WCPT has learned of the death of Doreen Moore-Wheelwright, a trailblazing leader who demonstrated throughout her life what it meant to be a global physiotherapist.
Doreen was born in Australia but moved to Canada and took Canadian citizenship in the 1960s. She represented Canada on the WCPT Executive Committee in 1967 and, in 1970, was elected as WCPT President and served a four-year term. In the late 1970s she moved back to Australia.
Doreen is one of the few people to have been the president of two physiotherapy national bodies – the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, 1968-69, and the Australian Physiotherapy Association, 1978-79.
At the WCPT Congress 2007 in Vancouver, Doreen reflected on her time in the profession: ‘It’s interesting how many of the newer members are fighting for professional autonomy in the same way that Australia and other founding organisations were a few years back.
‘I think communication among the profession worldwide is now so excellent, and that has changed such a lot. We have much more access to our colleagues globally than we used to.’
This interest in the fight for autonomy was a lifelong passion of Doreen. She was a key champion of the changes that permitted physiotherapists to have direct access.
Doreen attended the WCPT general meeting in 1978 to argue that physiotherapists becoming first contact professionals was critical to the future of the profession. The meeting passed the resolution that ‘the issue of primary practitioner status be interpreted by each country in terms of their own standards’. In 1995 this belief was strengthened by the WCPT Declaration of Principle on Autonomy which states ‘Patients/clients should have direct access to physical therapist services’.
WCPT president Emma Stokes said: ‘It was always a joy to meet Doreen. She retained a lifelong commitment to and interest in the profession and WCPT. It is because of leaders like her – physiotherapists with determination and willing to go the ‘extra mile’ in the service of the profession – that we are where we are today – a strong, resilient, resourceful profession and key contributors in the health work force.’
Jonathon Kruger, WCPT chief executive officer, said: ‘Doreen was a leader who, at a young age, transformed the profession. She continued her involvement with the global profession and, in later life, was able to see the fruits of her efforts realised for physiotherapists in many parts of the world. Doreen was always generous with her time and the conversations that I had with her about the battle for direct access are treasured memories. These are the stories that define us as a profession and her passing is a loss both personally and professionally.’
