Drs Stanley and Catherine Paris are committed to providing $1M NZD to support research and advanced practice initiatives at the University of Otago School of Physiotherapy. These funds will first be sent to the University of Otago in America, to which the Fund Committee (with oversight of the investment) will apply to fund approved projects, as per the University's usual arrangements.
Purpose of the Stanley Paris awards
The Stanley Paris Musculoskeletal and Manual Therapy Fund is named after Stanley G and Stanley V Paris, father and son graduates of the School of Physiotherapy at Otago.
It is specifically intended to support and strengthen activities in the area of musculoskeletal and manual therapy (OMT) at the Otago Physiotherapy School, to further enhance its national and international profile and leadership role in research and in clinical practice.
The Fund is designed to provide additional funds to support eligible activities, and is not intended as replacement for other sources of funding. It is a specific requirement that these funds are not to replace any other source of funding currently available, and that where suitable alternatives sources are available, these should be accessed first.
It is intended that the fund donation of NZD$1M will be spent down over a number of years (it is anticipated that this will be for 5 years, i.e. c$200k per annum).
Administration
The Fund will be administered by a Committee, chaired by the Director of Development and Alumni Relations and comprising representatives from the University of Otago School of Physiotherapy, as well as Drs Stanley and Catherine Paris or their nominees. Support will be available through a specific (internal) application process under the oversight of the Fund Committee.
It is suggested that there is an annual call for proposals under the areas indicated below, with the Fund Committee responsible for allocating funds annually depending upon supported applications; it is anticipated the mix of areas will vary from year to year. The Committee will meet twice annually to approve requests, and may require interviews or and presentations by the candidates.
Potential areas for support
Stanley Paris Research Fellowship Grants
This is conceived as the flagship element of the support available through the Fund: it should be seen and promoted as a prestigious research award. For this, there would be an annual 'open call' process for support grants for up to 12 months to support academic staff members from the School to pursue a designated research project within the areas of musculoskeletal and manual therapy. The Fellowship may be used to support research staff (e.g. a research assistant or research physiotherapist), travel, consumable and running costs, and to purchase equipment essential to the project.
A single Fellowship will be awarded in any one year, subject to a suitable application; eligibility will be limited to registered physiotherapists, employed as full academic faculty at the School. A successful applicant may not apply hold an additional Fellowship in the year immediately following their award.
Stanley Paris Visiting Fellowship
The Fund may consider applications to support distinguished international faculty within the area of OMT to visit Otago School of Physiotherapy. This would be based upon the existing model for William Evans Visiting Fellows (Faculty spend three weeks in Otago, interacting with students and faculty, giving a public lecture and/or clinical workshop).
NB: There is a possibility that Altus might cooperate and contribute to support visiting faculty.Stanley Paris PhD OMT Scholarship
This is designed to provide dedicated funding to support doctoral studies at the Otago School of Physiotherapy in the area of orthopaedic manual therapy; it is specifically targeted at New Zealand-trained and registered physiotherapists who wish to pursue a clinical research career in New Zealand. The total number of such scholarships will be limited, and awarded at the sole discretion of the Fund Committee.
Preferred candidates will be those who have an area of interest that is of research value to the Otago School of Physiotherapy and to the profession, and who will likely be eligible to be offered a faculty position at the School, which will include clinical, research and teaching responsibilities. (Those who later choose to seek employment elsewhere will of course be free to do so.)
The scholarship will be competitive, and is awarded at the discretion of the Fund Committee, subject to confirmed eligibility for PhD enrolment at the School of Physiotherapy.
Such support would include:
- PhD enrolment fees for part-time enrolment for up to 6 years* (University to provide)
- Maintenance support to provide buyout of (employment) time for part-time students, to protect income (i.e. to provide a degree of financially support). Maximum of 0.4FTE/$20k per annum.
- Consumable and travel costs of up to $10,000 across the scholarship period (with budget approval)
In addition, the following may be available, subject to application and approval of the Fund Committee:
- One trip to the United States to undertake appropriate education or clinical residency at the University of St. Augustine (USA) manual therapy program.
- One attendance at American Academy of Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy (AAOMPT). As part of this, the candidate will be hosted by Drs Stanley and Catherine Paris to facilitate networking with international experts and faculty.
- Travel support to spend at least a week overseas in the practice of a mentor in their area of interest.
Further information and application details
Stanley Paris Postgraduate OMT Scholarships
This will provide financial support in the form of scholarships (full-time or part-time) to help enable NZ-registered therapists to undertake their postgraduate OMT training through the Otago School of Physiotherapy. The value of and number in each year to be determined by the Fund Committee.
Such support would include:
- Tuition fees for approved postgraduate papers towards Postgraduate Diploma or MPhty.
- Maintenance support to provide buyout of (employment) time for part-time students, to protect income (i.e. to provide a degree of financially support). Maximum of 0.2FTE/$10k per annum.
- Consumable and travel costs of up to $2,000 across the scholarship period (with budget approval)
In addition, the following may be available, subject to application and approval of the Fund Committee:
- One trip to the United States to take appropriate education from the University of St. Augustine (USA) manual therapy program.
- One attendance at American Academy of Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy (AAOMPT). As part of this, the candidate will be hosted by Stanley and Catherine Paris to facilitate networking with international experts and faculty.
- Travel support to spend at least a week overseas in the practice of a mentor in their area of interest.
Further information and application details
Stanley Paris Clinical Master Class
The Fund may additionally consider providing support on application for a University of Otago 'Clinical Master Class' wherein one or more speakers present over a two to three-day period on a specific clinical area or topic within the musculoskeletal/manual therapy area.
An outline for such a master class might include short lectures in anatomy, biomechanics, pathology and imaging, followed by clinical situations, examination and treatment. There would be international and School-based faculty, invited guests, and paying attendees. The sponsors would be Otago and the Fund.
It is envisaged that any profits from the Master Classes could go back into the Fund to further its purpose.