Feb 29 2024
Myrick, Hannah
Professional Goal Statement
While my interests within the field of physical therapy are vast, upon graduating from UNC with my DPT and obtaining my license, I plan to begin my career in North Carolina in the acute care setting to further my skills and build my confidence as a new clinician. During my rotations at UNC Memorial Hospital in the trauma/ortho unit and Duke University Hospital in the Neuroscience ICU and surgical units, I discovered how rewarding it is to witness and play part in the rapid progression in functional mobility to achieve a safe discharge. Along with providing evidence-based and patient-centered care, I strive to be the physical therapist my patients genuinely look forward to working with and trust, as I have found these factors lay the groundwork to achieve the best patient outcomes.
Career Plan
Education
- Appalachian State University, 2015-2019
- Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2021-2024
- Doctorate of Physical Therapy
- Treasurer for Student Physical Therapy Association, 2022-2023
Clinical Experiences
- Pivot Physical Therapy – Hickory, NC (June-August 2022)
- Outpatient Orthopedics
- Murdoch Developmental Center – Butner, NC (March-April 2023)
- Long-term care facility for those with severe intellectual and developmental disorders and/or rare neurologic diagnoses
- UNC Main Hospital – Chapel Hill, NC (April-June 2023)
- Acute Care (Ortho/Trauma Unit)
- Duke University Hospital – Durham, NC (April-July 2024)
- Acute Care (Neuroscience ICU, Stepdown & Spinal Surgery Units)
Electives
- Advanced Orthopedic Assessment and Treatment
- Topics in Sports Physical Therapy
- Advanced Neuromuscular Intervention
Future Plans + Goals
- By the end of the year:
- Graduate from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with my Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree
- Pass the NPTE and become a licensed Physical Therapist in North Carolina
- Obtain a job and begin working in the acute care setting within 2 months of becoming licensed
- 10 years:
- After gaining experience in acute care, I would then possibly delve into 1 of 2 of my other passions within the field:
- Taking continuing education courses and obtaining certifications to treat temporomandibular disorders, working closely with local dentists
- Working with the geriatric population, specifically treating balance deficits and falls prevention in community-dwelling older adults
- After gaining experience in acute care, I would then possibly delve into 1 of 2 of my other passions within the field:
- 20 years:
- Transition into an administration or management role
Self-Assessment
Strengths
- Patient rapport
- Advocating for patient autonomy
- Interdisciplinary teamwork
- Communication with patients, families and other healthcare professionals
- Adaptability
Areas for Professional Development
- Improve knowledge on resources for patients with low-to-no funding and/or undesirable/unsafe discharge locations
- Involvement in PT advocacy including participation in community service/outreach opportunities
- Clinical reasoning with complex patient cases
- Billing and insurance reimbursement
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
I am grateful to the UNC Physical Therapy Program for placing a heavy emphasis on DEI, as through the opportunities I have taken advantage of have had such a positive impact on me as a professional. The novel Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People challenged me to reflect upon the implicit biases I hold and how I can battle them, with the end goal being to create a safe space for every patient I encounter to be themselves without the fear of feeling judged for their beliefs, lifestyles, backgrounds, etc. I also had the pleasure of participating in UNC’s DPT Exploratory Day, a program aimed towards first-generation college students, underrepresented minorities, and/or economically disadvantaged prospective DPT students to provide an opportunity to gain insight on what it’s like to be a PT student, helpful tips for the application process, and participate in lab demonstrations. It was a rewarding experience to enlighten and empower the next potential generations of physical therapists.
Interprofessional Education Activities
I am fortunate to have had many opportunities for interprofessional teamwork throughout my clinical experiences. Especially during my time in the hospital setting, I have worked very closely with occupational therapists for co-treatments and discharge planning, coordinated care with nurses and other medical professionals, and initiated discussions with case managers to help patients reach the most desirable and appropriate discharge location. I have learned so much about other professions and their individual scope of practice, but know I still have a ton to learn, so I look forward to expanding my knowledge and skillset as I pursue a career in the acute care setting.
Product Examples
- Capstone: Temporomandibular Joint Palpations & Interventions for Mobility Deficits
- Geared towards first-year DPT students to provide an in-depth instruction of extra and intra-oral palpations of the jaw muscles, and a few intervention ideas for patients with mobility deficits to complement the existing lecture and lab material
- Inservice: The Aging Population of Murdoch
- Presented to the rehab therapy staff at Murdoch Developmental Center, as the team was preparing for an informational session with the staff of Murdoch involved in direct patient care, many of which have no medical background. The majority of residents are entering or are already in their elderly years, and with aging, comes many physiologic changes within each body system. Therefore, I created this presentation to help prepare the rehab therapy team with points of consideration to educate the remaining Murdoch staff on how these changes affect patient care and handling.
Reflective Statement
Wow, I’m at a loss for words! The past three years have flown by, and I’m proud at how much I’ve grown as a person and future clinician. Thank you to the amazing UNC DPT faculty and all of my clinical instructors who have been the most incredible educators, mentors and cheerleaders. Thank you to my classmates for being the most supportive and positive group of people I’ve ever encountered and I can’t wait to see you all kill it as physical therapists; we made it!! Last but not least, thank you to my wonderful friends and family; I absolutely would not have made it without your unwavering love and support. I’m excited to enter the working world and continue to grow as a clinician.
Hannah- Nice job on your portfolio. It is really nice to see some of your hard work. You have definitely grown and you will be amazing. Good luck to you! Lisa