2025 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
This award, the highest bestowed by the School of Health Professions Alumni Association, is presented annually to one alumnus who has made major contributions to the health professions through commitment of excellence, research, education, community service and leadership roles.
M. Jay Platt graduated from the UTMB School of Health Professions Department of Physical Therapy in 1981. His desire to become a physical therapist was inspired by several influential therapists. These mentors provided guidance throughout his high school and college years. Their dedication to hard work, continued education, and compassionate care served as a guidepost to establishing a practice of care that Jay modeled over his entire career. Realizing the importance of mentorship, Jay dedicated himself to having that same impact on others.
Jay also became a certified athletic trainer in 1981, earned his certified strength and conditioning specialist certification in 2002, and achieved his manual therapy certification in 2018.
Throughout his 40 years of clinical practice, Jay has been a trailblazer in the profession. In 1983, along with UTMB classmate, Marcus Fielden, Jay was one of the first physical therapists to establish an independent private practice in Richardson, Texas called, North Dallas Physical Therapy Associates.
Since 1995, Jay has spent 25 years specializing in the biomechanics of golf and golf performance enhancement through improved physical conditioning. He was the first physical therapist in the Dallas area to offer a golf PT program in a clinical setting, in addition to providing golf biomechanics, fitness and performance training in area golf schools.
He founded the BACKtoGOLF Performance Center in Austin in 1998, where he provided PT services for both professional and amateur golfers.
Jay was an early influencer in the niche PT practice of working with golfing patients. He shared his knowledge and passion with hundreds of therapists, providing postgraduate PT clinical continuing education as an associate instructor with BACKtoGOLF seminars.
He taught throughout the U.S. from 1999-2010, and as an international instructor in the Netherlands from 2007-2017. In addition to instructing PTs on a biomechanical model to evaluate, treat and rehabilitate golfing patients, Jay also mentored therapists in the implementation, development and growth of a specialized golf rehab PT practice.
Outside the clinical setting, Jay has shared his expertise as a biomechanical and performance consultant for the University of Texas and Baylor University men’s golf teams. He presented on golf biomechanics and functional training at the College Golf Coaches Association of America – Hall of Fame Teaching and Coaching seminar.
Jay appeared on the Golf Channel as the first therapist to highlight functional training for golf in 2002. Jay has been a guest lecturer at the University of Texas Southwestern, University of North Texas and Texas State University.
Jay spent four years as a traveling PT on the PGA tour with Back9 Tour Services, providing PT and physical conditioning services for elite professional golfers.
Jay served as a clinical instructor for several institutions, including UTMB Health, Texas Tech University and the University of North Texas. In this role, he opened his practice to voluntarily mentor students completing their required clinical education experiences.
Among numerous honors, Jay was the recipient of the 1992 Outstanding Clinical Educator Award from the Texas Consortium for Physical Therapy Clinical Education.
Jay served the professional physical therapist community as the legislative chairman for the North Texas District of the Texas Physical Therapy Association, communicating with legislators and physical therapists regarding legislation that could impact patients and practitioners.
While he was a UTMB Health student, Jay was involved in recruitment events and he mentored prospective students who were considering whether to apply to UTMB Health. After graduation, Jay was involved in the development of the SHP Alumni Association from 1981-1989, and he served as vice president from 1985-1989.
Jay retired from clinical practice in 2020, though continues to provide PT services for a professional golfer, and he is a clinical trainer for a radio frequency therapy device that utilizes cutting edge technology to treat pain and inflammation.
In his spare time, Jay enjoys time with his family, golfing, hiking, gardening, spending time in the gym, and taking in the wonders of our national parks with his wife, Ann. Jay and Ann, a retired PT, reside in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.