Malcolm Peat

Malcolm Peat, (April 4, 1932 – January 17, 2017) was a Scottish-Canadian academic. He was a Professor Emeritus of Queen's University. He was a pioneer in the development of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation academically in Canada and was responsible for the design, development, implementation and evaluation of disability and rehabilitation practices throughout the world. He was the first Canadian physical therapist to obtain a doctoral qualification and to assume Directorship of a Canadian university school of rehabilitation (University of Western Ontario), and the first to develop and implement university graduate studies in Rehabilitation in Canada.

Education Primary and Secondary, The Gordon School, Huntly, Scotland MCSP (Member Chartered Society of Physiotherapy), Bath School of Physiotherapy, 1953 DipTP (Diploma, Teacher in Physiotherapy), Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland, 1959 studies of the shoulder and normal and pathological gait analysis.

Academic Posts Peat began his academic career in 1971 as Lecturer, then Assistant Professor in the School of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba From 1976 to 1984, he was Associate Professor, then Professor and Director of the Program in Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario. In 1984, he became Professor and Director of the School of Rehabilitation Therapy, and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. He also was the Associate Dean, Office of International Programs until his retirement.

International Development Peat has been responsible for furthering the design, development, implementation and evaluation of disability and rehabilitation worldwide. He was the Founding Executive Director of the International. Centre for the Advancement of Community Based Rehabilitation, a Centre of Excellence funded by Foreign Affairs, Government of Canada. Many of these activities have been in Asia, in Countries of Conflict and Post-Conflict in Central and Eastern Europe, and Central America. He has worked with Ministries of Health in various countries in the development of disability policies, policy frameworks and legislation for community based rehabilitation (CBR), scope of practice guidelines, and the formal establishment of CBR within public health systems. Peat also strengthened the capacity of universities and civil society groups in the development of curricula for personnel (students and faculty) and in preparing professionals for community practice. Peat’s extensive experience in policy development, human resources planning, gender equity, training, legislation and accreditation in the area of disability and CBR within health, social and education sectors have made him highly respected in the international community.

Peat died suddenly on 17 January 2017 while on a vacation cruise in Italy. He was 84.

Awards and honours 1982, Silver Quill Award for Scientific Writing, Canadian Physiotherapy Association 1983, Robins Memorial Lecturer, Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, now the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, University of Southern California 1983, Convocation Keynote Speaker, University of Southern California 1983, British Council Fellowship 1984, Special Award for Outstanding Contributions in Education, Ontario Physiotherapy Association 1985, Enid Graham Memorial Lecturer, Canadian Physiotherapy Association 1988, Blue Star Award for Teaching Excellence, Rehabilitation Therapy Society, Queen's University 2004, Distinguished Service Award, Queen's University 2007, DSc honoris causa, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario

Awards for International Development 1964, Award of Appreciation, Foundation for the Welfare of the Crippled, Bangkok 1967, Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). Appointed by H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II to the Order of the British Empire in recognition of service to the field of rehabilitation on behalf of her Majesty's government. 1970, Award of Appreciation, Philippine Physical Therapy Association 1986, British Council Fellowship 1988, Invitation Lecture Award, Seth G.S. Medical College, University of Bombay 1993, Dr. Dhygude memorial Oration, Seth G.S. Medical College, University of Bombay 1996, Award of Appreciation, City of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2005, MD honoris causa, Riga Stradiņš University, Rīga, Latvia