DPT Portfolios

Professional Goal Statement

My goal is to be a physical therapist in an outpatient orthopedic setting. I hope to become an orthopedic clinical specialist (OCS), certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) and provide patients with evidence-based treatment that will optimize their return to household, community, recreational, occupational and sporting activities. In the future, I hope to advance my career in leadership roles as either a clinic director, clinic owner, or become a faculty member of an accredited physical therapy program to help educate  future physical therapists.

Career Plan

2006: BS – Packaging Science, Clemson University

2007-2008: Packaging Lab Technician, C.R. Bard Inc.; Covington, GA

2008-2009: Physical Therapist Aide, Proaxis Physical Therapy; Greenville, SC

2011: MS – Exercise Science, University of South Carolina – Columbia

2014: DPT – University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

Self-Assessment

Strengths

•  MS Exercise Science
• Experience as a PT aide and with clinical rotations in outpatient orthopedic setting
• Experience with manual therapy techniques
• Familiarity with common outcome measures used in outpatient orthopedic settings (i.e. Lower Extremity Functional Scale, Oswestry Disability Index, Neck Disability Index, etc.)
• Experience with both computer and paper-based documentation

Weaknesses

• Lack of experience as a clinician  
• Orthotics
• Utilizing patient-friendly terms when working with patients
• Efficiency with performing evaluations and progressing high-level patients with appropriately challenging exercise interventions

Career Plans & Goals

• Graduate with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
• Become a board certified physical therapist
• Complete Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) certification
• Attend continuing education courses that I can use to improve the quality of care available to my patients

Specific Strategies

• Exercise discipline and consistency in preparation for the national board exam in July
•  Obtain employment in an outpatient clinic where I can grow and develop into a strong clinician who is capable of evaluating and treating a wide variety of conditions.
• Complete the requirements necessary to become a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association
• Review the requirements for the Orthopedic Clinical Specialist certification and begin to accrue the hours necessary to be eligible
• Professionally evaluate myself and my current position each year to determine the next steps I want to take with my career and determine my own strengths and weaknesses as a clinician

 Doctoral Project

·         I completed by capstone project on the efficacy of prophylactic knee braces at preventing knee injuries in college and high school football players. My committee members were Michael T. Gross, DPT, PhD; Jon Hacke, PT, MA, OCS, and Bing Yu, PhD. A link to my project at the UNC DPT Capstone Website is provided as follows:  Capstone Project

Examples of Work Completed at UNC

In-service on Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain (2nd/3rd clinical rotation – WakeMed Zebulon, NC): Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain

Research Paper on Lateral Epicondylitis (PHYT 875, Fall 2013): Blackmon – Lateral Epicondylitis Paper

In-service on Total Shoulder Replacement (1st clinical rotation – Hillcrest Hospital Simpsonville, SC): Shoulder Replacement

Self-Reflection

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the DPT program at UNC-Chapel Hill. I have made great relationships with my classmates and our faculty, and the entire experience has exceeded my expectations. I feel that my confidence as a clinician is growing rapidly and that I will be prepared when I join the work force through the didactic and clinical educational opportunities available to me. As noted in my strengths and weaknesses, while I feel that I am developing well in some areas I have plenty of room for improvement. I feel though that I have the tools necessary to grow as a professional, and available resources at UNC to help me in my journey from student physical therapist to licensed physical therapist.

 

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