Swedish Institute Marks 90 Years

1916 was a year of unprecedented events: The National Park Service was created; the first U.S. birth control clinic was opened; Charlie Chaplin was the first actor to earn at least $10,000 a week; and the Swedish Institute of Massage—the nation's oldest continually operating massage-therapy program—opened its doors to its first class of students.

The institute was founded by Captain Theodore Melander, a graduate of the Royal Military Academy in Sweden, according to an institute press release. Melander immigrated to New York near the turn of the century with the goal of brining the Swedish system of medical gymnastics to America. As a licensed physiotherapist, he started a private practice in midtown Manhattan, offering massage and exercise. Melander also taught classes, and in 1916 formerly established the Swedish Institute of Physiotherapy.

The institute has witnessed many changes over the past nine decades:

• In 1954 physiotherapy was split into two disciplines: physical therapy and massage. The Swedish Institute chose to keep its focus on massage.

• In 1967 massage licensure oversight transferred from New York City to New York State, which recognized massage as a profession.

• In 1975 massage became a practice-protected health-care profession restricted to those licensed in the profession, except for certain professionals, such as nurses, who are exempt.

• In 1990 New York State recognized massage practice as "massage therapy" and changed the license to reflect this. A massage therapist was no longer known as a "masseur" or "masseuse," but as a licensed massage therapist (L.M.T.), with the legal right to use those letters with his or her name.

• Today the institute offers programs in massage therapy, acupuncture and personal training, and about 700 students attend classes at any given time.

In November the institute held its first-ever reunion. Almost 200 graduates, representing the classes of 1967 through 2006, attended.

Honored during the anniversary festivities were four people who have been at the Swedish Institute for more than 25 years: Lucy Liben, Dean of the Massage Therapy Program (28 years); Bob Altheim, faculty member for both the Massage Therapy and Acupuncture Programs (30 years); Jill Thompson, Director of Academic Support Services for the Massage Therapy Program (28 years); and Yick Pon Huey, Dean for Administration and Operations (32 years).