Greetings and welcome to the Hands Of History Podcast, a production of the Society Of Massage Archives, where we delve into the rich tapestry of massage therapy's past, explore its evolution, and share the stories that have shaped this vital practice.

Join your host, Kirby Clark Ellis, for a conversation with Doug Nelson.

Douglas Nelson is Board Certified in Massage Therapy and Therapeutic Bodywork, beginning his career in massage therapy in 1977. He is the President of BodyWork Associates, a massage therapy clinic in Champaign, IL. The clinic has twenty-two therapists and was founded in 1982. He is the founder of Precision Neuromuscular Therapy™, and the teaching institute has trained thousands of therapists since 1997. Doug is the past president of the Massage Therapy Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to advancing the knowledge and practice of massage therapy by supporting scientific research, education, and community service. Having published many articles in numerous journals and magazines, he is also the author of three books- Table Lessons: Insights in the practice of Massage Therapy (two volumes) and The Mystery of Pain. Doug is the recipient of the 2013 Educator of the Year and 2015 Pioneer Award by the Illinois Chapter of the AMTA and was inducted into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame in 2018. He also received the 2020 President’s Award from the AMTA National President Angela Barker. Most recently, Doug was awarded the 2024 Meritorious Service Award from the Massage Therapy Foundation. Apart from his career, Doug is passionate about service to the community, both locally and globally. He was president of Champaign Rotary from 2024-2025, leading many impactful local and global service initiatives. For his years of leadership with several initiatives, he was awarded the 2025 Distinguished Service Award from the University of Illinois Alumni Association.