DPT Portfolios

Professional Goal Statement

My goal upon graduating from UNC DPT is to become a licensed physical therapist who will provide excellent care for all of my patients through application of evidence-based research, developing a trusting and positive rapport, and providing resources for optimal patient outcomes. Specifically, I would like to work in a sports setting and help athletes not only recover from injury, but also progress their athletic performance to maximize the longevity of their athletic careers. My long-term goals include potentially becoming a clinical instructor, becoming an active member of the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy (AASPT), advocating for athletes of underserved populations, and creating my own sports rehab and athletic performance business.

 

Career Plan

Past Accomplishments:

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A. in Exercise and Sport Science, minor in Neuroscience: May 2022
• Enrolled in Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: August 2022
• Co-Chair of SPTA Fundraising Committee: February 2023 – February 2024
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist: September 2024 – Present

 

Clinical Experiences:

•  Acute Care – Cone Health Moses Cone Hospital, Greensboro, NC: June 2023 – August 2023 (8 weeks)
• Neuromuscular (Home Health)/Underserved – Hugh Chatham Yadkin Valley Home Health, Elkin, NC: February 2024 – April 2024 (8 weeks)
• Outpatient Musculoskeletal (Sports) – Duke Health Green Level, Cary, NC: April 2024 – June 2024 (8 weeks)
• Outpatient Musculoskeletal – Southeastern Orthopaedic Specialists, Greensboro, NC: May 2025 – July 2025 (12 weeks)

 

Future Goals:

• Graduate from UNC DPT in July 2025
• Pass NPTE board exam in July 2025
• Tentative: Attend sports residency and pass board exam for SCS; Obtain a full-time job in a sport-specific setting; Begin my own sports rehab and athletic development business; Become a clinical instructor

 

Self-Assessment

Strengths:

• Creative and specific exercise prescription and the ability to properly progress/regress based on patient tolerance
• Adaptable to the needs of colleagues and patient needs
• Passion for learning and applying new information and evidence-based research

 

Areas for Professional Development:

• Continue to read, analyze, and apply current research
• Advocate for patients and the profession
• Confidence with differential diagnosis
• Communication and networking with other PTs and healthcare professionals

 

Specific Strategies to Achieve my Professional Goals

• Follow a structured study plan to pass the NPTE
• Continue building my resume, apply to sports residencies, and follow a structured study plan to obtain SCS
• Gain clinical experience in an outpatient sports/orthopedic clinic following graduation
• Shadow strength coaches and sports PTs
• Strengthen current and develop new mentorships
• Become an active member of AASPT
• Continue reading and applying current research in both outpatient PT and strength and conditioning settings for further development of my knowledge and skills
• Advocate for athletes of underserved populations, and for the profession of physical therapy

 

Interprofessional Education Activities (IPE)

During my time in UNC DPT, I have been fortunate to learn from and collaborate with healthcare providers from a multitude of settings. I have participated in in-person and online IPE activities in which I collaborated with occupational therapy, speech therapy, public health, dental, and medical students (and even more) to broaden my perspectives on patient care through a variety of patient cases. These experiences helped me to understand that patients can and should be treated holistically, and the interventions that we learn in PT school are just one piece of a much larger puzzle in patient care. While understanding what other health professionals do and when to refer to them is very important, these activities made it clear that actually collaborating with them and working as a team for patient care is optimal. Additionally, during my clinical experience with Duke, I was able to collaborate with athletic trainers at a local high school and physicians at the Duke Sports Sciences Institute to enhance my interprofessional skills in the sports-setting. Although athletes are thought of as some of the healthiest individuals, it is still crucial for them to have a medical team that knows how to work together around them to ensure they can perform optimally in their sport.

 

Electives

• PUBH 610: Introductory Spanish for Health Professionals
• PHYT 870: Integrated Clinical Experience (Outpatient Musculoskeletal)
• PHYT 874: Topics in Sports Physical Therapy

 

Projects

• Capstone Project – Bounce Back: Plyometrics and Return to Jump in the PT Setting
  • Worked with Dr. Bria Dunn, Dr. Jeff O’Laughlin, and Dr. Marino Bucci to develop a plyometrics and return to jump presentation to deliver to UNC DPT students
  • Additionally, we developed a plyometrics cheat sheet for clinical use
• Clinically Appraised Topic (CAT) – Explored the benefits of plyometrics for ACL injury prevention and rehab following ACLR
• Acute Care Inservice Presentation – Respiratory Diagnoses
  • Delivered education for respiratory/pulmonary diagnoses and implications for exercise to mobility technicians

 

Reflective Statement

Tar Heel Born. Tar Heel Bred. Tar Heel Dead. Any Carolina fan will recognize and cherish those words. For as long as I can remember, my dream was always to attend the University of North Carolina and become a Tar Heel, and today I am blessed to say that I have been able to call Chapel Hill and this school home for the past seven years. When I first came to Carolina for undergrad, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do with my life; I applied here because of my love for basketball. Fortunately, I am now able to combine my passion for basketball (and other sports), this university, and helping others through my education in UNC’s DPT program. The amount of personal and professional growth I have gone through in this program is something I never imagined possible. I’ve been challenged and faced setbacks that made me question myself more than I ever have in my life – but that’s exactly what I needed. These challenges made me work and think in entirely new ways, similar to how our patients must work and think to recover from the setbacks that bring them to us. I am extremely proud of myself and my classmates for accomplishing what we have over the past three years. I have made amazing relationships and know that I have trustworthy peers if I am facing professional or personal difficulties. I am also extremely grateful for UNC, my professors, and my mentors during my time in the program – they have all pushed me to grow in the manner that I have. Although my journey as a student is coming to a close, my professional journey is just beginning. I am excited to begin this new chapter and apply all the knowledge and skills that UNC has given to me.

 

 

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