Physical Therapy

1. Physical Therapy
Kristen White

2. Introduction
 I have always known I wanted to enter the medical field,
but I am not a fan of blood, needles, or insides. I
discovered my interest for Physical Therapy at shadow
day in middle school when I realized I could help people
recover from surgeries and injuries. I have wanted to be
a Physical Therapist ever since then. What most attracts
me to the profession is that I will go to work everyday
knowing that I will get to serve and make a difference in
someone else’s life. I will get to build relationships and
trust in people. The Medical University of South Carolina
in Charleston, South Carolina is my graduate program of
choice.

3. History of Physical Therapy
 Although PT is a fairly new profession in the US, in
3000 BC the Chinese used rubbing, an early form of
massage for bruises and aches. This field draws from a
long and rich history.
 Modern PT in the US started when the US declared
war on Germany in 1917 when a group of Physicians
was assigned to study a European rehab programs.
 The first PT in the US was Mary McMillan.

4. What is a Physical Therapist?
 According to the American Physical Therapy
Association, a physical therapist is “a highly-educated,
licensed health care professional who can help patients
reduce pain and improve or restore mobility – in many
cases without expensive surgery and often reducing
the need for long-term use of prescription medications
and their side effects.”

5. What PTs Do
 Review patients’ medical history and any referrals or notes from
doctors, surgeons, or other healthcare workers
 Diagnose patients’ functions and movements by observing them stand
or walk and by listening to their concerns, among other methods
 Develop individualized plans of care for patients, outlining the patients’
goals and the expected outcomes of the plans
 Use exercises, stretching maneuvers, hands-on therapy, and equipment
to ease patients’ pain, help them increase their mobility, prevent further
pain or injury, and facilitate health and wellness
 Evaluate and record a patient’s progress, modifying a plan of care and
trying new treatments as needed
 Educate patients and their families about what to expect from the
recovery process and how best to cope with challenges throughout the
process

6. Where do PTs practice?
 Outpatient clinics or offices
 Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
 Skilled nursing, extended care, or subacute facilities
 Homes
 Education or research centers
 Schools
 Hospices
 Industrial, workplace, or other occupational environments
 Fitness centers and sports training facilities

7. Salary range and growth
potential
 Median salary = $85,000
 Salaries vary based on position, years of experience,
degree of education, geographic location, and practice
setting.
 Growth potential: PT workforce is expected to increase
by 13%

8. PT Programs of Interest
 Medical University of South Carolina (top choice)
 University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
 University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
 University of South Carolina

9. Admissions Requirements for
MUSC DPT Program
 Experience with PT
 Strong letters of reference
 Volunteer/service activities
 Honors and awards
 An affinity for challenging coursework
 GRE scores
 Completed the required prerequisites
 Minimum GPA: 3.0
 Average GPA of admitted students: 3.6

10. Cost of MUSC DPT Program
 The cost of tuition is $8,061 per trimester. This program
is nine trimesters long. Therefore, the total estimated
cost of tuition is 72,549. This is not including the cost of
housing, books, etc.

11. Why I am a good fit for MUSC’s
program
 I have a GPA of 3.72, which is above the average GPA of admitted
students.
 I am a Health Science major with a double concentration in Pre-
professional Health Studies and Health Services Administration and a
minor in Business Administration.
 I have already gained observation and volunteer experience in PT at
Self Regional Hospital, Greenwood Regional Rehabilitation Hospital,
Greenwood Physical Therapy, and the Optimum Life Center.
 I will be taking the GRE for the first time this spring, but plan to take it
several times if necessary, to obtain the scores I need.
 I am heavily involved in many diverse organizations at Clemson
University and service activities in my community.
 I have received entrance into many prestigious honor societies.
 I have completed all of the required prerequisite classes.

12. O*Net Interest Profiler Results
 The top results for Physical Therapists are:
1. Social
2. Investigative
3. Realistic
 My results are:
1. Social
2. Enterprising
3. Artistic

13. O*Net Interest Profiler
 I took the O Net Profiler career and personality test and
scored highest in the “Social” category. This means that
I like working with others to help them learn and grow.
This is what a PT does everyday, so I would be a great
fit for this career. Although my other two categories do
not match up, it is most important that my top category
does, which shows that I have a passion for teaching,
giving advice, and being of service to others.

14. Conclusion
 Physical Therapy is an awesome career that I feel will be
perfect for me. My passion for serving people will come in
handy as I enter into this profession. If I keep on track
with my academics and make the GRE scores I need, I
feel confident that I will be admitted into one of my top
choices of DPT programs. I have already spent a large
number of hours shadowing PT, which is a huge
requirement for admission. I believe that PT is going to
be a rewarding career that fits my personality and
interests and allows me to do what I love most, which is
to serve others. I have been working so hard to make this
happen, and I cannot wait to see it all unfold.

15. References
 Admissions Requirements. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2016,
from
http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/chp/pt/admissions.htm
 Physical Therapists : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2016,
from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/mobile/physical-
therapists.htm
 The Beginnings of PT. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2016, from
http://physical-therapy.advanceweb.com/Article/The-Beginnings-
of-PT.aspx
 Who Are Physical Therapists? (n.d.). Retrieved January 19,
2016, from http://www.apta.org/AboutPTs/