DPT Portfolios

 

Professional Goal Statement:

My professional goal is to become a holistic, compassionate physical therapist who provides patient-centered care and demonstrates integrity in all interactions.  I have always had a passion to work with children, and I hope to one day advance my knowledge and skill set by specializing in pediatric physical therapy care.  Upon completion of the pediatric residency program, I also hope to acquire multiple pediatric mentors.  Essentially, throughout my career as a practicing healthcare professional, my goal is to advocate for those who are unable to advocate for themselves through a combination of evidence-based practice, clinical expertise, and my desire to maximize function and quality of life within the pediatric population.  In addition, I hope to one day give back to my hometown community located in western North Carolina by providing high quality physical therapy care to underserved populations.

 

Career Plan:

May 2015:  Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science (Pre-professional Concentration) and Minor in Medical Humanities, Appalachian State University

August 2015-2018:  UNC Chapel Hill Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

• Clinical Rotation I: Piedmont Physical Therapy (Outpatient Orthopedics) – Hudson, NC
• Clinical Rotation II: UNC Medical Center (Acute Care) – Chapel Hill, NC
• Clinical Rotation III: Abilitations (Outpatient Pediatrics) – Raleigh, NC
• Clinical Rotation IV: Duke Children’s Hospital (Acute Care Pediatrics) – Durham, NC

August 2018:  Doctorate of Physical Therapy, UNC Chapel Hill

September 2018:  Begin work as a physical therapist in a pediatric setting in North Carolina

October 2018:  Sit for Licensure Exam

2018 and beyond:  Obtain employment by a large healthcare system, pursue a mentorship relationship with an experienced pediatric physical therapist, attend continuing education courses and conferences to further develop my skills, become a clinical instructor, and complete a pediatric residency program in order to become a Pediatric Certified Specialist (PCS)

 

Self-Assessment:

Strengths

• Utilizing the utmost professionalism in all aspects of patient care
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Compassionate and empathetic for all individuals
• Demonstrates a desire to learn
• Thirty-six weeks of extensive clinical experience in a variety of settings
• Attended “Therapy Interventions for the Infant Born Preterm: NICU to Preschool” Continuing Education lecture series at Virginia Commonwealth University
• Completed The Otago Exercise Program: Falls Prevention Training

Areas for Further Development

• Experience treating patients with neurological conditions throughout the continuum of care
• Expand knowledge of evidence-based interventions for the pediatric population
• Further develop handling skills/facilitation techniques within the neuro population
• Obtain a mentorship relationship with an experienced pediatric physical therapist
• Knowledge of pediatric adaptive equipment and orthoses
• Manual techniques
• Perform self-assessments

 

Objectives:

Special Areas of Interest:  Pediatrics, Acute Care and Early Intervention

• Graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree in August 2018
• Obtain employment by a large healthcare system in North Carolina as a pediatric physical therapist by September 2018
• Pass the National Physical Therapy Licensure Exam in October 2018 in order to become a licensed healthcare provider in North Carolina
• Consider applying to a pediatric residency program in North Carolina to become a Pediatric Certified Specialist by 2023 after I have had the opportunity to gain experience working with this specific population for several years

 

Specific Strategies:

• Attend lectures, continuing education courses, and conferences with a focus of pediatric physical therapy
• Continue to cultivate my professional network, develop relationships with experienced pediatric physical therapists, and maintain affiliations with previous and current clinical instructors
• Participate in pediatric-specific shadowing, job, and volunteer opportunities such as the Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Camp at UNC
• Maintain active American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy of the APTA memberships
• Seek out research-based learning opportunities that provide pediatric intervention strategies and techniques that are evidence-based

 

Electives

• Fall 2017
  • PHYT 880: Child and Family Assessment and Intervention
• Spring 2018
  • PHYT 885: Advanced Neuromuscular Intervention

 

Product Examples

• Out-SMART Obesity Program – A community outreach program developed with the intent to reduce childhood and adolescent obesity rates in North Carolina among minority groups. This program was devised during the Topics in Health and Wellness Promotion Course in Fall 2017.
• Capstone Project – Helping Kids with Hemiplegia Summer Camp: Background Information, Handling Techniques, and a Comparison Between Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy and Bimanual Intensive Therapy
• Neuro Special Topics – The Argentine Tango for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

 

Personal Reflection

My passion for the physical therapy profession began when my 3-year-old cousin was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  At the time, I did not realize the potential impact physical therapy could have on such a specialized subset of individuals.  Alongside several other healthcare professionals, the physical therapist that cared for my cousin was able to provide her with the tools and skills she needed to play and participate in games and activities that she enjoyed.  Despite the never-ending visits she made to and from the hospital, her therapy team made her feel like a kid again.  To me, nothing is more rewarding.  I soon realized that this was the career path I wished to pursue.

Over the past three years at UNC, I have had ample opportunities to learn and develop the skills I need to be a successful pediatric therapist.  In addition to working with children, I have discovered several additional interests of mine within the physical therapy field including constraint-induced movement therapy research, fall prevention programs, and healthcare service delivery in rural regions of the state.  My experiences have been truly eye-opening.  I would like to personally thank all faculty, staff, friends and family for your words of encouragement and unwavering support.

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