My degree in Exercise Science from UC Davis is the backbone of my career path into physical therapy (PT). While at UCD, I worked at the campus clinic as a PT aide and managed to develop my own PT internship in Hawaii through Army ROTC.
After graduation, I took time off before applying to graduate school. I became a certified personal trainer, worked as a PT aide, volunteered at a variety of PT clinics, and even tutored physiology and anatomy to junior college students. This time off gave me excellent practice working directly with people, exposure to the fitness and rehabilitation world, and a full resume when it came time to filling out my graduate school applications.
I received both my MPT and DPT through Northwestern University in Chicago. I worked for 20 years as a licensed physical therapist in the Bay Area, specializing in outpatient orthopedics. My work involved everything from rehabilitating athletes to teaching athletic coaches, as well as assisting the geriatric population, improving the ergonomics of both white-collar and blue-collar workers, and even giving free lectures in injury prevention to the community.
After 30 years of studying and working, I feel that joining the HPA Advisory Board allows me to share with students a wealth of real-world experience from the fitness and rehabilitation field...and my heart will always have a soft spot for a fellow Aggie!