award recognizes a single member of PPS whose contributions to the section as a whole, and the section as an APTA component, have been of exceptional value. Robert Dicus was the first chair of the section, from 1955 to 1958, and set the standards for volunteer leadership. Dr. Brown has contributed to our profession and particularly the independent private practice model in multiple ways. His nominations for the award repeatedly stressed the impact he has on his community. One nominator wrote:
“I would note that I have had the pleasure of visiting his clinic on several occasions and walking through his small with him. It is a pleasure to watch as his patients (and even a few referral sources) meet ‘Dr. Sam’ on the street or in the market. This physical therapist has the respect and admiration that we wish were accorded to all physical therapists. He is one of the finest examples of what excellence in private practice means.“

Dr. Brown’s history of service to the profession was mentioned by all those who submitted nominations. As chapter president he lead the effort to obtain practice without referral in 1986 making Kentucky one of the early states to allow patients direct access to physical therapists. Another nominator wrote about that Direct Access campaign:
“Sam’s understanding of Kentucky’s ‘Good-old—boy’ politics and his ability to use the system to his advantage was the key to their success. Sam was definitely the right person at the right time for this monumental achievement in a conservative state that had historically supported traditional medicine. Because Sam was always more than willing to share his legislative experience and political wisdom with other Chapter presidents, he was a mentor to leaders throughout the county which effectively influenced legislation in numerous other states. Sam lived the principle of ‘paying it forward’ long before it became a popular concept.”

Sam Brown PT, DPT has served the Association and Private Practice Section at many levels constantly over the past 3 decades. He served the Section as Government Affairs Chair and on the Nominating Committee as well as Liaisons to the Section from the APTA Board of Directors. His most tangible contribution to all of our daily practice came through his service as APTA’s representative to AMA on the group that determines relative value of services and thus the price we get paid. A nominator wrote the following:
“In my work with Sam, he served in the role of the APTA’s External Liaison to Health Care Professionals Advisory Committee to the American Medical Association’s Relative Value Update Committee (HCPACRUC). In the mid 1990, APTA had delivered successful presentations to determine the work value of CPT codes for Medicare payment. But the work value is only about 60% of the total value given of a given code. Almost all of the remaining 40% is the practice expense value, which is determined in a variety of ways. During Sam’s tenure, it fell to him to represent APTA and present appropriate arguments to secure the direct practice expense associated with the delivery of common physical therapists services. Not only was Sam successful, he was able to obtain a bit of increase in the direct practice expense – about 50 million dollars per year.”