Why I Chose a Career in Physical Therapy
To learn more about a career in physical therapy please visit: www.apta.org/ProspectiveStudents.
Chief Operating Officer - West, U S Physical Therapy
Search every verified Graham P.t. interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote โ each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a 2014 interview, Graham P.t., Chief Operating Officer - West at U.S. Physical Therapy, discussed his path to a career in physical therapy. He stated that he chose the profession due to his own childhood injuries and limited access to care while growing up on a reservation, where he said his family had to drive at least 100 miles to see a physical therapist. He described the field as a blend of science and exercise that allowed for more patient time than he experienced in medicine. P.t. advised prospective students to shadow in various practice settings, including acute care, skilled nursing, and home health, to understand the field's diversity. He emphasized the importance of understanding one's motivations before committing to the rigorous three-year graduate program, calling the profession "very rewarding" and noting that physical therapists are "needed" and can "make a difference in the world."
“I chose PT because of my experience growing up very early on a reservation. I had an injury myself at a very young age and most of my family had a lot of injuries and there's really no access to it out there; we had to drive at least 100 miles just to see a PT that would be there one to two times a week maybe.”
“As a physical therapist you have the opportunity to make a difference in the world. Physical therapists are needed and your impact will always be required; it's something you live after.”
“I think it would be important for students who are interested in physical therapy to go ahead and shadow in all the practice settings that we have: acute care hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health, inpatient rehab. Do as much as you can to see the diversity that's out there and see if any one of those suits y...”
“It's important to understand and be sure that you're ready to commit not only financially but your time for 3 years on top of attaining an undergraduate degree.”
To learn more about a career in physical therapy please visit: www.apta.org/ProspectiveStudents.
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