By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

“We’re blessed to do what we do.”

For decades, Terry Malone has been saying this to his colleagues, his students and his friends. It has become symbolic of the way he has approached his career.

On Thursday, many of those colleagues, as well as friends and former students, joined him to celebrate that career, as Malone will be retiring as a full professor in the College of Health Sciences’ Physical Therapy department.

“I really think we live by loving — you’ve got to figure out what you love,” said Malone, PT, EdD, ATC, FAPTA. “As Physical Therapists, we make people’s lives better. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be part of this profession.”

Malone received his EdD and MSPT from Duke University in North Carolina and his BA from Bluffton College in Ohio. He served as the initial Sports PT and was the Coordinator of the Sports Medicine Clinic at Duke, as well as the initial Chairman of the Sports Specialization Council of the APTA.

Malone has been liaison to the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and is a member of that organization, while also serving as the initial chair and dean of the Krannert School of PT at the University of Indianapolis. He was the Physical Therapy Program Director at UK from 1993-2006.

“He’s certainly been prolific throughout the country in terms of Physical Therapy,” said Patrick Pabian, PT, DPT, PhD and Chair of the Physical Therapy Department. “He’s been an incredible asset to this University and to our field.”

“I’ve known (Terry) for more than 30 years,” said Tony English, PT, PhD and current emeritus faculty in the department. “We really owe him a debt of gratitude for the work he’s done in that respect.”

Anne Harrison, PT, PhD, is a former student and colleague who was once hired by Malone, and also went on to serve as director for the Physical Therapy department.  

“Terry sees potential — and he taps it,” she said. “He opens doors.”

Scott Lephart, PhD and Dean of the College of Health Sciences, noted that certain words — words like “legacy,” “legend,” and “legendary career” are hyperbolic.

“But in Terry’s case, they’re not hyperbole,” he said. “Terry is known far and wide. Thank you for everything for the last nine years.”

And for Malone, it once again came down to words. Only this time, the words start with the letter L.

“It’s always about L-words,” Malone said. “Living. Loving. Keep learning. Keep laughing. Thank you all so much — it truly has been an honor and a blessing.”

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