Although I had thought about going back to physical therapy school before I got married, my transition out of finance occurred during a time when pursuit of formal education was not possible due to family obligations. However, my new career in fitness provided an avenue to employ exercise strategies to further the fitness goals of clients of various ages. As I progressed in the fitness field I often consulted with physical therapists when dealing with clients who had suffered from various musculoskeletal injuries or medical conditions.
Physical therapy school has been an incredible challenge for me in terms of completing school while balancing my family commitments, and experiencing coursework so different from what I experienced as an undergraduate and graduate student in international economics and finance.
While as a fitness trainer I might have thought more in terms of muscle and bone, I now think about the contributions of the nervous system as well as the vestibular system with respect to movement. I now realize that some of my own injuries that I had attributed to muscular issues were in part actually nerve-related. My education on the structures that comprise the shoulder and spine allow me much more insight than I previously experienced.
An equally important achievement for me, aside from a much more in depth knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics, is the development of communication skills. My time at UNC has instilled in me the importance of communication skills beyond speaking clearly and with proper grammar.
Effective communication also involves being able to tailor your message and education appropriately to a given patient, client and audience.
However, there is more work for me in terms of my education. Learning is an ongoing process. I look forward to my new career and the continuation of my education moving forward. Jul 02 My professional goal is to become a knowledgeable, creative, culturally-competence and effective physical therapist that practices in a multidisciplinary setting that involves myriad aspects of care geriatrics, orthopedics, wound care, neuro, chronic disease, aquatics, etc with a specialization in orthopedics and wound care.
Additionally, I would like to participate in local and international service opportunities and provide care to underserved populations. Furthermore, I would like to become an advocate and promoter of physical therapy as a career choice among people of color. Objectives to Achieve Professional Goals. Prepare, sit for, and pass the board exam to become a licensed physical therapist. Speak at local middle and high schools and college organization to promote PT as a profession among people of color.
Examples of Academic Work. Advanced Orthopedic Assessment, Fall This course provided me with a more in-depth understanding of the evaluation and treatment of orthopedic conditions.
Introductory Spanish for Health Professionals, Spring : This course provided a great opportunity to improve my Spanish language and comprehension skills so as to enable me to work with and effectively treat Spanish-speaking patients.
Interdisciplinary Service Learning Trip to Guatemala, Spring : I had the amazing opportunity to work together with Guatemalan therapists to assess and treat patients at a local hospital hospital, community center and participate in a community health fair. This opportunity allowed me to practice my Spanish-speaking and comprehension skills. My project focused on the development of cultural competence among physical therapy students. Graduation is less than 2 months away and I am one step closer to becoming a licensed physical therapist!
This has truly been a journey, one of long nights studying, traveling to Guatemala, great clinical rotations, etc. In addition to learning about physical therapy I learned a great deal about myself and for that I am appreciative to each professor and classmate for making this a exuberant learning experience that I will take with me into my future career.
Lastly, I am extremely excited to begin my journey as a licensed physical therapist and to provide a great service to my patients and community. Jun 01 Published by under EDPT. I want to focus on performance enhancement and return to competition. I will identify a clinical question related to an intervention plan for a shoulder impingement with overhead athletes.
I will complete a review of literature and create an Evidence Table to answer my clinical question. Take the Ortho Elective offered by the program. The purpose of this is to bring my clinical knowledge to be more consistent with current practice.
For this course I would like to do an independent study focused on advancing my didactic and clinical skills in orthopedic physical therapy. I want to develop a greater depth of my knowledge and skills in this area of PT. Doctoral Project. For this project I completed additional research about causes of shoulder impingement in the overhead athlete, specifically collegiate and professional baseball players, with a focus on the examination process and interventions to return them to playing.
I created a voicethread for UNC students and faculty and a powerpoint presentation that I am presenting as an in-service the last week of my clinical rotation at Proaxis Therapy in Greer, SC which will discuss the predisposing factors, evaluation process, and interventions for subacromial impingement syndrome in this population. These materials can be found on the DPT Capstone website.
Reflective Statement and Assessment of Progress to Goals. I also am thankful to have the opportunity to work with such skilled physical therapists at Proaxis Therapy in Greer, SC. So far it has been a great experience.
They expand my skill set and broaden my clinical evaluation skills daily. It has also been beneficial to talk with them about different residency programs to give me an idea of what to look for in the future, in terms of mentors in the program, general set up of the program, and opportunities that will help me reach my goals. These coming weeks I have the opportunity to sit in on journal club meetings with the Proaxis OCS and SCS residents and observe the throwing clinic with their lead researchers.
This company has a residency program, a high focus on continuing education and evidence-based practice, and works with MLB teams, which is my ultimate goal. I have already implemented a study schedule for the licensure exam which I will sit for in July and have passed my jurisprudence exam for Arizona licensure. I have obtained the study materials for the CSCS, however have put off studying for that so I can better focus on my current rotation and board studying, which are my priorities.
