DPT Portfolios

Professional Goal Statement

Upon successful completion and graduation from UNC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, I hope to obtain a job in an inpatient rehabilitation or acute care setting. From my clinical experiences and course work, I have found a passion for working with individuals with neurological impairments and plan to continue to develop my skills in this area. I will strive to be a well-rounded physical therapist with a strong emphasis on patient-centered care and evidence-based practice. I plan to treat patients both in North Carolina and abroad on international service trips, while using my Spanish language skills to reach underserved populations. I aim to be a physical therapist who continues to pursue educational opportunities throughout my career and who gives back to this profession and my community.

Career Plan

Past Accomplishments:

• May 2016: Earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science; Minors in Spanish and Psychology from Wake Forest University
• June 2017: Graduated from The Falls Church Fellows Program; a nine-month Christian leadership development program in Washington DC
  • Earned 6 credits of graduate level coursework from Reformed Theological Seminary
  • Worked as a scribe for an orthopedic surgeon at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
• August 2017: Enrolled in UNC’s DPT Class of 2020

Clinical Rotations:

• June-August 2018 (8 weeks): Outpatient orthopedic rotation in an underserved area at Carolina Orthopedic and Sports Medicine in New Bern, NC
• March-April 2019 (8 weeks): Inpatient rehabilitation rotation at Cone Health Moses Cone Hospital, Greensboro, NC
• April-June 2019 (8 weeks): Acute care rotation at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center in Winston Salem, NC

Electives:

• Intermediate Spanish for Health Care Professions
• Advanced Neuromuscular Intervention
• Integrated Clinical Experience with Dr. Vicki Mercer, PT, PhD at University Physical Therapy
• International Service Learning Trip to Guatemala

Future Plans:

• August 2020: Graduate from UNC DPT Program Class of 2020
• October 2020: Pass the National Physical Therapy Exam and obtain licensure in North Carolina
• November/December 2020: Begin working in an inpatient rehabilitation or acute care setting

Self-Assessment

• Strengths
  • Interpersonal relationships
  • Organization and time management skills
  • Professionalism
  • Dependability
  • Proficient in Spanish (speaking, reading, writing)
• Areas for Professional Development
  • Confidence in my clinical skills
  • Public Speaking
  • Billing, coding, and reimbursement policies

Objectives

• Pass the NPTE in October 2020
• Obtain a full-time position in an inpatient rehabilitation or acute care setting
• Find a mentor, preferably with expertise in neurological diagnoses
• Become a clinical instructor
• Establish connections to provide physical therapy services abroad
• Complete neurological residency program and/or sit for Neurologic Specialist Certification Examination
• Pursue lifelong learning and active engagement in the profession
• Maintain healthy work-life balance

Specific Strategies

• Follow NPTE study plan
• Work with neurological diagnoses to gain experience
• Become a member of APTA and NCAPTA
• Travel internationally with missionary or medical teams

Product Examples

• Capstone Project on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: https://dptcapstone.web.unc.edu/category/capstone-projects-2020/rainey-leslie/
• Critically Appraised Topic
• Differential Diagnosis Case Presentation
• Musculoskeletal Case Study Presentation

Reflective statement

I grew up knowing I wanted to pursue a career in the health care professions; exactly what route I didn’t know. Fast forward to junior year of college when I decided to observe for a summer at a local physical therapy clinic to see what PT was all about. I fell in love with the profession that summer and can truthfully say my excitement and passion for PT has grown steadily since. I have learned and grown so much throughout my three years at UNC. I have been surrounded by the best classmates and faculty who constantly support yet challenge me to be a better PT and a better person. Even through the ups and downs we experienced in PT school, I’ve always felt extremely blessed to be pursuing this profession at this university. I am and will forever be extremely proud and grateful to be a Tar Heel. Once again thank you to my classmates and faculty; I couldn’t have done it without you.

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