As we celebrate National Physical Therapy Month, I’ve been reflecting on how the people who come into our lives can profoundly influence our path — not only in our careers, but also in the ways we can improve the lives of others.
I was blessed to encounter several people at critical points in my career who helped shape the therapist — and the person — I am today.
When I was 14, a friend of my mothers who was a physical therapist invited me to spend a day observing her at work. I enjoyed it so much that I came back every day that week. From that moment, I knew I wanted to become a PT.
When I attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, I was incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Donald Neumann as my kinesiology professor. His passion for biomechanics of the hand, including the intricacies of anatomical force couples and arthrokinematics, was contagious. My interest in the hand was further reinforced when Teri Bielefeld, PT, CHT, came to Marquette to introduce us to hand therapy and what it meant to become a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT). These key role models fueled my desire to pursue hand therapy and ultimately become a CHT.
One of the things I love most about hand therapy is the collaboration. When an OT or PT becomes a CHT, the entry-level degree no longer defines the therapist. We share a common specialty, a common passion, and a commitment to helping our patients regain function and independence. The hand therapy community is a tight-knit one, and I am incredibly grateful to be a part of it.
As we think about this year's PT Month campaign, PT for Future Me, I’m reminded of the role we can play in our patients’ lives throughout their lifespan. We can have a profound impact on quality of life — guiding patients through recovery from injury, helping them regain the activities they love, and teaching them the tools they need for lifelong self-care.
Hand therapists can make a difference.
I am so grateful to be a PT, a CHT, and to have crossed paths with so many incredible people throughout my career who have influenced, challenged, and inspired me.
Making a difference in the lives of others — through patient care and by helping future hand therapists grow through clinical teaching—has brought me a deep sense of meaning and fulfillment, both in my career and in my life.
Here’s to the mentors who shape us, the patients who teach us and the profession that gives us the opportunity to make a difference every day.