1970 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) established. NIOSH holds the responsibility of conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work related illnesses and injuries. Therapists have played a key role in meeting this mission in two
primary areas: noise-induced hearing loss and musculoskeletal injuries.

1970's First NIH OT Commissioned officer joined the NIH staff

1970's The Therapist Professional Advisory Committee (TPAC) was established. Dean Currier, PT, was the 1st chair

1970's Dean Currier, PT, Jack Echternach, PT, and Roger Nelson, PT worked with colleagues to begin performing nerve conduction velocity studies and EMG testing on patients. Their work in this area helped establish the background knowledge for physical therapist and other health care
professionals to perform credible and reliable assessments

1970's-1980's Inception of the Biomechanics Laboratory at NIH.

1971 Gordon S. Pocock, PT, Chief of Rehabilitation Research, and Walter Kirckheimer, MD, Chief of Research Branch, Carville, LA, established a research animal model, using armadillos, for the study of Mycobacterium leprae.

1972 CAPT Michael Oliva was awarded thd Meritorious Service Award. He was the first therapist to receive this USPHS award

1973 USPHS Audiologists make significant contributions to NIOSH studies and documents on guidelines for establishing hearing conservation programs, manuals for industrial noise control, and compendiums of hearing protection devices

1973 Medicare and Medicaid were placed under the responsibility of the PHS during their reorganization

1974 First USPHS therapist assigned to the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners (MCFP), Springfield, Missouri

1978 Health Care and Financing Administration (HCFA) started. Therapists stationed at HCFA today continue to work with regulations pertaining to therapy services

1978 Judith A. Bell Krotoski, OT, assigned to Carville Hansen’s disease program. Krotoski worked with world renowned hand surgeon, Paul Brand. Krotoski’s research focused on rehabilitative improvements for the hand, primarily focusing on objective measures, and the monitoring and prevention of peripheral nerve involvement and associated deformity

1979 William Cox, PT , appointed as Therapist Professional Liaison Officer (later renamed Chief Therapist Professional Officer) to the Surgeon General and Assistant Secretary for Health