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The following post is written by Josh D’Angelo and Efosa Guobadia

With World Physical Therapy Day quickly approaching on September 8th, we have been discussing how we can play our part in strengthening the profession at the international level. We are currently in Guatemala (Efosa’s seventh trip here; Josh’s second) and will be teaching to, treating with, and presenting on advocacy to students and professionals in Guatemala City at the Universidad de Panamericana throughout the week.

We hope to broaden the discussion, generate ideas, and connect PT’s across the globe through this week’s #DPTstudent chat. We have also launched and will be discussing the hashtag #globalPTconnect, under which we will be live tweeting during much of our trip.

This is a profession that we all love and gives us so much, so trying to create ripples, bonds, and connections seems the next step. Simply joining the conversation will help to spread awareness of international efforts. You never know- you may be the next one traveling internationally and making global connections. Conversations like these is where it all begins.

We look forward to chatting.

Best,

Efosa and Josh

If you would like to read more about Efosa and Josh’s trip prior to the discussion, check out their most recent PT Haven article

Hello and welcome to a new school year, boys and girls. It’s that time of year again when pools close their gates, pencils are sharpened, and new classes of future Doctors of Physical Therapy begin their studies.

The APTA’s most recent vision statement stands in stark contrast to the previous Vision 2020, which proclaimed with great fanfare that its practitioners would soon all be Doctors of Physical Therapy. This title has become the norm in our profession, with 96% of accredited physical therapy programs now offering the DPT and the remaining planning to convert.

Norms aside, the usage of this title remains highly controversial for current practitioners and even #DPTstudents. This week, we’ll debate the usage of the title “Doctor” by Doctors of Physical Therapy. We highly encourage both students and practitioners to join in the discussion on Twitter this Wednesday, August 27th from 8-9pm CST. Participants may find the links below helpful in preparation for the #DPTstudent chat.

Recommended reading:
NYT, “When the Nurse Wants to Be Called Doctor”

APTA Responds to The New York Times on Physical Therapists Using the Term ‘Doctor’

See you there!
@LauraLWebb
#DPTstudent chat moderator

Last week, the #DPTStudent chat had the privilege of talking to three Catherine Worthingham Fellows of the APTA, Dr. Nancy Kirsch (@KirschNancy), Rob Landel (@RLandelDPT) and Pam Duffy (@PamDuffyPT). As fellows, they have received the highest honor given by the APTA for exemplifying four core values throughout their career: advocacy, education, practice and research. It was an amazing honor to spend an hour with them discussing what they did to get where they are and how students can aspire to a similar level of excellence.

While the #DPTstudent chat approached this conversation with an open mind, a central theme quickly emerged: advocacy. Our profession is undergoing enormous change and it is on the shoulders of today’s students to lead it in the right direction. Dr. Duffy commented that “this generation of PT students brings such energy… students of today are there because they have a passion for what they want to do for patients and society and I really admire that.” This is the attitude we should advocate for and exemplify. We all decided to join this profession for a reason and it is up to us to work for it. So how can a student participate in advocacy?

Join the APTA (@APTAtweets). When asked how she benefited from the APTA as a new professional, Dr. Duffy noted how much information she gained from being a member. While you may not want to be on the front lines of advocacy, just staying informed is a step. Dr. Duffy also appreciated her early membership for the networking opportunities and stated that nearly every opportunity she had in those days was somehow related to her involvement.

Encourage others to join. This is more than just preaching. Dr. Nancy Kirsch made it a point to teach us that we should be finding out why people are not members. Instead of telling people why you are an APTA member, find out what’s important to them and help them figure out how membership can meet those needs. You can bring this attitude to all of your advocacy efforts.

Know your strengths, attack your weaknesses. You can’t do everything! As you move through your time as a #DPTstudent, be mindful of what you’re good at, what you’re interested in and what you’d like to improve at. Good at writing? Look for blogging opportunities. Terrible public speaker? Run for a class office and get better at it. By seeking out professional development opportunities via advocacy, you will graduate a well-rounded, and impressive, PT!

Seek out opportunities. This was a common theme amongst all of the fellows. At the end of the chat, Dr. Landel extended an invitation for any #DPTstudent watching to introduce themselves at upcoming conferences and the other fellows extended the same invitation. Accept the invite! You never know what may come out of interacting with leaders in your field. Bring this same philosophy with you to school and other local activities. There are opportunities to advocate everywhere, you just have to ask for them.

You can watch the chat in full here.

