DPT Portfolios

Professional Goal Statement

After graduating with my Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from UNC, I plan on working as a full-time physical therapist. Over the past 3 years, I have developed interests in pursuing a career in the acute care setting or in the outpatient neuromuscular setting. I enjoy working with patients with neuromuscular conditions such as Parkinson’s, stroke, TBIs, and more. I strive to provide the highest quality care possible and for my patients to see me as someone they can depend on to achieve all their goals and who treats them with empathy and kindness. I plan to use my positive mindset and upbeat personality to motivate my patients and be a positive contribution to any clinic setting I enter. I hope to lead by example in my commitment to advancing the field of physical therapy and making everyone around me better. I hope to find a mentor who can help me advance my clinical decision making and eventually become a clinical instructor so I can educate future physical therapists on real-life clinical care. 

Academic Career

B.S. in Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park – May 2022

Doctor of Physical Therapy, UNC Chapel Hill – Anticipated August 2025

Clinical Experiences

• WakeMed Hospital, Raleigh, NC
  • Acute Care, June-August 2023 (8 weeks)
• CarolinaEast Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, New Bern, NC 
  • Outpatient Orthopedic, February-April 2024 (8 weeks)
• Duke Specialty Rehab Services at Midtown, Raleigh, NC
  • Outpatient Neuromuscular, April-June 2024 (8 weeks)
• University Physical Therapy, Hillsborough, NC
  • Outpatient Neuromuscular, October-November 2024 (60 hours)
• Atrium Hospital Cabarrus, Concord, NC
  • Acute Care, May-July 2025 (12 weeks)

Electives

• Advanced Orthopedic Management (Fall 2024)
• Integrated Clinical Experience in Outpatient Neuro (Fall 2024)
• Topics in Sports Physical Therapy (Spring 2025)
• Advanced Neuromuscular Intervention (Spring 2025)

Future Plans

• July-August 2025
  • Sit for and pass the July NPTE Exam
  • Graduate from the UNC DPT program in August 2025

• 2025-2026
  • Obtain and maintain PT licensure requirements
  • Gain employment as a full-time physical therapist
  • Find clinical mentorship 
  • Advance my professional education with CEUs/specialization
• 2027 and beyond
  • Become a certified clinical instructor
  • Consider sitting for NCS exam 

Specific Strategies

• Develop and follow NPTE study plan using resources from Scorebuilders, Final Frontier, etc. 
• Build personal relationships with my coworkers to find candidates for mentorship
• Maintain APTA membership
• Attend relevant in-service presentations, grand rounds, conferences so I can stay up to date on current evidence

Self-Assessment

Strengths

• Building rapport with patients
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Open to feedback and new learning opportunities 
• Organized and detail-oriented

Areas for Development

• Professional advocacy
• Continue to develop confidence in clinical reasoning and decision making
• Seek out opportunities to expand knowledge on emerging research and evidence-based practice

Product Examples

• Capstone Project: High-Intensity Exercise as a Therapeutic Strategy for Parkinson’s Disease
  • Powerpoint
  • Voicethread
  • Factsheet
• Neuro Clinical In-Service: Music/Auditory Cueing and Gait in Parkinson’s Disease

Interprofessional Education Activities (IPE)

Throughout PT school, I have interacted both in person and virtually with students from OT, SLP, social work, nursing, medicine, dentistry, and more. Working together highlighted the unique contributions of each discipline and reinforced the importance of clear communication and mutual respect. I learned how different professionals approach similar patient concerns with many different strategies, which helped me think in new ways and become more open to different ideas. These experiences taught me to actively seek input from team members to enhance outcomes. I now better understand the value of aligning goals across disciplines, especially when managing complex cases. I also learned the importance of advocating for the role of physical therapy, helping others understand how movement and function are key parts of a patient’s overall care. These lessons have helped me advocate more effectively and contribute more meaningfully to interprofessional discussions during my clinical rotations and will continue to do so as I enter the profession. 

Reflective Statement

When I started PT school, I was sure I wanted to work in sports PT and help athletes recover and return to play. But throughout the program, my clinical experiences opened my eyes to other sides of the profession and my interests shifted way more than I expected. Going into my acute care rotation, I was pretty confident it wouldn’t be for me. However, once I was there, I found it meaningful and energizing. I enjoyed the challenge of quickly assessing patients, problem-solving in complex medical situations, and being part of a larger healthcare team. Seeing how PT can make a difference in someone’s recovery early in their hospital stay really changed my perspective. In addition to acute care, I also developed a strong interest in outpatient neuromuscular PT. I’ve found working with patients with neurological conditions to be incredibly rewarding, especially helping them improve function and independence over time. I enjoy the creativity and problem-solving that comes with neuromuscular rehab. Going forward, I see myself building a career in acute or outpatient neuro settings, continuing to grow clinically and eventually mentoring students and new grads. 

Over the past three years, my confidence and clinical skills have grown tremendously. When I first entered the program, I often second-guessed myself and felt unsure in new or challenging situations. Through hands-on lab practice, clinical rotations, and consistent feedback from instructors and clinical mentors, I began to trust my judgment and clinical reasoning more. I’ve learned how to perform thorough evaluations, develop meaningful treatment plans, and adjust my approach based on each patient’s unique needs. I’m more confident in communicating with patients, families, and the healthcare team, and I’ve developed a stronger presence in the clinic. I’ve also become more comfortable making decisions in real time, even in high-pressure situations. Overall, I feel that I have grown not just in my technical skills, but in my ability to think critically, advocate for patients, and carry myself as a future professional and I am prepared to step into clinical practice. 

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