DPT Portfolios

Professional Goal Statement: 
My goal is to become a successful  physical therapist with a focus on amputee rehabilitation in an inpatient rehab setting. I hope to be an active contributor in an amputee clinic with an interdisciplinary approach treating amputees across the lifespan.

Career Plan:
 My career plan is to graduate from UNC’s DPT program by finishing my final clinical rotation, and passing boards in July for licensure before beginning work in New Bern, NC in September with a mentorship. 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. After 10 years of experience with amputee patients I plan on starting an Amputee Program/Track in a facility that offers both acute, inpatient, and outpatient care for patients to transition through rehab with a team of skilled clinicians specializing in amputations. Evidence-based practice will be at the foundation of the program as well as an interdisciplinary approach and continuity of care.

• BA in Exercise and Sports Science UNC-CH (2005-2009)

• Spinal Cord Research Experience (2009-2011)

• Doctor of Physical Therapy UNC-CH (2014)

• Carolina East Rehabilitation Hospital (2014-2016)

• Amputee Clinic at Carolina East Rehabilitation Hospital (2014- 2016)

• Work in facility that offers acute, inpatient, and outpatient PT

• Develop an interdisciplinary Program/Track

Self Assessment:

Strengths:

• General knowledge of amputation levels and prosthetics

• General knowledge of Amputee Mobility Predictor Outcome Measure

• Two years of experience in research.

• Understanding of mirror therapy as a treatment for phantom limb pain in amputees

• Strong interest in amputee care across a lifetime.

Areas for Professional Development:

• Further develop knowledge of amputation types, levels, prosthetics, and common protocols

• Develop knowledge base of other outcome measures for amputee patients

• Develop knowledge base of interventions appropriate for amputee patients

• Develop knowledge base of how other interdisciplinary programs specific to a diagnosis operate.

Objectives:

My primary area of interest is in amputation rehabilitation as patients progress from acute to inpatient to outpatient and beyond discharge.

1. Further confidence with evaluation, diagnosis, intervention, and plan of care.

2. Develop clinical skills through a mentorship/self study specific to amputation rehabilitation.

3. Participate in a few local amputee clinics monthly.

4. Outline the structure/plan of an interdisciplinary amputation program or track.

Specific Strategies:

• Continue to communicate with mentor that specializes in amputation rehabilitation and connect with prosthetists in the area.

• Identify a few local amputee clinics/programs to participate in and observe the similarities and differences.

• Become involved in the Amputee Coalition and/or the Wounded Warrior Project.

• Attend all continuing education courses regarding amputee care.

Clinical Rotations and Electives:

Clinical Rotations:


• Carolina East Rehabilitation Hospital, New Bern, NC—Acute care.

• UNC-CH Meadowmont, Chapel Hill, NC—Outpatient Orthopedic

• Wake Med Rehabilitation Hospital, Raleigh, NC—Outpatient Neuro

• Roper Rehabilitation Hospital, Charleston, SC—Inpatient Rehab

Electives:


• PHYT 800-Orthopedic Independent study

• PHYT 875- Advanced Orthopedics

Doctoral Project:

I completed my doctoral project on Osteoarthritis in the Intact Limb of Lower Extremity Amputee Patients.

Mentors:

• Dennis Bongiorni, PT, Durham VA Medical Center

• Jon Hacke, PT UNC-CH

• Mike Gross, PT, UNC-CH (advisor)

Products:

• Inservice on Mirror Therapy with Amputee Patients: A closer look at mirror therapy_Inservice_Reed

• Literature Review for Osteoarthritis in the Intact Limb of Lower Extremity Amputees Osteoarthritis in Amputees_Lit Review

• Voicethread presentation on Osteoarthritis in the Intact Limb of Lower Extremity Amputees 

Reflection:

The last three years in the UNC DPT program have certainly been an exciting adventure for me! This program has confirmed that this is exactly what I need to be doing and allows me to give back to the community. Further, I couldn’t ask for a better group of classmates to bond and grow with over the last few years. 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!

Doctoral Portfolio

Professional Goal Statement

My goal is to begin my career as a Physical Therapist in the acute, sub-acute, or outpatient neuromuscular settings.  I will utilize evidence-based practice to provide skilled quality care, including wound care, to my patients who present with a wide variety of conditions.  I will uphold the clinical and ethical standards as endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association, North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, and Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.  I envision working for a company that employs a large team of physical therapists where knowledge is shared and mentorship is facilitated, and the physical therapist team has the flexibility to adapt to the demands of the ever-changing daily schedule.

