DPT Portfolios

Portfolio for Lauren Diamond

 

Professional Goal Statement

My goal is to move to the greater Charlotte area and work for a private practice outpatient facility that focuses primarily on an athletic population. Over the first five years of my career, I hope to expand my professional presence by becoming certified in areas such as dry needling and vestibular rehabilitation as well as obtaining a CSCS and OCS to better promote myself, the profession, and the organization in which I work. I also hope to target the active athlete, to promote appropriate shoe wear, and to assist in running mechanics. Most importantly, I will strive for patient satisfaction and continued education.

 

Career Plan 

2011 Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology (Louisiana State University)
2012 Underserved outpatient 8 week clinical experience (Southport, NC)
2013 Acute care 8 week clinical experience (Concord, NC)
2013 Neurological inpatient and outpatient 8 week clinical experience (Columbia, SC)
2014 APTA Orthopedic Section Independent Study Course (Current Concepts of Orthopedic Physical Therapy)
2014 Sport Therapy Outpatient Orthopedic 12 week clinical experience (New York, NY)
2014 DPT Graduation (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill)
2014 Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
2015 APTA CI Certification
2016 Dry Needle Certification
2016 Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
2018 Vestibular Certification
2020 Obtain managerial position within an outpatient orthopedic facility

 

Self Assessment

 

Strengths	Areas for Professional Development
Active member of APTA and of Combined Sections Meeting (2013 and 2014) Active Member of the North Carolina Chapter, the Orthopedic Section and Private Practice Section of APTA Extensive experience in outpatient therapy settings Confidence with evidence based practice and literature research Well-developed network of physical therapy colleagues particularly in the sports/orthopedic field	Expand knowledge and gain experience on business principles such as planning and marketing. Gain more knowledge of health care system and reimbursement changes Broaden understanding of potential referral sources in the Charlotte area Continue to refine orthopedic and manual clinical skills Experience community wellness initiatives

Objectives

~Contact multiple privately-owned practices with a sports orthopedic focus in the Charlotte area to set arranged meetings/shadowing opportunities prior to graduation

~Prepare and sit for the exam for Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

~Prepare and sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam

~Pursue continuing education opportunities to build manual skills and sport specific evaluation and treatment

~Become active in the Charlotte community by promoting health and wellness

Specific Strategies

~Identify projects for clinical course requirements that will increase my knowledge in sports orthopedics and vestibular conditions

~Identify a mentor with the knowledge, skills, and professional values I wish to emulate.

~Secure materials about the NPTE and CSCS exam and review requirements.

~Identify a peer group or individual colleague also interested in preparing for the exam to collaborate and study with

~Develop a plan of study for the licensure exam

~Seek opportunities in the Charlotte community such as racing events and local school sports teams to share information on safe habits and living a healthy lifestyle

Course plan for Clinical Core and Electives

      During the fall semester of 2013, I enrolled in PHYT 875, an elective orthopedic course to further develop my skills in musculoskeletal conditions and treatment. This course was designed to allow students to explore areas of interest that were related to the week’s lecture. The format was informal and allowed for creativity and thus great discussion. Some topics I elaborated on in that class included caffeine intake and the effects on bone loss, the effect of plantar fascial release, and posterior tibial tendon dysfunction.

      During my spring semester of 2014 I chose to do an independent study with Mike McMorris, PT, DPT, OCS. This elective consisted of completing the APTA Orthopedic Section Independent Study Course (Current Concepts of Orthopedic Physical Therapy) and a total of 144 hours split between assisting in the faculty run clinic and holding a teaching assistant position in the first year musculoskeletal course.

 

Sample Work and Doctoral Project

      During the fall semester of 2013, I worked closely with Allison Rowe to develop a mock outline for a program that would be used to target female collegiate athletes and educate the coaches and players on a condition known as Female Athlete Triad.

      In the fall semester of 2012 I worked in conjunction with Susie Williams in developing an in- depth business plan. In this twenty-page report focused on  Sport & Wellness Physical Therapy, we included information ranging from operations, marketing, finance and strategies. As someone who has always been intrigued by the private practice sector and management of physical therapy clinics, I found this project to be the most enlightening through all of our business courses.

      Lastly, but certainly not least, is the work I did surrounding platelet rich plasma (PRP). As I began communicating with my final clinical site, the instructor expressed the need for therapists who are educated on PRP because of the high usage with many of the site’s referring physicians. My work started late in 2013 when I wrote a paper focused on PRP’s effect on ACL reconstruction surgery. Later in the semester, I wrote a paper focused on the general overview of PRP in  literature and how it may affect physical therapists. Lastly, I expanded even further on the previous two works and developed an educational presentation for my final clinical affiliation. The research for this presentation and the products in which I developed, including a patient handout and literature review, were compiled to make up my doctoral capstone project.

Reflection

        The past three years have been absolutely life changing. As a Louisiana native, I was open to going anywhere in the country for PT school, and I chose UNC because of the people I met during the interview process. Without hesitation, I can say these people have stayed true to their character and have made this journey one I will never forget. Not only have my classmates and professors sold me on UNC, but the community has sold me on the state! I plan to start my career in North Carolina and potentially start a family there. I will forever be grateful for the lasting friendships, memories, and late nights of studying, but I cannot go on without saying how truly grateful I am for the experiences and knowledge that have been shared with me over the past three years. When I look back on some of these objectives, set within the first six months of the curriculum, I can’t help but smile and notice that I have not only met those objectives but I have exceeded them as well. I’m no longer the incoming first-year student who just has a passion for orthopedics and patient education, but I am a graduating doctoral candidate who is confident in all aspects of physical therapy, an active member of the APTA, a soon-to-be registered applicant to obtain her CSCS, and a new professional with stated goals of improving myself constantly to be the best I can be.

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