On my plane ride back from Chicago – where I attended the American Society for Business Editors (ASBPE) conference – the captain announced that we reached a cruising altitude of 35,000 ft., but I couldn’t help but feel like I was flying much, much higher.

I suppose this elation has something to do with personally accepting two awards at the ASBPE conference on behalf of the Therapy Times staff.

These awards – a silver in the “New Web Publication” category and a bronze in the “Original Web Feature” category for the Oct. 14, 2005 “The Young and the Helpless” article – are two of four awards that Therapy Times has been awarded this year. In May, the American Society of Healthcare Publication Editors honored Therapy Times with silver awards in the “Best Overall Web Publication” and “Best E-Newsletter” categories.

As you read all of this, you might be wondering, “What does this have to do with me?” Essentially, it means that we’re ensuring the best quality of content so you can provide the best quality of care.

Now, with awards in hand and several ASBPE conference educational sessions attended, the Therapy Times staff and I are forging into the future with renewed passion, knowledge and integrity for the information provided on this site.

The educational sessions endowed several pearls of wisdom about the new revolution of serving readers, new editorial ethics, the blogging revolution and how trade publications transform the industries they cover.

All of this knowledge inspired me to infuse the site with new, enhanced features; but the latter helped me to see what this site can do for the entire therapy community as a whole. Sure, Therapy Times provides an online daily resource for therapists to improve patient care and further their careers. But it’s also a catalyst for change.

We already provide several services you can’t find anywhere else. For example, our foundation is built upon the idea that physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapists collaborate often in the field, and Therapy Times offers content and an interactive community that supports and enhances that collaboration.

The “interactive community” I just mentioned includes our nine thought-provoking therapist blogs that offer insights into issues in the field, solutions, personal development, complementary therapy techniques, advice and new ideas. Another interactive community includes our forums where therapists discuss issues and news, ask questions and network with therapists around the nation.

These are just a few examples of how Therapy Times is dedicated to providing you with innovative, progressive services to invoke positive changes in your world.

But keep in mind, you’re integral to this change. We are your voice – so, let it be heard. Feel free to e-mail me, at editoral@therapytimes.com, and let us know about your goals, aspirations, fears, interests, gripes, the issues you face, the conditions you’re concerned about, your vision of the future, your inspirational stories or anything else you’d like to get off your chest and onto the pages of Therapy Times.

There might not be an award for it, but caring is what the Therapy Times staff does best. Thank you for your readership, input and continued support.

Sincerely,

Amy Storer, senior managing editor of Therapy Times