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Hello My name is Suyash and I am a high school student. I am conducting an interview with a professional who is a sports physical therapist for my Health Science class. I have 13 questions total that need to be answered. Comment on the post and answer all 13 questions for your response to be a part of the assignment.
1. What profession did you choose? Why?
2. How many years of college did you need to go through?
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
4.How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field?
5. Were you in a college program?
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
7. Did you shadow another professional in the field?
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
11. Why did you choose to become a sports physical therapist.
12. What type of injuries do you most deal with?
13. What obstacles did you face before you reached your career?
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3 answers
Maria Cecilia San Juan
Management and Clinical Operations, Patient Care
12
Answers
Updated
Maria Cecilia’s Answer
Hello Suyash - Thank you for your questions.
1. What profession did you choose? Why?
I chose a medical field - rehabilitation, specifically Physical Therapy. I wanted to go into a medical environment but did not want to be in school for a very long time after I started college. Physical Therapy allowed me to earn a college degree and start working after 4 years.
2. How many years of college did you need to go through?
I have a BS in Physical Therapy, a 4.5 year degree.
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
I worked as an administrative assistant on weekends that provided for basic expenses, including gas money but I also volunteered in various medical facilities before applying to PT School.
4.How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field?
I believe that all accredited physical therapy programs in the United States provide for a PhD now. I don't think you can obtain this degree any longer with a Bachelor's or Master's.
5. Were you in a college program?
I'm not quite sure what you mean by this question.
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
I did not - I chose to go directly from receiving my HS diploma to college and did not stop my formal education until I received my Bachelor's Degree.
7. Did you shadow another professional in the field?
I did when I was a Senior in high school - to make sure that this was the profession I was committed to obtaining my degree.
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
I did not.
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
When I was in physical therapy school, I found learning about the human spine to be the most intimidating. Ironically enough, I have specialized in this area of physical therapy and rehabilitation.
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
Too many to list but a few are: organization, electronic medical records, management and human resources.
11. Why did you choose to become a sports physical therapist.
I am not a sports physical therapist however I am competent and most experienced in orthopedic physical therapy.
12. What type of injuries do you most deal with?
Moreso than injuries, I encounter most conditions dealing with chronic arthritis and post surgical conditions related to this disease
13. What obstacles did you face before you reached your career?
No obstacles that I can recall.
1. What profession did you choose? Why?
I chose a medical field - rehabilitation, specifically Physical Therapy. I wanted to go into a medical environment but did not want to be in school for a very long time after I started college. Physical Therapy allowed me to earn a college degree and start working after 4 years.
2. How many years of college did you need to go through?
I have a BS in Physical Therapy, a 4.5 year degree.
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
I worked as an administrative assistant on weekends that provided for basic expenses, including gas money but I also volunteered in various medical facilities before applying to PT School.
4.How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field?
I believe that all accredited physical therapy programs in the United States provide for a PhD now. I don't think you can obtain this degree any longer with a Bachelor's or Master's.
5. Were you in a college program?
I'm not quite sure what you mean by this question.
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
I did not - I chose to go directly from receiving my HS diploma to college and did not stop my formal education until I received my Bachelor's Degree.
7. Did you shadow another professional in the field?
I did when I was a Senior in high school - to make sure that this was the profession I was committed to obtaining my degree.
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
I did not.
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
When I was in physical therapy school, I found learning about the human spine to be the most intimidating. Ironically enough, I have specialized in this area of physical therapy and rehabilitation.
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
Too many to list but a few are: organization, electronic medical records, management and human resources.
11. Why did you choose to become a sports physical therapist.
I am not a sports physical therapist however I am competent and most experienced in orthopedic physical therapy.
12. What type of injuries do you most deal with?
Moreso than injuries, I encounter most conditions dealing with chronic arthritis and post surgical conditions related to this disease
13. What obstacles did you face before you reached your career?
No obstacles that I can recall.
Thank you for the well thought out response
Suyash
Megan DeHaven LAT, ATC, CSCS
Talent Acquisition Specialist/Athletic Trainer
2
Answers
Updated
Megan’s Answer
1. What profession did you choose? Why? Athletic training - I asked my volleyball coach/A&P teacher what profession he thought I’d be good at and followed that path.