Career Plan

• Graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree – 8/2014
• Obtain DPT license upon passing the North Carolina PT Boards Exam – 11/2014
• Become gainfully employed in a setting with a large physical therapy team where knowledge is shared and mentorship is facilitated
• Attend continuing education courses specializing in acute care treatment techniques, wound care, neurological disorders, and professional development
• Become a Clinical Instructor for physical therapy students and mentor for new physical therapy graduates/licensees
• Obtain certification in the following areas:
  • Wound Care Specialist – 11/2017
  • Vestibular Specialist – 11/2018
  • NCS Certification – 11/2019
  • Multiple Sclerosis or LSVT BIG Certification – 11/2020
• Apply for career development opportunities as they arise
• Become active APTA member at state and national levels
• Provide pro bono services regularly to underserved patients
• Become active member of physical therapy/health and wellness advocacy groups to implement policy recommendations/changes

Self-Assessment

Strengths:

• Ample clinical experience in acute and neuromuscular settings working with adult and pediatric patients experiencing a variety of conditions
• Considerate, courteous, approachable, flexible, and efficient with team members and patients
• Limited clinical experience in wound care working with adult patients
• Strong communication skills and enjoy working within a multidisciplinary and/or trans-disciplinary team
• Skilled and knowledgeable in searching databases, and evidence interpretation and application
• Developed network of professional relationships including physical therapists
• Newly appointed member of Wake County Public Schools School Health Advisory Council (WCPS-SHAC) to advocate for children’s health and wellness

Areas for Professional Development:

• Secure employment in the desired setting
• Increase education and experience in wound care and acute/sub-acute/neuromuscular settings through clinical experience and continuing education courses
• Expand network of professional relationships with physical therapists
• Pursue career development opportunities
• Provide pro bono services regularly to underserved patients
• Develop existing relationships with Wake County Public Schools School Health Advisory Council (WCPS-SHAC) council members

Objectives to Achieve Professional Goals

• Obtain DPT degree and PT license through final course and boards completion and success
• Apply, interview, and accept offer to become employed in the desired setting
• Increase employment experience in acute/sub-acute/neuromuscular settings
• Complete continuing education courses related to acute care treatment techniques, wound care, neurological disorders, and professional development
• Continue approachability, flexibility, and efficiency with team members and patients
• Obtain certifications in areas of wound care and specific neuromuscular diagnoses
• Apply for career development opportunities
• Become active APTA member at state and national levels
• Provide pro bono services to underserved patients
• Collaborate further with WCPS-SHAC council members to submit annual health and wellness recommendations to the Wake County Public Schools Board of Education

Specific Strategies to Accomplish Objectives and Professional Goals

• Continued exposure to and experience with complex patients in the acute care setting, including patients requiring wound care
• Continued effort toward successful completion of final clinical rotation and coursework
• Adherence to study plan for boards examination
• Attend continuing education courses related to acute care treatment techniques, wound care, neurological disorders, and professional development
• Continue approachability, flexibility, and efficiency with team members and patients
• Obtain necessary study materials to become certified in areas of wound care and specific neuromuscular specialty diagnoses
• Join the APTA upon licensure and pursue opportunities for advocacy at state and national levels
• Pursue opportunities to provide pro bono services to underserved patients
• Attend monthly WCPS-SHAC and develop relationships with fellow council members

 Doctorate of Physical Therapy Product Examples

Health and Wellness:

The Health and Wellness course prepared me for advocacy in physical therapy through designing a proposal and planning a community-wide intervention for the underserved Native American population in Robeson County, North Carolina.  One of my classmates (Joslyn Chavis) and I developed an 18-month diabetes prevention and management education program, the first of its kind benefitting middle aged and older adults, given the high prevalence of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and other minorities and their increased risk for DM and other healthcare disparities including heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

Doctoral Project:

For my doctoral project I wanted to determine if increased participation in physical education and physical activity in elementary school demonstrated improved academic performance and reduction in obesity and overweight levels as measured through standardized testing, with the hope of disseminating the evidence to the Wake County Public Schools School Health Advisory Council (WCPS-SHAC).  I reviewed the evidence and presented it to WCPS-SHAC members, who in turn included my evidence as part of their annual recommendations to the Wake County Public Schools Board of Education to improve health and wellness in elementary, middle, and high school children.  Please view my project by visiting the DPT Capstone website at http://dptcapstone.web.unc.edu and clicking my name on the left side of the page.

Statement of Reflection and Assessment of Progress

The last three years have been an amazing, and sometimes tiring, journey for me and my family.  I could not have gotten through the rigors of the program at the University of North Carolina without the support of my husband, children, extended family, friends, and professors who were cheering me on every step of the way.  I am excited to become a licensed physical therapist and to provide quality care to my patients, and to continue my education further through professional certifications and specialties.  I have realized that attaining the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is not the destination but rather the beginning of a lifelong journey as a physical therapist.  I look forward to traveling on this journey knowing that the University of North Carolina has well-equipped me for the demands of this profession in addition to positively impacting my patients’ lives.  Lastly, I would like to give back to the University of North Carolina’s Physical Therapy Program with both my time and financially.  I hope to mentor future students in the program and positively influence their professional goals and objectives as the program has done for me, and contribute annually to the program to ensure future students can have the same opportunities that were afforded to me.  I am blessed beyond measure to have had this experience, and finally, GO ‘HEELS!