Page 21 - WesternU View - Spring 2015
P. 21
implement a treatment plan to heal you and prevent
it from reoccurring.”
One of the appeals of the profession is that podiatrists
can see the tangible results of their work right away,
Harkless said. They can diagnose the problem, create a
treatment plan, and often get the patient back to
walking during the same appointment. DPMs have
patients who limp into the office in pain but leave
pain free. It is one of the best parts of being a
podiatrist, Harkless said.
“The other thing they like is the variety of what they P H Y S I C A L T H E R A P Y
see,” he said. “A podiatrist sees young patients, physical therapists were second only to clergy and
middle-aged patients and those were the only health care professionals in the top five,
of senior years. They deal with said Dee Schilling, PT, PhD, Chair of the Department
sports medicine and of Physical Therapy Education, part of WesternU’s
conditions of systemic disease. College of Allied Health Professions.
Almost everything that
happens to the human body When applicants and students are asked what has
manifests itself in the lower attracted them to the profession, the common theme
extremity. It’s challenging and in their responses is to make a difference and improve
not boring.” and enhance quality of life, Schilling said.
Physical therapists have an “Many individuals in the field have either had a
average annual salary of personal experience with PT or have witnessed PT
$79,860, and the profession through a family member or friend,” she said. “The
has a projected growth by positivity of the experience in ‘hands-on’ care,
2022 of 36 percent, according personal interactions and successful outcomes has a
P O D I A T R Y to CareerCast. tremendous influence on career selection.”
“At WesternU, we are proud of our faculty and The vision for the PT profession, adopted in 2013, is
students. Our retention rate for PT is 99 percent,” said “Transforming society by optimizing movement to
Stephanie Bowlin, EdD, PA, Dean of the College of improve the human experience.” That vision holds
Allied Health Professions. “We have a commitment as endless opportunity, high impact and tremendous
an academic team to be successful. Our participation satisfaction and reward, Schilling said.
with interprofessional education and our dynamic “The physical therapy profession is only limited by
clinical partners contribute to our success.”
the limits one places upon oneself,” she said. “There is
Forbes ranked physical therapists as having one of the opportunity for innovation, building long-term
“10 Happiest Jobs,” according to articles published in relationships, and changing not just lives, but
2011 and 2013. Likewise, the University of Chicago's communities and society. Job opportunities reach
National Opinion Research Center survey, reported in across the lifespan and in a variety of settings. There is
The Washington Post, showed that more than three- no opportunity for redundancy or boredom, as the
quarters of physical therapists polled reported to be profession requires a life-long commitment to
“very satisfied” with their occupation. In addition, learning, service and advocacy.” – Rodney Tanaka
WesternU View Spring 2015 19
it from reoccurring.”
One of the appeals of the profession is that podiatrists
can see the tangible results of their work right away,
Harkless said. They can diagnose the problem, create a
treatment plan, and often get the patient back to
walking during the same appointment. DPMs have
patients who limp into the office in pain but leave
pain free. It is one of the best parts of being a
podiatrist, Harkless said.
“The other thing they like is the variety of what they P H Y S I C A L T H E R A P Y
see,” he said. “A podiatrist sees young patients, physical therapists were second only to clergy and
middle-aged patients and those were the only health care professionals in the top five,
of senior years. They deal with said Dee Schilling, PT, PhD, Chair of the Department
sports medicine and of Physical Therapy Education, part of WesternU’s
conditions of systemic disease. College of Allied Health Professions.
Almost everything that
happens to the human body When applicants and students are asked what has
manifests itself in the lower attracted them to the profession, the common theme
extremity. It’s challenging and in their responses is to make a difference and improve
not boring.” and enhance quality of life, Schilling said.
Physical therapists have an “Many individuals in the field have either had a
average annual salary of personal experience with PT or have witnessed PT
$79,860, and the profession through a family member or friend,” she said. “The
has a projected growth by positivity of the experience in ‘hands-on’ care,
2022 of 36 percent, according personal interactions and successful outcomes has a
P O D I A T R Y to CareerCast. tremendous influence on career selection.”
“At WesternU, we are proud of our faculty and The vision for the PT profession, adopted in 2013, is
students. Our retention rate for PT is 99 percent,” said “Transforming society by optimizing movement to
Stephanie Bowlin, EdD, PA, Dean of the College of improve the human experience.” That vision holds
Allied Health Professions. “We have a commitment as endless opportunity, high impact and tremendous
an academic team to be successful. Our participation satisfaction and reward, Schilling said.
with interprofessional education and our dynamic “The physical therapy profession is only limited by
clinical partners contribute to our success.”
the limits one places upon oneself,” she said. “There is
Forbes ranked physical therapists as having one of the opportunity for innovation, building long-term
“10 Happiest Jobs,” according to articles published in relationships, and changing not just lives, but
2011 and 2013. Likewise, the University of Chicago's communities and society. Job opportunities reach
National Opinion Research Center survey, reported in across the lifespan and in a variety of settings. There is
The Washington Post, showed that more than three- no opportunity for redundancy or boredom, as the
quarters of physical therapists polled reported to be profession requires a life-long commitment to
“very satisfied” with their occupation. In addition, learning, service and advocacy.” – Rodney Tanaka
WesternU View Spring 2015 19
