Feb 29 2024

Coppley, Johnny

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Professional Goal Statement

Through the wide breadth of knowledge and experience I have gained throughout my time at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I plan to become a successful and well-rounded clinician upon graduation. I believe that physical therapists have a unique job in that we are specialists in movement and physical rehabilitation while we also treat patients through a holistic lens during the extensive time that we spend with them. I plan to provide all of my patients with high quality, evidence-based care to support their needs. I plan to use my first years as a physical therapist to gain knowledge and seek mentorship in the acute setting to become a more effective clinician with hopes of eventually working in an ICU. Even so, I may also choose to broaden my goals to spend some time in inpatient settings as well. Even though goals and trajectories are bound to change over time, my goal to maintain a consistent attitude that is always striving for the best while continuing to fuel my passion for the profession and for working in a field of direct patient care will always remain.

 

Career Plan 

Past Accomplishments:

  • May 2021: Graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned a B.A. in Exercise and Sports Science, minors in Religion and Coaching Education
  • August 2021: Entrance into UNC DPT program Class of 2024

Clinical Experiences:

  • Clinical Affiliation I (8 weeks) 2022: UNC Southeastern, Outpatient Orthopedics; Lumberton, NC
  • Clinical Affiliation II (8 weeks) 2023: Novant Forsyth Hospital, Acute Care; Winston-Salem, NC
  • Clinical Affiliation III (8 weeks) 2023: Duke Midtown Specialty Rehab Services Outpatient Neuro; Raleigh, NC
  • Clinical Affiliation IV (12 weeks) 2024: The Running PTs, Outpatient Ortho; Cary, NC

Future Plans

  • Graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill DPT program in July 2024
  • Pass the NPTE in October 2024
  • Obtain employment at a large, non-profit healthcare system as an acute care or inpatient PT
  • Gain experience and work in an ICU setting within 2-5 years

 

Self-Assessment

Strengths

  • Professional behavior within any work environment
  • Ability to gain and maintain good rapport with patients and peers
  • Accountability to knowledge and growth by consistently staying up to date on research
  • Adaptability to work in multiple environments and settings

Areas for Professional Development

  • Continue to gain experience with patient care in more complex physical therapy settings
  • Continue to refine my understanding of insurance and billing structures

 

Objectives

  1. Graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy in July 2024
  2. Pass the NPTE in October 2024 to become a licensed Physical Therapist
  3. Obtain employment as a Physical Therapist in a large healthcare system in by January 2025
  4. Connect with a mentor soon after finding full-time employment
  5. Become an APTA-certified Clinical Instructor and begin working with SPTs within 3 years of employment. Work with at least 1 student/year throughout career.

 

Electives

  • Topics in Sports Physical Therapy
  • Advanced Orthopedic Management
  • Human Nutrition

 

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Physical therapy, like all areas of healthcare, encounters people from a myriad of different backgrounds. People come to healthcare providers to be healed and supported with the goal of leaving in a better place than when they arrived. For this goal to be realized to its fullest potential, introspection into perceived biases and constant education on inclusivity and diversity are necessary. For personal growth in these areas, I have participated in multiple learning modules from UNC’s J.E.D.I. toolkit with lessons on microaggressions and microaffirmations, implicit bias and what to do about it, and on how to combat racism and discrimination through education. Throughout my time at UNC, I have been extraordinarily thankful for the multiple class discussions we have had on race, diversity, and inclusivity from many different perspectives. Throughout life, it is a personal goal of mine to continue to be a part of these discussions to learn and become a better provider and person for any patient that I encounter.

 

Interprofessional Education

As a new graduate, it can be a daunting experience to work with other professions. Fortunately, throughout my 3 years at UNC, I have been gifted with multiple opportunities to work and learn with other healthcare professions. While in school, I have attended a seminar on TMJ dysfunction with dental and physical therapy students. I have been able to work on case studies with MD, NP, DDS, SW, and SLP students. At Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) in 2024, I was able to attend a seminar where two physical therapists, an orthopedic physician, and a kinesiologist discussed a multidisciplinary approach to managing low back pain in the young athlete. All of these experiences have been very insightful in how different professions can mesh.  Healthcare works best when all parts work together for patient-centered care. Being able to have these experiences has allowed me to gain comfort in interacting with different providers and has given me confidence that I will be able to provide excellent patient care through my personal knowledge and collaboration with other healthcare professionals.

 

Product Examples

 

Reflective statement

I first knew that I wanted to become a physical therapist following a shadowing experience in an outpatient orthopedic clinic over the Summer of 2018. Since then, I have discovered how vast the world of physical therapy, and healthcare, is. I have found how fulfilling it can be to help people by helping them heal with their own body. I have found a passion for working in acute care and connecting patients with physical therapy beyond the acute setting. Professionally, I aspire to work in a non-profit hospital to begin my career with the long-term goal of working consistently in an ICU setting. Later down the road, I may even have the desire to branch out to working in an inpatient setting. All of this being said, I would not be where I am today on my current trajectory if it weren’t for the incredible, beautiful relationships I have formed with my peers and faculty over the past three years in Chapel Hill. I am eternally grateful, and I look forward to embracing what has yet to come.

 

 

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