Dr. R. M. “Barney” Poole, PT, DPT, FAPTA is a nationally known and respected 1985 GSU graduate. He owns his private practice in Stockbridge GA. Over the past 36 years, Barney has served in many roles in the Physical Therapy Association of Georgia (PTAG) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) including Vice Speaker, in the House of Delegates and as a Board Member.
Whether educating students or physicians, practicing as a clinician or volunteering his time to colleagues, patients or his community, Barney’s accessibility to others is a hallmark of his leadership role in the physical therapy profession. He has received numerous APTA awards including its highest honor, the Catherine Worthingham Fellow. Barney’s legacy is the PTAG Leadership Academy that educates and develops innovative leaders.
We asked Barney how his GSU degree and experience contributed to his successful career.
I remember Dr. Marylou Barnes telling us to put on our lab coats as we were going to the Georgia Capital to lobby for direct access to physical therapy services on behalf of our future patients. That began a long career of advocacy on behalf of our profession on both the state and federal levels that continues today. In 2015, Georgia physical therapists were successful in passing legislation that allowed for direct access, patient self-referral to physical therapy. It was a long time coming; however, I never gave up on the idea. The faculty of GSU instilled in us the concepts of service, advocacy and lifelong learning. I have kept these as guiding principles throughout my career that has allowed me to serve as PTAG president in two different decades, as Vice Speaker and member of the APTA Board of Directors and to hold many other positions of state and national service. The founding education and guiding principles I learned at GSU have served me well.
We asked Barney what he would like to share with students, new grads and alumni concerning his career path.
Shortly after graduation from GSU, Dr. Pearl Peterson called and asked me to run for an open district director position within PTAG. I was fresh out of school and just learning to be a physical therapist. I enjoyed the interaction with the Board of Directors and began to meet other PT/PTA’s from around the state. This interaction and networking opportunity lead to meeting PT/PTA’s from across the country at APTA meetings including pioneers and great names in our profession. Learning and networking opportunities are always there for those who want them. The opportunity to serve within our profession is always there too. Giving back to our profession serves our patients, our community, and makes the world a better, healthier place. Service has been rewarding to me personally, and I would urge students, new graduates, and alumni to get involved in serving our profession.
Lastly, we asked Barney to share the most valuable thing he learned while at GSU.
Professor Gordon Cummings taught us manual skills to treat the spine. He had learned treatment methods in India and Australia. He was an amazingly skilled and talented teacher. He taught us that you learn a basic way to treat then add to that by picking up skills from other teachers and colleagues adding to your knowledge and abilities. Having done that, you practice your own method constantly upgrading and improving those skills. I encourage my colleagues to learn basic skills from the best teachers among us and then adapt those skills to fit your treatment plan. While you continue to add to your abilities throughout your career also be willing to share what you know with others.