DPT Portfolios

Brooke Jordan

Class of 2024

Professional Goal Statement

Throughout my career as a physical therapist, I will strive to provide the highest level of care possible. I will work diligently towards improving my clinical skills, adapting to each patient’s individual needs, and advancing my standard of unbiased care. My role as a clinician will be holistic, providing patient education, family training, and community resources within my scope of practice. My degree is preparing me to be competent in a variety of settings upon graduation. Regardless of the work environment, my ultimate purpose will be to provide outstanding patient-centered care backed by best practices from the literature. My goal is to obtain employment at a facility that offers continuing education resources, opportunities for mentorship, research-based practice and equipment, and a positive workplace for staff in order to provide client-focused and high-quality patient care.

Interests: inpatient rehab, geriatric care, neurologic populations, balance impairments, aquatic therapy, trauma acute care, TMD dysfunction

Academic Career

Education

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.S. in Psychology and Exercise and Sports Science, May 2021
• Doctoral Candidate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Doctorate in Physical Therapy, August 2024

Professional Accomplishments

• Interprofessional Education and Practice Distinguished Scholar
• UNC School of Medicine Student Research Recruiting Assistant
• UNC Student Physical Therapy Association Sunshine Committee Co-chair
• Intern at PerforMax Physical Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation, LLC

Clinical Experience

• Clinical Affiliation I: Novant Health Matthews Medical Center, Matthews, NC — 8 weeks
  • Outpatient Orthopedic Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
    • In-service: “Achilles Tendon Rupture: Surgical vs. Nonsurgical Approach”
• Clinical Affiliation II: UNC Health Main Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC — 8 weeks
  • Acute Care: Trauma, Ortho, Surgical ICU, Neuro ICU, Oncology, Medicine, Emergency Department, Surgical Stepdown Unit, Cardiac ICU, Transplant
• Clinical Affiliation III: Atrium Carolinas Rehab Northeast, Concord, NC — 8 weeks
  • Inpatient Rehab
    • In-service: “Hemispatial Inattention and the Use of Virtual Reality”
• Clinical Affiliation IV: Novant Health Rehabilitation Center Oleander, Wilmington, NC – 12 weeks
  • Outpatient Neuro

Electives

• Advanced Orthopedic Assessment and Intervention
• Integrated Clinical Experience (outpatient orthopedics)
• Topics in Sports Physical Therapy
• Advanced Neuromuscular Intervention

Self-Assessment

Strengths

• Effective communication strategies with patients and other clinicians
• Solid work ethic and self-motivation
• Strong organizational skills
• High standard for compassion and unbiased care

Areas for Professional Development

• Increase my involvement in the NC legislature and American Physical Therapy Association
• Enhance my understanding of insurance and reimbursement policies
• Stay updated on current research and actively apply the latest techniques to patient care

Objectives and Career Plan

• Pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) in 2024
• Attain full-time employment upon graduation at a clinic that fosters mentorship, continuing education opportunities, a positive work environment, and opportunities for leadership
• Work for 2 years within the state of North Carolina to fulfill the Forgivable Education Loans for Service (FELs) requirement
• Become certified in Dry Needling
• Become a Clinical Instructor
• Become APTA Board certified as a Geriatric Clinical Specialist
• Become APTA Board certified as a Neurologic Clinical Specialist

Specific Strategies

• Complete all general coursework for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at UNC
• Actively seek a mentor both as a student and upon employment
• Establish an organized study plan for the summer of 2024 before taking NPTE boards
• Pursue Continuing Education courses
• Participate in Networking Events and Job Fairs, reaching out to potential employers to secure a job upon graduation in August 2024

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are pivotal in shaping social, contemporary, and professional environments that exist in every facet of today’s society. I have been fortunate to gain exposure to the wide variety of academic lectures given at UNC Chapel Hill including attending the MLK Jr. Week of Celebration and Health Equity Week. Reflecting on my experiences, these opportunities broadened my perspective into equitable policy and healthcare for all. Observing the advocacy of my classmates in initiating UNC DPT Exploratory Day has been inspiring and encouraging for the future of PT as a predominantly white profession. As a future clinician, I must accommodate diverse communication styles, socioeconomic backgrounds, various levels of health literacy, and language barriers into my PT practice. I will strive to create an inclusive environment for every patient to feel respected and empowered to contribute to their own health.

Interprofessional Education Activities

Throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, I was awarded the designation of Interprofessional Education and Practice Distinguished Scholar. The recipients of this scholar status have “exhibited an elevated level of cooperation, coordination, and collaboration with professions and disciplines outside of your field of specialty.” With these experiences, I am equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to transform the health and human service setting in my future work environment. I have participated in multi-disciplinary professional collaboration by attending lectures and community events as well as serving as an advisor for an undergraduate research project on ACL PT Rehabilitation using Virtual Reality. I also developed my portfolio by focusing on values, ethics, teamwork, and interprofessional communication. This experience has been invaluable to my future career, as I grew my conflict resolution skills, understood other healthcare disciplines, and learned about team advocacy for patients.  Based on all my clinical rotation experiences, interprofessional advocacy for patients is paramount to achieve the highest level of care.

Product Examples

• Capstone: “Using Virtual Reality and Other Treatment Interventions for Hemispatial Neglect”
• In-service Presentation: “Achilles Tendon Rupture: Surgical vs. Nonsurgical Approach”
• Patient Education Handout: “PT’s Role in Discharge Recommendations”

Reflective Statement

For as long as I can remember, I have had a strong passion to work in a profession that focused on helping others. PT school has allowed me to combine compassion and science to observe patients holistically. I have been struck by the profound impact that the UNC DPT school has had on my personal, social, and professional development. This experience has consisted of rigorous academic coursework, hands-on clinical experience, and interprofessional collaboration experiences. The extensive academic program provided a strong foundation of knowledge to engage in problem-based learning, evidence-based practice, and high-level critical thinking skills to apply in clinical practice. My clinical rotations have provided invaluable hands-on experiences with diverse patient populations. Working within the highly respected hospital systems of Novant Health, Atrium Health, and UNC Hospitals has allowed me to be a part of a multi-disciplinary team at a Level I Trauma Center and nationally ranked healthcare systems. The positive impact of therapy on my patients’ lives has been beyond fulfilling and reinforced my passion for becoming a PT.

This program has prepared me to be not only a competent clinician but also a compassionate healthcare provider to advocate for every patient I encounter. I am committed to patient advocacy and health care literacy advancement. I am grateful for my peers who have become lifelong friends and future colleagues. I am dedicated to staying current on best practices from evidence-based research to best serve my patients. As I transition from student to professional, I will strive to make a positive impact in the lives of my patients.

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