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ALLIANCE for MASSAGE THERAPY EDUCATION
NAMES RICK ROSEN AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR


The Leadership Team for the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education has named North Carolina school director Rick Rosen, MA, LMBT to serve as its Executive Director during the initial developmental process. Rosen has worked in the massage therapy field for more than 30 years, and has taken other non-profit massage organizations through successful startups.

He is a Charter Member and Past President of the AMTA-North Carolina Chapter. As the Founding Chairman of the NC Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy, Rosen guided that new agency from its first board meeting in 1999 through rules promulgation and granting of licenses in just 18 months. He was part of the group that created the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards in 2005, and served as its first Executive Director. Under his leadership, FSMTB laid the groundwork for the licensure examination program it operates today.

Rosen is Founder and Co-director of the Body Therapy Institute, a COMTA-accredited school in Siler City, NC. He has a Master’s degree in Psychology from West Georgia College and a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising from the University of Florida. He received his original massage training from the Florida School of Massage in Gainesville, FL in 1979. He has completed advanced studies in Polarity Therapy, Structural Integration, and Hakomi Therapy, and is a specialist in the mind-body relationship. He is a 2010 inductee into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame, and has pioneered a teaching system for practitioner ergonomics called The Way of Ease®.

An expert in policy matters and regulatory issues in the massage therapy field, Rosen authored a white paper last year entitled, On Becoming a Profession: the Challenges and Choices that will Determine Our Future. He is also is a contributing author to the 2008 textbook Teaching Massage: Foundational Principles of Adult Education for Massage Program Instructors.

About his motivation to take on this new position, Rosen says, “I’m committed to seeing quality massage therapy training delivered in all aspects of our diverse field. Through the advocacy of the Alliance, educators will be able to take a leading role in the development of policies, standards and best practices that will shape massage education for succeeding generations. I’m excited about working with my colleagues on the Leadership Team and others who will become involved with the Alliance in the coming months, as we create an array of services and learning opportunities. By strengthening and improving massage education, the Alliance will bring great benefit to schools, teachers, students and practitioners, along with everyone in the general public who receives massage therapy.”

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As an independent organization, the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education will serve as the voice and advocate for the entire education sector – from entry-level training programs through post-graduate studies. It will include three components: a School Network (for the institutions themselves); a Teacher’s Network (for instructors in those institutions); and a Continuing Education Network (for providers of post-graduate training). The Alliance will be structured as a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors elected democratically from within its membership.

The Alliance now has a website at www.afmte.org. Massage school directors, administrators, teachers and continuing education providers who are interested in becoming members of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education are encouraged to email Rick Rosen at rrosen@afmte.org for information.

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Congratulations Rick! Thank you also for all your hard work and dedication to us all and keeping us informed about the Alliance.
Many thanks to you, Darcy, for that affirmation. It's fuel for the road ahead as we bring this new organization to life!
Congratulations on your new organization and your new appointment as the Executive Director!

For those who do care to join, I notice the website does not yet include anything about membership fees. Is it possible to join at this point, or will that be happening after the BOD is seated? I've posted this question here instead of sending an email so you can let us all know at once instead of being bombarded with emails from interested parties.
Laura, Thanks so much for your encouragement.

The Alliance in its early stages of development right now -- we expect to have everything ready to begin a national membership campaign in the next 8-10 weeks. The Alliance for Massage Therapy Education will be accepting membership from massage schools, teachers in massage schools, and from continuing education providers.

Anyone who is interested in getting on a mailing list to receive membership information can email me at rrosen@afmte.org. In the meantime, folks can check the Alliance website for updates: www.afmte.org.
I personally cannot imagine anything that would excite me more than getting together with the folks from Canada! Preferably on YOUR side of the border! That would be an awesome meeting. If there is any way I can help facilitate that, just let me know.

Bodhi Haraldsson said:
Hi Rick
Congratulation on this exciting new initiative. I read your white paper on Becoming a Profession, and was encouraged by the vision set out in it. Perhaps on day we can have a North American education summit on Massage Therapy eduction and future?
Great and Much Success. Looking forward to hearing more about this network for schools, teachers and providers!
Hi Rick,

Congratulations on the position! "Teachers helping to organize teachers"... I like that. Let us know when you get ready and we will help spread the word. So many years of waiting, I think has therapists ready to get involved in projects that will move us forward. God speed!

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