DPT Portfolios

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

Doctor of Physical Therapy 

Doctoral Portfolio 

The purpose of the doctoral portfolio is to document learning and to synthesize and integrate knowledge and skills gained through the DPT curriculum with the graduating student’s career plan. The portfolio provides evidence of the clinical and professional competence of the graduate. 

Required Elements

• Professional Goal Statement: I hope to begin my career in a teaching hospital, learning under the mentorship of my colleagues with the hope of applying this knowledge in an underserved Inpatient Rehab hospital. I desire to work with those of lower health literacy, providing holistic and thorough patient centered care, as this population is often overlooked and left without the necessary resources and tools to heal properly.

• Career Plan: My plan is to begin in an Acute Care hospital with the goal of working in Inpatient Rehab.

• Self-Assessment 
  • Strengths: Compassion, communication, holistic approach to care, advocacy
  • Areas for Professional Development: using social determinants of health to inform care, advocacy at the state level, inter-disciplinary knowledge
• Objectives 
  • By the end of the program, I will be proficient in educating those of varying levels of health literacy on conditions and treatments.
  • By the end of the program, I will have developed a list of local resources pertaining to a variety of social determinants of health, in the area I desire to work.
  • By the end of the program, I will be able to communicate effectively with other disciplines through participating in multiple inter-disciplinary conversations pertaining to patients and their plan of care.

• Interprofessional Education Activities (IPE): Three IPE (Interprofessional Education) opportunities I participated in during this program include IPE Day in PHYT 722, both as a student and later as a teaching assistant helping to prepare course materials, along with IPE Day in Geriatric Adult Health and IPE Day in Pediatrics. Each of these experiences provided valuable opportunities to learn with and from students in other healthcare disciplines, emphasizing an interdisciplinary team approach to patient care. These experiences highlighted the importance of collaborative practice in improving patient outcomes and supporting overall patient well-being. I was able to apply what I learned during my clinical rotations at UNC Hillsborough and Cone Health, where I worked alongside recreational, speech, and occupational therapists, as well as case managers, nurses, and physicians. Understanding the boundaries of my own professional scope, and recognizing where another profession’s scope begins, is crucial in delivering comprehensive care. Delegating tasks appropriately across disciplines leads to more efficient and effective patient management. I plan to continue to apply this knowledge once entering the workforce, and am eager to further develop as a member of an interdisciplinary team. 

• Product Examples:
  • How To use a Hoyer Pamphlet – Health Literacy 
    • how to use a hoyer inservice
  • Capstone Patient Handout  – Health Literacy
    • One Pager Doc in Black and White Blue Light Blue Classic Professional Style (12)
  • Pediatric Prevention Program; Business Pitch – Preventative Care
    • Business Pitch PHYT 872
  • Teaching Assistant Reflection  – IPE Development & Educating Future Clinicians
    •  Teacher Scholar Reflection 2024 (TA)

• Reflective Statement: Throughout my time in UNC’s DPT program, I have grown tremendously as a clinician, developing a strong commitment to providing holistic, patient-centered care. I have learned to consider and address social determinants of health, and I place a high value on promoting health literacy. The program created many opportunities for me to refine my clinical skills, consistently challenging me to step outside of my comfort zone to ensure I can provide the highest quality care. Through my clinical rotations, involvement with SHAC, and various academic projects, including my capstone, I have strengthened my ability to educate patients using appropriate levels of health literacy. I’ve learned to communicate clearly about conditions, the benefits of physical activity and therapeutic interventions, and relevant anatomy and physiology in a way that resonates with diverse patient populations. IPE (Interprofessional Education) opportunities allowed me to grow in my role as a member of an interdisciplinary team. These experiences helped me better understand the value of collaboration in achieving shared goals for both patients and clinicians. While I recognize there is still room for growth, I feel well-prepared and excited to continue developing these skills as a licensed clinician. I am eager to participate in interprofessional development, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as advocacy efforts. One of the most impactful classes for me was Advanced Practice Issues, where I learned how advocacy can influence both local and systemic change, ultimately affecting preventative care and long-term patient outcomes. Looking back, I can confidently say I have made significant progress toward my professional goals of becoming a reflective, patient-centered, and socially conscious clinician. I am proud of the foundation I’ve built and look forward to continuing this journey through mentorship, continuing education, and national conferences. I am grateful to be part of a profession that embraces lifelong learning and constantly strives for excellence in patient care.  

Optional Elements 

• Electives: 
  • Advanced Orthopedics: Took an in-depth look at the anatomy and physiology of connective tissues, with an emphasis on how these concepts impact clinical decision-making and patient care.
  • Teaching Assistant: This role allowed me to refine my ability to educate individuals across a range of understanding in physical therapy concepts, offer constructive feedback on manual and evaluative skills, and support learning related to interprofessional collaboration. 
  • PUBH 610 (Medical Spanish): Further developing my understanding of the Spanish language and culture to better communicate with Spanish-speaking patients.
• SHAC Clinic: Provided pro bono care to underserved populations, applying evidence-based practice to guide patient evaluations and treatment planning.
• Capstone Project: Investigated the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on neuroplasticity in individuals with chronic stroke. The project included synthesizing current evidence and developing a patient-friendly pamphlet to explain key concepts in accessible language.

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