THE HISTORY OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION AS RECORDED IN THE DIARY OF DR KRUSEN,FRANK .4. TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY (1954-1969)

This article, the last of four based on the diary of Dr. Frank H. Krus en, picks up the story of physiatry's conflict with other medical spec ially groups within the American Medical Association. The conflict was focused on PM&R's use of the term ''rehabilitation,'' but the underly ing motive of groups opposing physical medicine was to limit the scape of physiatric practice. Dr. Krusen organized a well-documented and su ccessful defense of the specialty and opened the door to the developme nt of comprehensive care of persons with disabilities. Also related he re are Dr. Krusen's legislative and public relations contributions to PM&R from 1963 until his retirement from Tufts-New England Medical Cen ter in 1969. Dr, Krusen retired to Cape Cod and died there in 1973. (C ) 1997 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the Ame rican Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.