Again, we would like to extend our appreciate to Drs. Landel, Duffy and Kirsch for giving us their time and their lessons and we encourage every #DPTstudent to get out there and get involved!

@Jocelyn_SPT
#DPTstudent Chat Admin

“The purpose of the Catherine Worthingham Fellow designation (FAPTA) is to honor Dr. Catherine Worthingham and inspire all physical therapists to attain the high level of professional excellence and impact in terms of advancing the profession she exemplified.” The four “excellence domains” of FAPTA designees and nominees are advocacy, education, practice and research.

On August 6, 2014 at 9:00 PM EST we will be LIVE with 3 Catherine Worthingham Fellows:

Pamela Duffy, PT, PhD, RP, OCS, FAPTA (@PamDuffyPT)
Nancy R. Kirsch, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA (@KirschNancy)
Rob F. Landel, PT, DPT, OCS, FCFMT, FAPTA (@RLandelDPT)

We will discuss what the designation is, their contributions to the physical therapy professions and how a #DPTstudent can aspire to achieve these four excellence domains. This is the highest honor in the PT profession and we can’t wait to share their valuable experiences with you!

As always, follow the #DPTstudent hashtag on Twitter before the chat to get the link to watch and chime in using the hashtag with questions or comments.

Learn more about the FAPTA designation here: www.apta.org/HonorsAwards/Honors/WorthinghamFellows/

Currently, 11% of the U.S. population is 65 or older. It is projected that by the year 2050, this age group will comprise 20% of our population. Advances in medicine are continuing this trend as we increasingly survive threats to our health.
Source: CDC & US Census Bureau

The relative burden of older adults on the health care system will be substantial. It’s clear we will see a major shift in health care, with a significant percentage increase in medical visits for adults age 65 and older. Elderly patients with mobility issues may require hospital beds for optimal care. For those interested, you can browse our collection of healing havens for the home to find options that support comfort and recovery. Common comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and arthritis, combined with balance deficits and falls will create many opportunities for physical therapists to intervene and improve quality of life for these individuals. Chances are, you are going to work with older adults at some point during your career as a physical therapist. And if you’re interested in geriatric PT, you’ll quite likely have a job.

This week, we’re discussing the impact of our aging population on the physical therapy profession. What issues do you anticipate? How should we address these? What can we do to meet an increasing demand for older adult physical therapy?

We’ll discuss these and related questions next Wednesday, July 23rd at 8pm CST for the next #DPTstudent chat. See you there!

Laura Webb, SPT
@lauralwebb

As a #DPTstudent, you are grinding through school with the goal of finding gainful employment. Of course, networking is an important part of getting a job, but it goes much further. Networking is important for finding mentors who will help shape your career, for meeting other professionals and potential patients and for helping to “sell” yourself and the profession as a direct, first step in healthcare. What can you do to start networking productively now?

On July 9, 2014 at 9 PM EST we will go LIVE with Jerry Durham, PT (@Jerry_DurhamPT). Jerry is Principal and Chief Sales Officer at San Francisco Sport and Spine Physical Therapy, with three locations in the Bay Area. Jerry is a regular, and vocal, participant in the #DPTstudent chat. Join us as we get his perspective on “How to Sell Yourself as a #DPTstudent & Physical Therapist.”

Hop on Twitter a few minutes before start to get the link to watch live. Give your input and ask questions by using the hashtag #DPTstudent. As always, if you have any questions or input about the chat, you can reach us at DPTchat@gmail.com.

We think physical therapy is great. You probably do too.

You want to attract new patients to your clinic, promote wellness, produce favorable outcomes, and establish strong, lifelong relationships with your patients. How do you convey your message to the world?

What is your brand? How do we, as physical therapy clinicians and students, best market our profession and services to the public?

Let’s talk. You won’t want to miss it.

See you Wednesday, July 2 at 8pm CST.

@LauraLWebb
#DPTstudent admin

At some point in your career as a #DPTstudent, you will have to make choices about your clinical rotations. You may have to consider the setting, your CI and the way the clinic practices… the process can be very intimidating. How does your school handle this process? What say do you have in the matter? What can you do if you’re unhappy with your rotation(s)? Should you go to a place where you have an existing relationship or a clinic that does not have a relationship with your school? Are you hesitant or fearful of making any of these decisions?

Join us on Twitter on Wednesday, June 25th at 9 PM EST to share! Follow the hashtag #DPTstudent to see the discussion unfold.