DPT Portfolios

Jaime Emel
DPT Portfolio 2014

 

Professional Goal Statement

My goal is to work as a school physical therapist in a school district within the suburbs of Philadelphia. During this time I would also like to work part time or PRN in an early intervention setting and as a hippotherapy provider, especially in the summer months. I plan to become a well respected pediatric practitioner through residency experience and certifications.

Career Plan

*Click to enlarge

 

Self Assessment

Strengths	Areas for                      Professional Development
Clinical affiliation experience in pediatrics in many settings.   Strong communication skills with children of all ages and levels of communication abilities.   Working knowledge of creative treatment ideas for the pediatric population.   Ability to review, comprehend and utilize research articles for EBP	Experience working with the birth – 3 year population   Improved efficiency with pediatric evaluation for children of varied functional levels   Experience with assessment and procurement of mobility equipment   Familiarity with PA practice act and Medicaid rules

Objectives

1. Gain further knowledge and understanding of pediatric PT practice by graduation through successful completion of the pediatric elective course.
2. Gain experience with evaluation and treatment of the birth-3 population by selecting an early intervention mentor within the final year of PT school.
3. Develop relationships and experiences in the pediatric PT community in the Philadelphia area to create opportunities to grow and learn.

Specific Strategies

• Select two elective courses that will increase my knowledge of intervention for the pediatric population.
• Identify projects for clinical course requirements that will increase my knowledge in pediatric special interventions.
• Develop a capstone project around intervention and/or education for the pediatric population and their families.
• Continue to volunteer in pediatric special needs settings and events to gain increased confidence and skills.
• Identify a mentor who works in an EI setting who will allow me to grow as a clinician through observation and contribution.
• Begin reviewing and studying the PA PT practice act, laws, and regulatory requirements.
• Begin looking into requirements and application process for the CHOP pediatric residency program.
• Develop a plan of study for the PT board exam.
• Identify a school therapist mentor who can help facilitate my transition to the school setting.

Course Samples

PHYT 752: Evidence Based Practice  

In this course I developed and investigated the PICO question: For babies ages birth to six months, does participation in regularly scheduled prone positioning (“tummy time”) vs. unstructured positioning improve gross motor development. This research provided me the opportunity to develop a strong wealth of knowledge regarding current infant positioning and handling recommendations. This will be valuable knowledge throughout my career and especially when working with the early intervention population.

PHYT 880: Child and Family Assessment and Intervention

I successfully completed this course in the fall of 2013. My work in this course vastly expanded my knowledge of pediatric diagnoses and interventions. The experience was especially enriching as I was able to interact with practicing pediatric PTs in the transitional DPT program.

PHYT 885: Advanced Neuromuscular Intervention

I successfully completed this course in the spring of 2014. This course provided the flexibility to choose research and assignment topics, and allowed me the ability to focus on the pediatric population. I researched many pediatric neurological conditions and applied the information in case-based scenarios.

Samples of Academic Work

I first witnessed a need for parent-based infant positioning and handling education while completing my acute care rotation at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. To fulfill my interest in pediatrics, I frequently accompanied the NICU PT, and noticed a lack of educational materials. As such, I took on a special project to create an educational packet regarding tummy time and infant positioning: NICU Packet. This packet is currently provided to each NICU family at NHRMC. Not only was the project a gateway to my Capstone project, it also facilitated a keen awareness of health literacy.

Building on my interest in NICU care and early intervention PT, I researched the PICO question: For babies birth to six months, does participation in regularly scheduled prone positioning (“tummy time”) vs. unstructured positioning improve gross motor development. This work took place in the fall of 2013 and culminated in a research paper summarizing my findings: Research Paper

I continued research in this area through the spring of 2014 as a part of my Capstone Project. I was fortunate enough to attend the UNC PT Outreach trip to Guatemala, and educated Guatemalan women about infant positioning and handling to enhance motor development and prevent deformity. To accomplish this I created and distributed three handouts, provided demonstrations, and engaged women in conversations at two Guatemalan health fairs. This project was a very rewarding experience and it is my belief that many families will benefit from this information for years to come.

Reflection

I am one of the few people in this graduating cohort who knew exactly what I wanted to do as a PT before entering the program and stuck with it throughout. I am very passionate about pediatric PT and this wonderful UNC PT program allowed me to explore this passion thoroughly while still gaining an extensive knowledge-base about all types of physical therapy. It is hard to believe that three years have gone by, however with the experience and knowledge I’ve gained, along with great personal growth, one may think it’s been decades. I look back to my first clinical affiliation, and I can’t believe how far I’ve come in terms of confidence, not only with physical therapy intervention, but also with communicating, interacting with all types of people, and trusting myself. I have to thank everyone I’ve met since beginning this journey- professors, classmates, mentors, clinical instructors, and friends; you’ve all helped me become the person I am today, and I will take the lessons I’ve learned from you forward into my career. I am extremely excited to start the next chapter of my life as a physical therapist and I am confident that I am well prepared for this next step.

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