Physical Therapy Personal Statement

Ever since I was a kid, it has been my life goal to help as many people I can. I have moved around in many different areas of the medical field, but no career had caught my eye as much as physical therapy. As an athlete, I have been in and out of the physical therapist’s office for a majority of my life. Each time I have went I could not help but be beyond grateful for what these people have done for me; they have given me the ability to play the sport I love despite all the hiccups. Physical therapy is a dynamic field within the field of medicine because as a physical therapist one can make a difference in the lives of his or her patients, enjoy job security, and enjoy a rewarding and personally satisfying career.

Participating in sports has led me to the career of physical therapy. I have been an athlete all of my life. I have played every sport from tackle football to softball and every sport the community of Sitka offered. Being involved in several sports at one time helped me realize how easy it is to get injured and how crucial it is to have a physician that is supportive and understands an athletes injuries. By going to McKendree University I will be able to become a physical therapist and help injured athletes recover.

Even after school is completed, I will continue to pursue learning opportunities to grow with the profession in the changing healthcare world because I believe it is essential so that patients will have the best opportunity to succeed when working with me.

Mrs. Hannah Lowe is a Physical Therapist at Danni Jones Physical Therapy & Wellness Lab. While she was at Louisiana Tech she started off as a Biology major. After completing two classes of biology she soon realized that wasn’t for her. Eventually she switched to Kinesiology, but she still wasn’t for sure what she wanted to do after graduating. Mrs. Lowe graduated with her bachelors in 3 years then went on to get her master in Exercise Science at Louisiana Tech as well. While getting her masters she taught a few exercise classes. The first day of her internship at Danni Jones Physical therapy she fell in love with everything about Physical Therapy and knew then that’s what she wanted

Conversely at SHU, I have visited our DPT students every year across the country as they interned in various clinical environments. Nevertheless, being rooted within the MSI, OMT, and bio-psychosocial framework would define my more than 25 years of (20 years in musculoskeletal) PT practice experience. Graduating with a DPT degree from USC, I am a fellowship-trained, board certified (OCS since 1999) Full Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) since 2003, having graduated from the Southern California Kaiser Permanente Manual Therapy Fellowship program. Notwithstanding having an “in press” commentary and “under review” revised manuscript, I have 2 JOSPT (heralding 2 new techniques or treatment approach paradigms) and 1 Journal of Hand Therapy published journal articles and authored/co-authored almost 40 peer-reviewed orthopaedic and manual PT presentations nationally [Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) and AAOMPT] and internationally (World Confederation for Physical Therapy and the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapist). Anchored in clinical reasoning, OMT, MSI, bio-psychosocial

The challenges of interacting with new patients and communicating proper biomechanics during rehab, in addition to my previous experiences in medical settings, is where I developed the skills of self-assessment, time management, and the value of empathy. In my academic career, I explored different careers within the medical field, although I found one that encompasses my personal interests and mission for my future. As a child, I loved helping others and making them feel better. In high school, I was excited to explore this passion in more

I am learning about the significance of being committed to patient care and dedicating your life's work to the betterment of every patient. I possess a strong academic history as well as a willingness to commit my time to uplifting of my community. Even as a student who has had some hiccups academically, I am proving that I can overcome adversity and "keep my eyes on prize". Furthermore, I am devoted to being the future of physical therapy and displaying selflessness, dedication, compassion, distinction and authenticity. I have learned to sympathize and empathize with patients, however, at the same time stand firm in the therapeutic methods that need to be implemented for the patient's

I define myself as a person who helps others no matter what, I have an unbelievable passion for helping others because of the morals my father has taught me. My close relationship with my father has developed greatly since he would be gone for months at a time due to his affiliation with the U.S. Marine Corps. I have made many connections with others due to our parents serving in the military. Unfortunately, this connection revealed that many parents and loved ones became disabled during their career in the military. Personally, I could not imagine what my life would be like if my father lost his ability to do basic things.

I began my college career in 2004 at Berea College. My Alma Mater has a work study program that helps students learn the art of professionalism. In my sophomore year, I began working in the Campus Life office as the Office Manager. My boss was a graduate from the Physical Therapy program in the 1990s which led me to believe that she would support my educational endeavors. However, after discussing with her my desire to pursue a career in Physical Therapy she told me that I would never make it.

I am interested in serving as a healing professional in physical therapy to offer affordable help to agriculture workers after they have had an accident during work. I have prepared myself for this career by taking extra college credit courses such as Medical Terminology to expand my knowledge of medical terms. I have also taken college level Spanish to improve my Spanish since when working with agriculture workers, Spanish is an important factor in communicating. The greatest community activity I have been involved in that connects to my aspiring career choice has been volunteering as an interpreter for parent-teacher conferences at Wy ‘East middle school. This allowed me to interpret from English to Spanish faster than I was able to prior to volunteering.

Since I was a child, I’ve always had a strong interest in science. I remember receiving a telescope and microscope kit for my birthday one year, and it was the best gift I’d ever been given. That’s what truly sparked my passion for the field of science and, more specifically, the medical field.

For my 150 hour field experience, I spent my time at Redbud Physical Therapy Clinic in Owasso, Oklahoma. I chose this site or my field experience because I have always wanted to be a physical therapist, and that is what I am planning on going to school for. I feel that getting the experience firsthand helped confirm my decision that I am going to school for the best career fit for myself. When looking for a clinic for my field experience, this clinic seemed like it had the most to offer. They have been in Owasso for over 21 years, so they have a set way of running their clinic and have it mastered.. They were the first and only physical therapy clinic for many years, so they have established a presence in Owasso and are trusted by the community.

The physical therapy profession is concerned with treating individuals of all ages. In the future, I plan on being able to comfort individuals undergoing physical therapy by being able to use my compassionate nature, caring, understanding, and the expertise that I will gain, while serving as their physical therapist. In doing the previously mentioned things, I hope to be considered as an important asset to society. I believe that people will be able to increase their viability by seeking my assistance.

Colleges with a medical department often have a master’s program for physical therapy. (“Physical Therapists”) Physical therapy students have a required amount of field work in order to complete a program. Each candidate must work in an accredited workplace for the field work assignments. This part of the program is extremely valuable and helpful for a new therapist entering the field. Working one on one can be difficult even with all of the educational tools. (Curtis 37)

The internship that I acquired during the summer of 2010 at the Greenwood Sports and Industrial Rehabilitation Center (GSIRC), allowed me to gain an immeasurable amount of experience during my tenure at this facility. Within this period, the exposure to new concepts within the physical therapy industry allowed me to observe and work hands on with patients of all ages and disabilities that exposed me to various treatment plans and programs to restore client’s mobility. The essential Physical Education and Exercise Science (PEES) courses taken at Lander University were beneficial to my academic knowledgebase, which prepared me and developed me for the opportunity within the physical therapy discipline. Working as