Have you ever considered the effects of movement on the human body? Did you know walking or running for 10 minutes per day is the start of developing a consistent routine? If exercising isn’t your thing, just consider how it may affect your health or daily habits. However, if you exercise, the daily movement could change many aspects of your daily routine. Movement can include exercises such as swimming, running, walking, and dancing. Movement may inspire a few people to ‘get up and get going’ apart from activities in their daily lives such as driving, doing the laundry or cooking. Different movements always inspired Natalie Chambers, a 24-year-old Doctor of Physical Therapy student at Florida International University. This inspiration led her to pursue a career in Physical Therapy (DPT). Many of you may have considered going to PT school but at some point, may have given up because of financial reasons, motivation, or maybe you lost interest in the 3 years that the program requires. I bet it just sounds like a long time to be in school. Well, do not dismay! Natalie’s journey in DPT school may just empower you to reconsider your options.
First, let us provide some detail about the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
- The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program typically lasts for three years.
- Some common prerequisite courses are Anatomy and Physiology 1/2, Biology 1/2, Chemistry 1/2 and Physics 1/2.
- There is a state licensure examination at the end of the 3 years. It requires this to get the license to practice PT.
- The typical GPA is 3.0 to get into PT programs, but some schools have GPA requirements as high as a 3.0
- The average salaries of PT’s in the United States are $87,000 per year. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm
Being a student in a DPT program is rather a taxing and demanding experience. I can say this for any Doctorate Program. However, Natalie overcame this challenge, she still worked hard and always looked for the greatest result in whatever task they gave her. She was born and raised in the United States to Caribbean- Jamaican parents. She comes from a very large family and has younger siblings in undergrad and graduate school. This was always an inspiration to see her younger siblings following in her footsteps. Being a minority in the United States can be hard, but it is important to always aim big, and that is getting a degree. Natalie’s dream was to accomplish getting her doctorate while inspiring others alike. She wanted them to know that getting a degree is not an easy task but with the right resources, everyone can have access to a good education. When asked what it is like being a minority student studying DPT, she responded, “As people of color, we are under-represented in the physical therapy/rehab world. It is essential for us to continue to bridge that gap and to move toward environments that are better equipped in serving the various cultural needs of an ever-growing diverse patient population. I am grateful to have chosen a school/program that is diverse and allows students of different backgrounds to succeed in this profession” (shout-out to FIU!!!)
I asked Natalie a few questions about her experiences at Florida International University (FIU) regarding preparing her for her career and some experience that she has gleaned since being a student at FIU.
What are some tips that you would give others who aspire to pursue a career in your field? Be patient! The process itself to becoming a Physical Therapist isn’t easy and you may have to try several times before beginning that process in school. Have faith because it will be worth it! Concerning working with patients – be compassionate! Many patients will become frustrated because they are not seeing the results they want to right away, so it’s important to build a strong relationship with your patients and make motivation a key factor in that relationship.
Does your career path bring you excitement? Seeing any kind of progress in your patients is always exciting. New research is also always coming forth so its fun learning new approaches to treating patients – and seeing them work!
What are some skills/accomplishments that have made you a great professional? Being a student in a doctorate program, I learned that professionalism, empathy, and being knowledgeable about your field are key factors for success.
What pushes you to continue working hard? Observing the increasing amount of people in the world with a functional decline and being immobile because of it – but I know that they could be out enjoying life and that I can help them get to that point!
How did college prepare you for your career now, or how will it prepare you if you are still studying? By providing the foundation, I needed to be a successful entry-level physical therapist. I will use the principles I’ve learned to grow and develop with my profession.
What is one piece of memorable advice that you would like to share with others who are working to be in your profession today? One of my professors always tells us you cannot be a ‘physical therapist if you’re lazy and don’t care.’ You must go all out for your patients to ensure they are getting the best care. A lot of difficult situations will occur with Physicians telling you one thing, Social workers telling you another and then you also have the family to consider – but always think of your patient FIRST.