2. How many years of college did you need to go through? At the time, 4 years. Now, it’s an entry level Masters.
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job? Data analyst for Sports Medicine Administrator and generalist at a local bakery in college.
4.How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field? If you want to teach or feel the additional education is valuable for your career goals.
5. Were you in a college program? Yes.
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date? No.
7. Did you shadow another professional in the field? In my undergraduate degree, we were required to do rotations each semester starting our Sophomore year. This included high school, different levels of college, and clinic.
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession? Yes - Iota Tau Alpha.
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years? Statistics and Sound Waves & Light (a physics alternative).
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career? Critical thinking, advocacy, intuition, and that I don’t know everything and it’s ok to check my information before giving a diagnosis or recommendation.
11. Why did you choose to become a sports physical therapist. I’m a certified athletic trainer and I stay certified because I LOVE being the sideline professional who can take care of others in the darkest times of their career or event.
12. What type of injuries do you most deal with? Now, none as my work is mostly administrative. When I provide PRN services, mostly strains, sprains, concussions, heat illness and sometimes fractures.
13. What obstacles did you face before you reached your career? Wondering if this is the right profession - I’ve grown in my career and I’m on the right path. Not gaining enough independent experience in undergrad to feel comfortable as a professional, so I went and got my Masters.
2. How many years of college did you need to go through? At the time, 4 years. Now, it’s an entry level Masters.
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job? Data analyst for Sports Medicine Administrator and generalist at a local bakery in college.
4.How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field? If you want to teach or feel the additional education is valuable for your career goals.
5. Were you in a college program? Yes.
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date? No.
7. Did you shadow another professional in the field? In my undergraduate degree, we were required to do rotations each semester starting our Sophomore year. This included high school, different levels of college, and clinic.
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession? Yes - Iota Tau Alpha.
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years? Statistics and Sound Waves & Light (a physics alternative).
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career? Critical thinking, advocacy, intuition, and that I don’t know everything and it’s ok to check my information before giving a diagnosis or recommendation.
11. Why did you choose to become a sports physical therapist. I’m a certified athletic trainer and I stay certified because I LOVE being the sideline professional who can take care of others in the darkest times of their career or event.
12. What type of injuries do you most deal with? Now, none as my work is mostly administrative. When I provide PRN services, mostly strains, sprains, concussions, heat illness and sometimes fractures.
13. What obstacles did you face before you reached your career? Wondering if this is the right profession - I’ve grown in my career and I’m on the right path. Not gaining enough independent experience in undergrad to feel comfortable as a professional, so I went and got my Masters.
Thank you for the detailed response!
Suyash
Updated
Chassidy’s Answer
1. What profession did you choose? Why?
- I am a Physical Therapist. I chose this career because I like to help people, and I wanted to help people in a way that was fun and did not feel like I was working.
2. How many years of college did you need to go through?
- To become a physical therapist, you will need to complete a minimum of 7 years of schooling for most programs. Because this is a doctoral program, you will need to obtain a bachelor’s degree prior to being accepted into a PT program. Some programs are now offering dual enrollment where you complete the needed prerequisites for PT school and obtain your bachelor’s while working towards your doctorate.
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
- I was a rehabilitation tech for an inpatient hospital. Then I worked as a physical therapist assistant.
4.How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field?
- First, you will need to figure out what field you would like to go into. Then I would see what degree is necessary to work in that field. Lastly you should think about your end goal in your career. Do you want to move up in management? Do you want to be the CEO? And see if there is a career ladder to move in your desired direction and what the requirements are to get there.
5. Were you in a college program?
-Yes, I completed my Bachelor of Science at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. I completed my Associates of Science in Physical Therapy Assistant at Chattanooga State Tennessee. I completed my Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of Findlay. All in that exact order.
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
Yes- I started out obtaining my Bachelor of Science at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Once I graduated, I knew I wanted to be a Physical Therapist. I applied to 5 PT schools and did not get in. So I decided I would go to school to be a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). After 3 years of working in the field I realized there was no career ladder in my desired setting and the only way up was going back to school to be a Physical Therapist. This time I was able to find a transitional school that had a PT program specifically for PTAs.
