DPT Portfolios

Professional Goal Statement

After graduating from UNC’s DPT program, I plan to embrace the diversity afforded by the profession by utilizing my generalist knowledge base to positively impact a broader range of patients in a variety of clinical practice settings across the continuum of care. My clinical interests lie in performing arts medicine, home health, geriatrics, and post-operative rehabilitation. I am committed to encouraging, empowering, and educating patients to be their own change makers by fostering therapeutic relationships that challenge patients to be active participants in the functional recovery process. As a licensed clinician, I plan to utilize a holistic approach to evidence based practice to provide patient centered care for individuals longing to recover from their past and seeking to restore their future. As a lifelong learner, I plan to explore residency and fellowship programs after graduation to refine my clinical skills to better serve patients in the aforementioned areas of clinical interest.

Career Plan

Education

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2016-2020
  • B.A. Exercise and Sport Science
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2022-2025
  • Doctorate of Physical Therapy

Clinical Experiences

• Sports and More by Access Physical Therapy – Knightdale, NC (Jun 2023-Aug 2023)
  • Outpatient Orthopedics
• UNC Home Health – Chapel Hill, NC (Feb 2024-Apr 2024)
• First Health Moore Regional Hospital – Pinehurst, NC (Apr 2024-Jun 2024)
  • Acute Care (ortho/trauma floor)
• Integrated Clinical Experience: UNC Faculty Practice – Hillsborough, NC (Sep 2024-Nov 2024)
  • Outpatient orthopedics
• Duke Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy – Durham, NC (May 2025-July 2025)
  • Outpatient orthopedics
  • Performing Arts Medicine – American Dance Festival Injury Clinic

Electives

• Advanced Orthopedic Assessment and Treatment
• Advanced Neuromuscular Intervention
• Tyrell County Service Learning Trip

Objectives

Within 5 years:

• Graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree
• Pass the NPTE and obtain licensure in North Carolina in 2025
• Begin working as a full-time clinician in an outpatient setting within 2 months of obtaining licensure
• Continue coordination efforts for injury screening clinic at a local dance studio
• Complete advanced training in dry needling
• Complete Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program (levels 1 and 2)
• Serve as a CI in my area of practice
• Continue mentoring high school and undergraduate students in the community
• Continue advanced training/participation in courses geared toward performing arts medicine

5-10 years:

• Explore pathways for delivering concierge PT services
• Transition to home health PT
• Provide injury prevention education to dancers/caregivers as a faculty member for a dance convention

Self Assessment

Strengths:

• Rapport building with patients/caregivers
• Optimizing shared decision making when delivering patient care
• Adaptable and responsive in fast paced clinical environments
• Eager to learn and grow within the profession

Areas for Professional Development:

• Diversifying and integrating strategies for chronic pain management
• Pursuing further training in health equity and developing confidence in my ability to address social determinants of health to optimize patient outcomes
• Understanding billing, insurance, and practice management

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion 

My commitment to justice, equity, and inclusion has been an integral part of  my academic and professional journey over the last several years. This journey began with an introductory reading of Blindspot at the start of the program, which challenged me to consider my own implicit biases and motivated me to approach peer collaboration and patient care with greater awareness and intentionality in practical situations. As a Committee Chair for the Student Physical Therapy Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee, I led initiatives to foster belonging, cultural humility, and promote dialogue within our program and beyond to advance equitable practice and representation in the physical therapy profession. As a student leader at UNC Exploratory Day and presenter at multiple career fairs for schools in underserved areas of the Triangle, I actively worked to broaden access to physical therapy education and expose students to career opportunities in healthcare. These experiences have shaped my identity as a clinician committed to inclusive practice and equitable health outcomes.

Interprofessional Education Activities

Taking advantage of opportunities to participate in interprofessional experiences during my time in the program have deepened my appreciation for collaborative care and its vital role in promoting a holistic approach to optimizing patient outcomes. Working alongside occupational therapy students on a pediatric motor development case during the first year allowed me to gain firsthand insight into the complementary nature of our professions in promoting functional independence, which was further highlighted working in direct patient care in the acute setting. Participating in several case discussions including management of traumatic brain injury and polypharmacy in the context of caring for older adults throughout my coursework deepened my understanding of the diverse roles within the healthcare system and underscored the importance of communication across disciplines. These discussions exposed me to rather diverse and unique insight from medical doctors, social workers, dentists, occupational therapists, and mental health counselors, where I witnessed the culmination of ideas from interdisciplinary perspectives in addressing the full spectrum of a patient’s needs. These formative experiences, combined with consistent collaboration across the continuum of care in acute, home health, and outpatient orthopedic settings as a student, have solidified my belief that integrated, team-based care is essential to maximizing treatment efficacy.

Product Examples

Capstone: Recognition & Referral for Management of Hypermobility Syndromes

The goal of this project was to improve understanding of the pathophysiology of Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders and Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes, enhance recognition of key clinical features/systemic manifestations of these conditions, and facilitate identification of appropriate diagnostic tools for clinical assessment. In doing so, the resources provided to screen and initiate referral might become more readily accessible to entry level clinicians to utilize in practice. 

Acute Inservice Presentation: Prognostic Indicators of Functional Recovery Following Elective Joint Replacement

• Presented to the acute rehab team at First Health Moore Regional Hospital. This presentation highlights factors such as preoperative functional status, comorbidities, psychosocial variables, and their role in facilitating or inhibiting early postoperative progress to enhance clinical decision-making and interdisciplinary care planning. The aim of discussing these variables was not only to support more accurate goal setting and discharge planning, but also promote optimal post-surgical outcomes.

Reflective Statement

It is hard to believe that three years ago, I entered this program full of excitement, nerves, and curiosity, and now I am preparing to graduate having found a newfound love and respect for the profession. I am eternally grateful for the incredible UNC DPT faculty whose guidance and belief in me helped shape the clinician I am becoming. To my clinical instructors and mentors — thank you for your patience, your instruction, and for pushing me to think critically and compassionately. To my amazing classmates — you have been one of the brightest parts of this experience and I will cherish the memories we share for a lifetime. Lastly, a heartfelt thank you to my friends and family — your unwavering support kept me grounded every step of the way. I am excited for the experiences that lie ahead and ready to continue challenging myself to explore opportunities for personal and professional growth as a physical therapist.

Comments RSS