Apr 20 2017
McGraw, Honoree
Professional Goal Statement
As a physical therapist, my goal is to become an experienced practitioner who is adept in many areas of physical therapy and who is comfortable practicing in numerous settings. I specifically aspire to be a physical therapist skilled in women’s and men’s health, ergonomics, injury prevention, and return to work. Mitigating environmental demands as well as collaborating with employers will allow me to help foster a culture of prevention. By year 2022, I plan to sit for the board exam to become a board certified ergonomist. I also plan to receive the Pelvic Therapy Practitioner Certification. As I start out my career, I will aim to find a setting where I can grow as a therapist and continue to expand upon my knowledge base. As I search for employment, it will be extremely important for me to find an employer that offers a distinct team environment as well as access to strong mentors who can help guide me towards achieving my professional goals.
Career Plan
- August 2017
- Obtain a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- October 2017
- Pass the Federation of State Boards Physical Therapy board exam.
- Obtain a license to practice physical therapy in the state of Georgia
- Seek out and apply for jobs in the greater Columbus, Georgia area, where I can expand upon the skills I have developed during PT school.
- November 2017-2022
- Begin my career as a physical therapist in a setting where I regularly have exposure to women’s and men’s health, ergonomics, injury prevention, and return to work treatment focuses.
- Attend educational courses focused on women’s and men’s health, as well as ergonomics.
- Receive Pelvic Therapy Practitioner Certification by Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute.
- Remain active as an APTA member.
- 2022
- Prepare for and sit for the ergonomist exam.
- 2022-2055
- Work in an outpatient setting or as an independent contractor specializing in women’s and men’s health, ergonomics, injury prevention, and/or return to work.
Self Assessment
- Strengths:
- Skilled in maintaining a calming demeanor and making patients feel comfortable.
- Experience in various settings of physical therapy practice
- Thorough and concise documentation skills
- Knowledge of EPIC as well as other documentation systems
- Good organizational skills
- Strong work ethic and ability to learn quickly
- Experience in various settings of physical therapy practice
- Experience working with a wide variety of patient populations
- Areas for Improvement
- More detailed knowledge of changing Medicare and Medicaid policies
- Become more active with the APTA
- More extensive knowledge of how to market myself and the profession
- Increase efficiency and comprehensiveness with initial evaluations and development of plans of care
- Increased knowledge on coding/ billing
- More community and pro bono involvement
Objectives
- Complete a doctoral project specifically geared towards women’s and men’s health, ergonomics, injury prevention, and/or return to work.
- Effectively prepare for and pass the national board examination to become a licensed physical therapist.
- Obtain a first job at a hospital/clinic with an established and organized mentorship program to help further my professional development.
- Become credentialed as a certified pelvic therapy practitioner and as an ergonomist.
Specific Strategies:
- Use references and leads from the network of physical therapists I have developed to help obtain employment in a clinical setting in the greater Columbus, Georgia area.
- Identify a mentor(s) with the knowledge, skills, and professional values similar to those I wish to obtain.
- Engage in a wide variety of continuing education opportunity events after graduation in order to increase my skill set and marketability.
Electives
- PHYT 875 Advanced Orthopedic Assessment
- PHYT 885 Advanced Neuromuscular Intervention
Product Examples
As components of my capstone project, I created a scholarly paper on the ergonomics of adult car seat comfort as well as a patient guide to ergonomic adult car seating principles and evaluation.
Reflective Statement
The journey from a past career to the cusp of being able to call myself a physical therapist has been a long and eye opening one. Physical therapy school has provided me with the opportunity to grow intellectually as well as emotionally. I have really learned how to learn, regardless of the topic or situation. These last three years have have opened me up to the seemingly infinite possibilities of a career in physical therapy. I feel equipped to adapt to the challenges associated with a host of settings. As my seven years as a student at UNC come to a close, I feel so thankful to have been part of such as exceptional institution, and to have been surrounded by such amazing faculty and peers. I am looking forward to graduating and transferring the skills I’ve cultivated into a meaningful career. Thank you to everyone who has been a positive and supportive influence in my life.