7. Did you shadow another professional in the field?
- No, but that is not a bad idea.
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
-In high school I was in the Health Occupations Students of America program. In college I focused on my studies.
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
- Of course! Science, and it was the subject needed the most for the PT requirements.
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
- Don’t accept the first “No”. That “No” is a “No, not right now”. If you truly want something, put in the work for it. It may not be a straight path or the way everyone else does it but it is possible if it’s available.
11. Why did you choose to become a sports physical therapist.
- Honestly, I am not technically a sports physical therapist. Being a physical therapist opens you up to all different settings, some in sports, some in hospitals, some treating the elderly, some treating babies. The possibilities are endless. I currently work in a hospital.
12. What type of injuries do you most deal with?
In the hospital, I see a lot of patients who have had a stroke, or heart issues such as a heart attack and had surgery, people who have broken a bone in their body or had a joint replaced. I also see people who have chemical imbalances in their body that make them weak and unable to walk or stand.
13. What obstacles did you face before you reached your career?
I reached several. The biggest was failure. I applied to a lot of schools the first time (5) and did not get in. I felt like I was not good enough. But I continued to work towards my dream, I researched the field. I found another way and I continued to keep working towards my dream until it was obtainable. Don’t give up. Have a backup plan that will get you where you want to be.
- I am a Physical Therapist. I chose this career because I like to help people, and I wanted to help people in a way that was fun and did not feel like I was working.
2. How many years of college did you need to go through?
- To become a physical therapist, you will need to complete a minimum of 7 years of schooling for most programs. Because this is a doctoral program, you will need to obtain a bachelor’s degree prior to being accepted into a PT program. Some programs are now offering dual enrollment where you complete the needed prerequisites for PT school and obtain your bachelor’s while working towards your doctorate.
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
- I was a rehabilitation tech for an inpatient hospital. Then I worked as a physical therapist assistant.
4.How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field?
- First, you will need to figure out what field you would like to go into. Then I would see what degree is necessary to work in that field. Lastly you should think about your end goal in your career. Do you want to move up in management? Do you want to be the CEO? And see if there is a career ladder to move in your desired direction and what the requirements are to get there.
5. Were you in a college program?
-Yes, I completed my Bachelor of Science at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. I completed my Associates of Science in Physical Therapy Assistant at Chattanooga State Tennessee. I completed my Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of Findlay. All in that exact order.
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
Yes- I started out obtaining my Bachelor of Science at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Once I graduated, I knew I wanted to be a Physical Therapist. I applied to 5 PT schools and did not get in. So I decided I would go to school to be a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). After 3 years of working in the field I realized there was no career ladder in my desired setting and the only way up was going back to school to be a Physical Therapist. This time I was able to find a transitional school that had a PT program specifically for PTAs.
7. Did you shadow another professional in the field?
- No, but that is not a bad idea.
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
-In high school I was in the Health Occupations Students of America program. In college I focused on my studies.
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
- Of course! Science, and it was the subject needed the most for the PT requirements.
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
- Don’t accept the first “No”. That “No” is a “No, not right now”. If you truly want something, put in the work for it. It may not be a straight path or the way everyone else does it but it is possible if it’s available.
11. Why did you choose to become a sports physical therapist.
- Honestly, I am not technically a sports physical therapist. Being a physical therapist opens you up to all different settings, some in sports, some in hospitals, some treating the elderly, some treating babies. The possibilities are endless. I currently work in a hospital.
12. What type of injuries do you most deal with?
In the hospital, I see a lot of patients who have had a stroke, or heart issues such as a heart attack and had surgery, people who have broken a bone in their body or had a joint replaced. I also see people who have chemical imbalances in their body that make them weak and unable to walk or stand.
13. What obstacles did you face before you reached your career?
I reached several. The biggest was failure. I applied to a lot of schools the first time (5) and did not get in. I felt like I was not good enough. But I continued to work towards my dream, I researched the field. I found another way and I continued to keep working towards my dream until it was obtainable. Don’t give up. Have a backup plan that will get you where you want to be.