DPT Portfolios

Professional Goal Statement:

Upon graduating with my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, my plan is to begin the Neurologic Residency Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I will be working at the UNC Center for Rehabilitation Care where I will primarily be working with outpatient neurologic populations. I have spent two of my clinical rotations in the inpatient rehabilitation setting and I am excited to explore treatment further along in the continuum of care. Working with stable, community-dwelling neurologic populations will allow me to fold in treatment approaches related to return to higher level activity which has been an interest of mine since beginning school.

As an entry-level therapist practicing under the guidance of many qualified mentors, I hope to learn from these individuals and expand the quality of care that I deliver to my patients. My goal is to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care and to continue to evolve as a clinician.

 

Academic Career:

• August 2010: Biology, B.S. (Spanish minor), Elon University
• August 2020-2023: Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (anticipated July of 2023)
  • Clinical Rotations:
    • UNC Health Hillsborough, Hillsborough, NC – Inpatient Rehabilitation – Spring 2023
    • Integrated Clinical Experience (60 hours) at University Physical and Occupational Therapy, Hillsborough, NC – Orthotics – Spring 2023
    • UNC Health Lenoir, Kinston, NC – Inpatient Rehabilitation – Summer 2022
    • UNC Health Lenoir, Kinston, NC – Acute Care – Spring 2022
    • Access PT, Clayton, NC – Outpatient Orthopedics – Summer 2021
• Electives:
  • Research Elective (ReGain Lab) with Dr. Mike Lewek (2022 – 2023)
  • Advanced Orthopedic Intervention (2022)
  • Orthotic Integrated Clinical experience (2023)
  • Topics in Sports Physical Therapy (2023)
  • Advanced Neuromuscular Intervention (2023)
• Capstone Project:
  • Return to Run After Stroke: A Case Series
• Diversity Committee Head (2021-2022)

 

Examples of Work:

• Return to Run After Stroke: A Case Series manuscript
• Presentation: Return to Run After Stroke

 

Professional Objectives:

• Take the NPTE and obtain NC PT licensure (July 2023)
• Complete Neurologic Outpatient Residency with UNC (September 2024)
• Take the NCS exam (March 2025)
• Become a clinical instructor (2025)
• Become employed in outpatient setting with neurologic focus (2025)
• Open independent practice (2030)

 

Strategies for Obtaining Professional Objectives:

• Prepare for the NPTE by using a study calendar with blocked time while maintaining balance in all other aspects of life.
• Obtain employment in a company that values continuing education, 1 on 1 treatment, and patient centered care.

 

Self-Assessment:

• Strengths:
  • Communication skills
  • Patient rapport
  • Professionalism
  • Experience with research
  • Adaptability
  • Time management
  • Patient-centered care

• Areas for Professional Development
  • Advocacy for physical therapy profession
  • Comprehensive understanding of insurance and reimbursement

 

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:

One of the valuable lessons that UNC’s PT program has taught me is perspective on the discrimination and unconscious bias that exists within healthcare. Before first year classes, I was unaware of the severity of the barriers in medicine. I had never experienced hardship and I always had the opportunity to receive appropriate care. I was introduced to the book Blindspot during the first year of class which helped me to discover and be aware of my own unconscious bias. This book also opened my eyes to many of the biases that exist within and outside of healthcare. As a result of my newfound perspective, I can now imagine what it feels like to walk into a doctor’s office and not be treated as an equal. I think that one of the greatest strategies to destroying the barrier of discrimination in physical therapy is to produce diversity within the profession. When a patient walks into a physical therapy clinic for the first time and is treated by a physical therapist that looks like them, they will feel accepted.

After becoming aware of discrimination in the medical field and understanding a strategy to combat it, I joined the SPTA Diversity Committee. When I first joined, they had exciting plans of implementing a mentor match program, a program that matches minority students with practicing physical therapists. I was frustrated when I learned that the program had been in the planning stages for 5 years and when it came time to volunteer for new heads for the committee, I jumped at the opportunity. I worked with Randi DiBuono and Louise Thoma to implement the program for the first batch of students. I believe that the mentor match program helps to facilitate relationships amongst underrepresented physical therapy students and professionals. These efforts, as well as remaining aware of unconscious bias will help me to provide equal treatment for all my future patients.

 

Reflective Experience:

I have grown and developed as a student, researcher, and clinician while in the UNC DPT program. I have armed myself with the academic knowledge to diagnose and treat a variety of populations. I feel that I have found my place within the world of physical therapy. With having an interest in running and a personal rehabilitation experience returning from injury, I had always thought I would be an orthopedic/sports physical therapist. However, over two meaningful clinicals treating neuro specific populations, I have now discovered that I want to specialize in neurology. I will do just that next year with UNC as a resident learning under mentorship. I find that helping my patients achieve their goals of functional mobility provides them access to meaningful life experiences. That, along with the complexity and mystery behind the powerhouse of the brain is what really draws me into neurology.

My time at UNC has taught me that we must be vulnerable and put ourselves in uncomfortable situations to grow. We must accept that we will not always know the answer. We must have the wisdom to be okay with uncertainty and to not let it serve as an impediment to progress. It is okay to be wrong and it is okay to fail. What is most important is that we take each situation and learn from our mistakes. I have learned that reflection is a powerful tool to not only learn from the positives but the negatives as well.

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