I am hoping in the next 8 weeks of my rotation to progress in these areas to better prepare me for my future career. May 30 I hope to be an active contributor in an amputee clinic with an interdisciplinary approach treating amputees across the lifespan.
After gaining more experience in New Bern, NC I would like to find employment in an area that primarily focuses on amputee patients where I can continue to build my skill set with this patient population.
Evidence-based practice will be at the foundation of the program as well as an interdisciplinary approach and continuity of care. My primary area of interest is in amputation rehabilitation as patients progress from acute to inpatient to outpatient and beyond discharge. Clinical Rotations:. This program has confirmed that this is exactly what I need to be doing and allows me to give back to the community. We quickly became a tight family and I know I have created lifetime relationships.
I am also grateful for the relationships I have built with faculty and my clinical instructors as they have taught me a great deal about myself, both personally and professionally. I feel so blessed to have attended such a great program, in such a giving community, with enthusiastic faculty and classmates! I know I have grown in this journey and cannot wait to see what the future holds! Next ». Professional Goal Statement My aim is to become a competent and successful bilingual pediatric physical therapist.
Key Players: Dana McCarty has served as my advisor for my capstone project and the person I have turned to for all my questions regarding the job search, resumes, and cover letters. Lisa Johnston has served as my connection to the long-term care facility in Guatemala at which I am planning on volunteering.
Professional Goal It is my professional goal to become a skilled and well-rounded physical therapist with my doctor of physical therapy degree. After the lecture ended, I asked the students and professors for feedback. In-service Presentation Throughout my time at UNC, I have had the opportunity to work in 4 different clinical settings. In each setting I presented a unique in-service presentation.
An example of one presentation is linked here: Vestibular Rehabilitation in the Acute Setting. Final Course Project for Advanced Orthopedics Elective In an Advanced Orthopedics Elective I composed a paper on sacroiliac joint dysfunction, including function, tissues, mechanisms of injury,clinical diagnosis and treatment options: The Sacroiliac Joint. Capstone Project During my time in the doctor of physical therapy program, I had the opportunity to conduct research and present this research at a conference.
Reflective Statement Throughout my time as a doctor of physical therapy student at UNC Chapel Hill, I have had many wonderful opportunities for personal and professional development.
Also, while at UNC, I got married!!! Professional Goal statement: My goal is to provide quality comprehensive care for a diverse patient population and participate in community outreach events to promote the health and well-being of all of our community members.
Begin work as a clinical instructor for physical therapy students 10 Year Plan: Complete either residency program or PhD in Human Movement Sciences to expand my expertise and contribute to physical therapy evidence based practice. Begin work as a faculty member of an accredited physical therapy program Self Assessment: Strengths Active member of the APTA, CSM attendee Previous experience working with a diverse patient population and developing excellent communication skills.
I am skilled at connecting with patients, expressing empathy, and motivating them. Spanish fluency: Experience working internationally in development and participated in Physical Therapy International Service Learning Trip to Guatemala. Experience as an educator: Guest instructor for Yoga Alliance accredited hour yoga teacher training program, Skill in Action.
I presented on topics such as anatomy, biomechanics, yoga for special populations, and modifications for safety and efficacy of yoga practice. Excellent skills in instructing movement with experience as a certified yoga instructor, personal trainer and group fitness instructor. I have gathered a large variety of treatment ideas through these experiences and also have gained a good understanding of how to modify therapeutic exercises and physical activity to be accessible for people at a wide variety of functional and fitness levels.
Motivated to provide evidence-based care for optimal patient outcomes. The program allows for enrollment of experienced physical therapy clinicians seeking advanced clinical knowledge and skills. Therapists with an interest in clinical or academic teaching are encouraged to apply. The application for admission is made available in October for a start date the following fall.
The program produces graduates who are clinically competent to identify and develop new clinical services and to practice autonomously as primary clinical care practitioners. I must be willing to accept that I will unintentionally cause harm to others through my actions and words. I must accept accountability for my own actions while also holding others accountable for their behaviors to ensure a safer environment for all.
This quote reminds me that although these conversations are difficult and solutions require tactful consideration and reconsideration, they are life or death.
It is truly unbelievable the growth and experiences I have gained in these past three years. I started out not having any idea what kind of Physical Therapist I wanted to be. After one guest lecture during my first year of PT school, I found my passion in pelvic floor physical therapy and I cannot wait to explore this passion upon graduation.
Although I am grateful for the knowledge I have gained, I am most thankful for the growth I have experienced on a personal level. I believe I have become a better person because of the challenges and experiences I have faced while pursuing my doctorate.
My personal growth is in large part because of the incredible people I have been able to meet and learn from. It is an understatement to say that physical therapy school is a challenge. However, my friends, partner, and family were the support system I needed to get to where I am today. Thank you to every person that was a part of my experience these past three years. I will continue to grow and seek out opportunities that better me as a therapist and human being. I am eager to see where this profession takes me and will always be proud to be a Tarheel!
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