DPT Portfolios

Professional Goal Statement

Upon graduation from the DPT program at UNC-Chapel Hill, I plan to attain work in an orthopedic clinic setting. While working in this setting, I hope to improve and develop additional skills in diagnosis and intervention of injury. I plan on attaining increased education or training related to pain interventions and improve my skills with treating pain in clinic. I plan to work in a setting where I can see a variety of patients and work towards the goal of improving the way people move and helping guide them in the activities and functions they enjoy or need to do. I also plan to use continuing education to work towards the goal of gaining certification in an evidence-based course that will help my career, such as the orthopedic certified specialist (OCS).

Career Plan

Future Plans:

• Graduate from UNC DPT Program in Aug 2021
• Pass the NPTE prior to graduation in July 2021
• Begin working in orthopedic clinic by Sept 2021
• Take courses to advance knowledge in my practice setting starting 2021 – Career
• Pass the OCS exam by end of 2026

Self-Assessment

Strengths:

• Interpersonal skills, especially related to establishing rapport with patients
• Confidence in skills and willingness to step into action roles
• Eager to stay up-to-date on current research to ensure best practice in clinic
• Being organized and structured

Areas for Professional Development

• Patience and learning to modify strategies to better treat patients when they are not improving quickly
• Evaluation and diagnosis of patients with more complicated medical histories or presentations
• Would benefit from greater practice in manual techniques and treatments

Clinical Areas of Interest:

• Chronic pain, including newer pain interventions or research, psychosocial factors of pain, and reducing fear-avoidance of movement
• Low back pain and improving physical therapy as a first-line intervention using best practice
• Proper loading and progression of exercises in non-athletic populations, especially geriatric populations
• Role of language in medical professionals in increasing pain or fear
• Cash-based and other private practice physical therapy models to make physical therapy more efficient and reach a greater population by removing barriers created by insurance

Objectives

• Pass the NPTE in July 2021
• Graduate from UNC DPT Program in August 2021
• Obtain a full-time PT job in North Carolina by September 2021
• Improve clinical skills by focusing on areas listed above
• Obtain a clinical mentor in my field within 2 months of beginning career
• Continue to focus on evidence-based practice and improving clinical standards throughout career

Specific Strategies

• Develop routine of spending at minimum one hour per day studying for the NPTE, starting in March 2020
• Being reaching out to jobs and developing potential employment contacts in March 2021
• Keep consistent contact with educational mentors to gather advice regarding research interests and strategies
• Become involved in literature review group, regular podcast, or other method to stay informed on current research and discuss or listen to implications of research in practice
• Maintain working relationship with current classmates to improve transition into workforce and develop support system in improving clinical skills
• Attend relevant clinical education courses and seminars to improve skills
• Utilize continuing education that will work towards goal of advanced certification and track requirements for this

Educational Outline

Past Education:

• BA in Exercise and Sport Science, Minor in Neuroscience – UNC – Chapel Hill – 2017

Non-Clinical Education:

• Combined Sections Meeting – Washington DC – January 2019
• SHAC Clinic PT Triage Team – Jan 2019 – Jan 2020
• PT Fundraising Committee Class Representative – October 2019

Elective Courses:

Fall 2020:

• PHYT 875 – Advanced Orthopedic Assessment
• PHYT 870 – Integrated Clinical Experience

Spring 2021:

• PHYT 800-965 – Sports Medicine
• PHYT 800 – Teacher/Scholar Program for Musculoskeletal I

Clinical Education:

• Clinical I: June – Aug 2019 – Outpatient Orthopedic – Wayne UNC Healthcare (hospital based) – Goldsboro, North Carolina (8 weeks)
• Clinical II: March 2020 – Acute Inpatient – Atrium Carolina’s Medical Center – Charlotte, North Carolina (2 weeks)
• Clinical III: March – April 2021 – Outpatient Neurological Rehabilitation – Duke Specialty Rehab Services – Raleigh, North Carolina (9 weeks)
• Clinical IV: May – July 2021 – Outpatient Orthopedics – Duke Health at Douglas Street – Durham, North Carolina (12 weeks)
• Integrated Clinical Experience – Sept – October 2020 – Outpatient Orthopedics – University Physical Therapy – Hillsborough, North Carolina (60 hours)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Reflection

DEI Reflection

Product Samples

Capstone Project: On-Site Physical Therapy for Workplace Pain Relief

• Evidence Table Modalities Pain Relief
• Business Feasibility Study Introduction
• Business Feasibility Study

Pain Neuroscience Education Clinically Appraised Topic

Literature Review: Evaluation and Treatment of Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

In-Service: Power Training for the Neuro and Older Adult Population

In-Service: Chronic Pain Adaptations and Interventions

Reflective Statement

Looking back on this program while on the verge of graduating and entering the field feels like a long journey from where the process began years ago. I am thankful for my time at Carolina and in this program for pushing me along to this point. While there where many hurdles, including the once-in-a-lifetime pandemic that certainly changed the plans from how I assumed my time here would be spent, there were many moments to be thankful for. As I think back on my time, I remember the time spent with classmates in labs of various sorts more than anything. I remember learning different tips from other students as we arrived back on campus after our first clinical experiences and being able to get specific advice from classmates based on the experiences they had. I remember the moments of extracurricular events and playing intramural teams in a valiant (and unsuccessful) search for a championship. I remember spending time in SHAC trying to practice skills I had just learning on real patients for the first time. What I remember most is entering the program and seeing everything our teaching assistants, faculty, and older students knew and being intimidated at how much information seemed to be ahead of me. Looking back at that moment from this point of view, I realize how much I have learned and how much is still to be learned.

I’m thankful for the faculty that spent extra time to help prepare and had their door open for mentorship when needed. I’m thankful for opportunities to learn from faculty and others in clinics, elective experiences, and classrooms. I’m thankful for the guidance I received and the impact that has shaped the type of clinician I work towards becoming. I am thankful for my classmates and all the support that was given to each other. I am thankful for the memories, laughter, and friends along the way.

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