DPT Portfolios

Professional Goal Statement 

• Upon graduating from UNC’s Physical Therapy program and becoming a licensed Physical Therapist, I plan to utilize my experiences and skilled knowledge to optimize patient movement in order to meet their functional goals. I will strive each day to practice Physical Therapy with integrity, compassion, and respect. It is my goal to work in an outpatient orthopedic clinic in North Carolina in which I will have the privilege to serve people of all ages with a wide variety of backgrounds and conditions. 

Career Plan  

• Education:
  • Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2017-2021)
  • Doctorate of Physical Therapy – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2022-2025)
• Clinical Education:
  • Chatham Hospital Pittsboro Rehab, Pittsboro, NC – Outpatient Musculoskeletal Rotation 
    • June – August 2023 (8 weeks)
  • Atrium Health Cabarrus, Concord, NC – Acute Care Rotation
    • February – April 2024 (8 weeks)
  • Carol Woods Retirement Community, Chapel Hill, NC – Neuromuscular Rotation
    • April – June 2024 (8 weeks)
  • Architech Sports and Physical Therapy, Charlotte, NC – Sports Rotation
    • May – July 2025 (12 weeks)
• 1st Year Post-Graduation:
  • Pass board certification exam and become a licensed Physical Therapist
  • Work as a Physical Therapist in an Outpatient Orthopedic Clinic
  • Attend at least one state or national Physical Therapy conference
  • Explore CEU courses that supplement my interests and provide opportunities for growth
• 5 Years Post-Graduation:
  • Become a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist
  • Become certified in dry needling
  • Become a Clinical Instructor
  • Present a guest lecture to students at a Physical Therapy program
• 10 Years Post-Graduation:
  • Earn a leadership position in the clinic I work at and serve such position with gratitude and an eagerness to continuously learn

Self-Assessment  

• Strengths 
  • Fostering a welcoming environment for patients and co-workers
  • Implementing creative, evidence-based interventions
  • Adapting to patient response within sessions
  • Planning sessions with a specific purpose in order to meet patient-centered goals
• Areas for Professional Development 
  • Seeking out current literature in the field 
  • Furthering my understanding of insurance and billing details
  • Familiarizing myself with local resources to provide to patients

Objectives 

• Continue to expand and deepen my knowledge of Physical Therapy during my third year
• Graduate with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in July 2025
• Pass the NPTE boards to become a licensed Physical Therapist
• Become employed at an outpatient orthopedic clinic that values patient-centered care and evidence-based practice

Specific Strategies  

• Create a weekly study plan with NPTE resources in order to best prepare for boards
• Apply to physical therapy positions in outpatient orthopedic clinics in North Carolina during the summer of my third year
• Become an APTA member and explore their resources and events

Elective Courses 

• Teacher Scholar for Musculoskeletal I Physical Therapy Interventions
• Advanced Orthopedic Assessment and Intervention 
• Child & Family Assessment and Intervention 
• Advanced Neuromuscular Intervention 

Interprofessional Education Activities (IPE)

• The IPE experiences I have attended throughout my time as a physical therapy student have helped me gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for other fields of healthcare and their professionals. During my first year, I collaborated with occupational therapy (OT) students with various case study scenarios presented to us in class. This IPE experience gave me some foundational knowledge regarding an OT’s scope of practice and how I can effectively collaborate with these healthcare professionals to develop patient-centered plans of care. In the summer of my second year, I participated in a telehealth simulation for an infant case with students from the following professions: nursing, OT, and speech language pathology (SLP). Participation in this exercise taught me the importance of clear communication between all professions prior to communicating with the patient’s family so that our plan of care could be presented smoothly and patient/family questions could be answered efficiently. During my advanced neuro elective, I participated in an IPE activity for a TBI case with students from the following professions: nursing, SLP, dentistry, pharmacy, and Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (CRMHC). Up until this point, I had not worked with a CRMHC student and they educated me on their role in helping to improve the memory and cognitive functioning of patients in the acute rehab setting. Overall these experiences taught me the importance of clear communication and stepping up for your role/stepping down when other medical professions are better suited to help lead a situation.

Product Examples

• Capstone project presentation title: “Continuing to Be Active: Addressing Age-Related Changes in Women While Staying Fit”
  • I created an evidence based presentation that I presented to residents at Carol Woods Retirement Community in Chapel Hill
• Teacher Scholar presentation title: “Basic Balance Training: What To Assess and How to Begin Treatment”
  • I created an evidence based presentation that I presented to first year DPT students at UNC Chapel Hill

Reflective Statement

• The road to becoming a physical therapist has been rigorous, transformative, and empowering. I have found myself challenged to think both innovatively and critically inside and outside the clinic. I have learned how to find balance in professional development and personal growth outside the classroom and have seen how taking care of my own physical/mental health bolsters my academic and clinical performance. I have grappled with a fear of failure mixed with a fear of not trying, and I have learned how to view my mistakes as opportunities for reflection and growth. The lessons I have learned in PT school have shaped who I am as a person, and I am ready to enthusiastically step into a career that will continue to mold me into the best clinician I can possibly be for my patients.

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