DPT Portfolios

Professional Goal Statement

My professional goal is to become a physical therapist who is known for being patient-centered and collaborative across disciplines to best treat my patients. After graduation from the UNC DPT program in August 2020, I aspire to work in the acute care or inpatient rehabilitation setting, serving a wide variety of patient populations with a focus on neurological injuries such as brain injury or spinal cord injury. I plan to serve patients in my home state of North Carolina. To incorporate my passion for mentoring others, I have a long-term goal to become an APTA-certified clinical instructor and hope to one day teach as an adjunct professor in a DPT program.

Career Plan

Past

• May 2014: Graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication (Public Relations Sequence)

August 2017 – 2020: Enrolled in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an expected graduation date of August 1, 2020

• Electives
  • Interdisciplinary Older Adult Theory and Practice (3 credits)
  • Integrated Clinical Experience at UNC Health Care (University Physical Therapy in Hillsborough, NC) with Outpatient Neurological Physical Therapist (1 credit, 60 hours)
  • Teacher-Scholar for Musculoskeletal I (1 credit)
  • International Service Learning Trip to Guatemala (1 credit)
• Capstone
  • Bridging the Gap: Transition from Hospital to Home for SCI
    • Final year project completed in collaboration with Sara Galante, SPT, including two peer mentor videos on direction of care and a literature review of patient and caregiver education for the SCI population [“Samples of Work” below]
• Clinical Experiences
  • June – August 2018 (8 weeks): Outpatient Orthopedics – New Hanover Regional Medical Center Oleander Rehab in Wilmington, NC
  • March – April 2019 (8 weeks): General Acute Care in an Underserved setting – Atrium Health Stanly in Albemarle, NC
  • May – June 2019 (8 weeks): Inpatient Rehabilitation with the Brain Injury population – New Hanover Regional Medical Center Rehabilitation Hospital in Wilmington, NC
  • June – July 2020 (8 weeks): Inpatient Rehabilitation with the Stroke & Amputation populations – WakeMed Rehabilitation Hospital in Raleigh, NC

Future

• August 2020: Earn Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• July/October 2020: Sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) to obtain licensure in North Carolina
• November 2020: Obtain a full-time position in acute care or inpatient rehabilitation working with patients with neurological injuries in Charlotte, Wilmington, or Chapel Hill
• 2021: Obtain LSVT-BIG certification
• 2022: Become an APTA-certified clinical instructor & mentor first DPT student
• 2023: Continue working with Sara Galante to produce additional peer mentor videos for the [future] Bridging the Gap website
• 2024: Begin as guest lecture for a Neurology course or lab in an accredited DPT program
• 2025: Sit for the Neurologic Specialist Certification (NCS) examination to become board certified
• Long-term: Pursue clinician-professor role to teach upcoming DPT students

Self-Assessment

Strengths

• Patient rapport across the lifespan, cultural backgrounds, and settings
• Communication including with patients, caregivers, physical therapists, interdisciplinary professionals, and others
• Genuine passion for continued education throughout my career to best serve my patients, especially as research in the neurological population evolves
• Patient and caregiver education, especially for individuals post-traumatic injury and their families

Areas for Professional Growth

• Increased involvement in state and national professional organizations (NCPTA, APTA)
• Improve clinical reasoning for evaluating and treating patients with complex neurological injuries/conditions
• Expand “toolbox” of interventions especially for higher level neurological and geriatric patients
• Increase understanding of insurance policies and financial management across settings

Objectives

• Graduate with DPT from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in August 2020
• Pass the NPTE licensure exam in July/October 2020
• Secure a full-time position in acute care or inpatient rehabilitation by the end of 2020
• Become proficient working with patients with complex neurological injuries and/or advanced cardiopulmonary conditions

Specific Strategies

• Achieve entry-level status within 8 weeks during last clinical rotation at WakeMed Rehabilitation Hospital through nightly preparation of evidence-based literature review to prepare best practice for the caseload
• Develop and execute study plan for NPTE, including 8-week schedule with at least 4 hours of content review per day and at least 2-3 full practice exams
• Research available positions and network to obtain interviews for available positions; practice interview questions to prepare for interviews; update LinkedIn page
• Establish a relationship with a mentor who specializes in neurological conditions, specifically in the Neuro ICU if in acute care or on the brain injury/SCI team if in inpatient rehabilitation; attend journal clubs regularly to stay up-to-date on the current literature

Samples of Work from DPT Curriculum

Capstone: Bridging the Gap: Transition from Hospital to Home for SCI

• Evidence Table & Literature Review on patient education strategies, benefits of self-direction of care, and educational platforms for the SCI population implemented via the peer mentor videos [available on the Capstone website linked above]

Critically Appraised Topic: Education for Caregivers of Individuals with SCI

Teacher Scholar Presentation: Peripartum Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Case Study

Inservice & MSK II Course Presentation: Total Ankle Arthroplasty Case Study & Gait Analysis Post-Total Joint Replacements (TAA, TKA, THA) 

Reflective Statement

It is really special to start and finish an experience with the same feelings. Upon admission and now, I feel truly honored to be a part (and soon, a graduate) of the UNC DPT program. This past winter while interviewing candidates for the class of 2023, I could not help but smile feeling so proud and thankful for the opportunity to represent UNC DPT. When asked by candidates “what is your favorite part of this program?” I beamed because I knew I could brag on the faculty here. I believe it is a rare combination to find a program where the professors are nationally renowned for their research and expertise while also truly caring about their students. I remember hearing about the open-door atmosphere at UNC DPT, where professors are always available and happy to help the students, and this is exactly what I experienced during my time in the program. Not only did this help me learn content, but it also led by example that patient-centered care (or in this case, student-centered learning) is the most effective and I am committed to practicing this way in my own career.

The past three years have been equally challenging and fulfilling. I have always loved learning, and I feel so blessed to have gotten to learn from the best mentors. For example, from the moment I met Jon Hacke, he has cared equally about Austin, the person, as he has Austin, the PT. This is one of the many non-academic lessons I have learned from my time in the UNC DPT program that I will apply to my career and life.

I could not be more thankful to have gone through this experience with my classmates. The 30 of us have truly become family, and while I will miss seeing them every day in the classroom, I know our bond will not end here. I am looking forward to seeing all of the amazing things my talented classmates will achieve, and I cannot wait for how we will continue to learn from each other as colleagues.

As a lifelong Tar Heel and soon-to-be two time graduate of this special University, I was proud to be admitted to the UNC DPT program and I am even more honored to be a part of the UNC DPT community today.

Comments RSS