Carla Gorsky CMT, 335 Hawthorne Rd, Libertyville, IL 60048, US

New School for Massage, Bodywork & Healing was founded in early 2002 by Emmanuel Bistas, B.S., M.B.A., L.M.T. based on his research on how massage therapists were trained and educated, and how schools prepared students for the future. Having received massage training in the oldest massage school in the country as well as smaller, skill-based massage programs, he saw a void in the skills most schools taught. Using his prior service sector experience, his entrepreneurial credentials and his passion for advancing the healing arts, he decided to create a new learning environment. The school was a product of extensive massage industry analysis and reviews of massage therapy schools around the country. Discussions were held with massage therapy students from area schools to find "likes" and "dislikes", and focus groups were conducted with practicing massage therapists and employers. The idea was simple: make the old "new". Take the best that old schools had to offer and overlay it with new concepts, new ideas, and a new focus not only on massage skills, but also on long-term career success. This new philosophy encompassed everything: the curriculum; the scheduling; the instructors; the academic and administrative policies. Furthermore, the facility had to be one that was consistent with alternative therapies: a warm, nurturing space with positive energy that brings out the best in students, instructors, and guests. The vision brought to the school some amazing students and some of the country's most talented instructors. It also drew to the school people who could contribute their time and resources to make the dream reality.