I can’t explain how happy and honored I am to be able to write this blog. The profession, and the professional colleagues, means everything to me. My journey to this point was a long, wonderful road. Yes, the road had some potholes along the way, but negotiating those things only makes you stronger and builds your resolve and character.
My PT journey began as a young man of 25 years old, needing change and focus in my life. I had to leave a small town in eastern Washington and had no financial means to do so. I always wanted to be in health care, and Physical Therapy was one of the professions I was interested in. So, with my wife’s support, I enlisted in the Army as a PT Technician (PT Assistant in civilian terms).
After Boot Camp, then onto San Antonio for initial training as a PT Tech. My clinical site training was at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. It turned out to be my first assignment as a PT Tech as well. It was there that I was exposed to a wide variety of patients and incredible PTs. Their intellect and compassion reinforced that PT was the right profession for me and my love for PT started to blossom. From there, I was assigned to West Berlin for 3 years, the Berlin Wall was still up then. Serving in a small hospital setting that served all service and family members. Our hospital motto was, “Serving Freedoms Guards”. I was so fortunate to have an incredible PT as my mentor, and turned out to be a life-long friend. This further reinforced my love and conviction for PT. I knew I needed to take the next step to become a PT. So, after my 3-year tour in West Berlin, we went back home where I re-entered college with a focus; to finish my undergraduate degree as quickly as possible and apply to PT school. Which I did. All this time, I had my wife’s full support and encouragement. Big “Thank You” to her!
Upon graduation, I was accepted into the US Army Baylor University PT program at Ft Sam Houston in San Antonio, Tx. Yes, I came in with military experience, which helped, but I was also the “old man’ of the class. Certainly, a non-traditional path. But that also gave me great experiences and perspective. My love for PT only grew!
Upon graduation I was sent to Ft. Carson, CO as my initial PT assignment. I was fortunate to work with my friend and mentor from Walter Reed. His guidance and friendship made my experience ideal. From there my assignments were Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, WA, then onto Fort Huachuca, AZ where I had my first Clinic Chief experience, all these assignments were both professionally and personally fulfilling and I would not trade any of them. I was stationed at Ft Huachuca when I got a call from the Assignments Officer who asked if I would like to teach in the PT Tech course (where I began my PT experience) at Ft Sam Houston, TX. My reply was immediate, “Yes please and thank you!”. So off we went back to Ft Sam. All these experiences reinforced my love for PT.
While I was teaching in the PT Tech program, I was fortunate to share faculty space with the PT faculty teaching in the US Army-Baylor PT program. They were, and still are, PT/Researchers that are major names in the PT world. Their conversation, support, mentorship, and yes, their love for PT reinforced mine and opened the door to further learning. When chatting with them I realized I needed to “get smarter” and go onto further training. I applied to and was accepted into US Army Baylor DSc Fellowship Program for Orthopedic and Manual Therapy. I had 3 other classmates in the program that are lifelong friends. Am I lucky, or what! Following this, I also obtained my Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), and my Fellowship in the Academy of Orthopedic and Manual Physical Therapy (FAAOMPT). Doing this solidified and reinforced my love for PT. There is something special about learning at that level. Learning from the experts and obtaining your OCS or Sports Clinical Specialist (SCS) can bridge gaps in knowledge and having the mentoring while going through residency can improve the clinical experience as an employee and in your outcomes with patients.
After completing the program, I was asked to teach into the Army-Baylor PT program. Really?! That was another quick response of ‘Yes, please and thank you”. Another great thing happened to me which increased my love for PT (if that’s even possible at this point). Soon after my Fellowship training, while I was working as the Director of Clinical Education (DCE) for the Army Baylor PT program, I happened to be faculty colleagues with the brilliant PTs that stared Evidence in Motion (EIM). They asked me to teach con-ed courses for them, which I happily do and is another route for me to spread my love for PT to other PTs around the country
After retiring from the Army, I started teaching in the University of Puget Sound’s DPT program where I spent the last 19 years there as the Orthopedic content faculty with a stint as Program Director. I have had the pleasure of working with amazing faculty, enjoy teaching lectures, and especially labs, and interacting with the students. I was also active in the state legislature as Co-chair of the Manipulation Task Force for the PT Association of Washington state (PTWA) which lobbied for many years to allow PTs to do spinal manipulation. It was a long road, but we did it! I am also currently involved with the Musculoskeletal Imaging Group for PTWA lobbying for PTs to have the ability or order musculoskeletal imaging. It’s currently a work in progress, but I’m working with an amazing group of PTs in the Task Force, and I’m positive it’ll happen.
On another line, I have had the absolute pleasure of teaching con-ed courses all over the US and Canada for the last couple decades. Not only did I get to meet wonderful PTs in many locations, I felt like my love for PT only grew again, and I felt as if I was spreading this love to others. I have been very fortunate to expand this con-ed and teaching role around the world, teaching and presenting in Mexico, several sites in Europe, Singapore and South Korea. I even helped create an imaging program for PTs in Italy, and for an on-line continuing education company in the US. This just adds to the love of PT, not only to me, but spreading it worldwide.
There is a saying from Confucius that I like to quote to students and colleagues: “Find a job that you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I haven’t worked since I was 25 years old. So, to say I love PT is and understatement. Although I’ve retired from both the Army and UPS, I still have adjunct faculty positions at 2 other university programs, as well as teach in continuing education courses. So, I love PT so much, I can’t walk away easily. I wish this feeling of “Love for PT” on everyone. Group hug!
