Pushing Beyond the DPT…
Leave a CommentFour years ago I moved to Chicago as an eager newly graduated physical therapist (PT) who was drawn to Athletico for its strong presence in the performing arts community. As a dancer myself, I felt providing physical therapy to dancers was the absolute perfect way to marry my two passions. Little did I know that Athletico would develop me beyond this in ways I never imagined, such as providing training for me to execute Video Gait Analysis and return-to-sport testing for ACL reconstructions, as well as giving me the opportunity to manage a clinic! I felt pushed to optimize patient outcomes and provide the best customer service in the clinic, but I also felt a strong encouragement to continue learning and improving myself. One of the most defining ways that Athletico demonstrated its investment in my long term growth was through the Evidence in Motion orthopaedic residency.
The Evidence in Motion (EIM) orthopaedic residency is a 12-18 month program that is presented in a hybrid learning model – 150 hours of mentorship within the clinic, four weekend intensive courses to improve manual skills and self-study didactic work. It was the perfect way for me to further my knowledge and apply it immediately in the clinic! The ultimate goals of most EIM orthopaedic residents is to pass the Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) examination. EIM boasts an impressive 90 percent pass rate thanks to its top-notch education from leaders in the industry, a comprehensive OCS prep course, as well as realistic practice exams.
Athletico not only supported the cost of the EIM orthopaedic residency but also provided access to Medbridge, another leader in OCS prep courses, to ensure that I had the best possible resources available. The weekend intensive courses were conveniently held at the Resource Center in Oak Brook, IL, which allowed me to meet other clinicians in the company who were striving for the same goal of exceptional patient care. By pairing me with a mentor within my own clinic, I was able to get consistent on-the-spot feedback to improve my performance every single day.
What I appreciated the most about my experience is that the resources provided taught me how to think, not what to think. Since completing the EIM Orthopedic residency, my evaluations have become more thorough yet more efficient at the same time. I find that I am spending less time performing unnecessary objective measures and more time progressing my patients toward their goals due to improved critical thinking. I am able to treat my higher-level patients (such as dancers and runners) through a clearer lens and a more refined consideration of regional interdependence. Training in pain neuroscience also allows me to truly treat the patient in a holistic way.
Athletico’s support in my participation in the Evidence in Motion residency has dramatically changed the way that I treat my patients and significantly boosted my confidence with more complex patient presentations. As a result, I have produced better functional outcomes and greater patient satisfaction as patients are reaching their goals in a more efficient manner. I am proud to announce that 26 Athletico clinicians (including me!) became board certified specialists in either orthopaedics (OCS) or sports (SCS) in 2019. Thank you Athletico for your constant support! I look forward to using my skills to provide exceptional patient care and will encourage others to be life-long learners.
Congratulations to Athletico’s 2019 Board Certified Specialists:
| Andrew | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Lisle, IL |
| Jared | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Temperance, MI |
| Brian | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Adrian, MI |
| Kevin | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Toledo, OH |
| Katey | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Champaign, IL |
| Steven | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Springfield, IL |
| Marcus | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Remote, IL |
| Mark | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Middletown, OH |
| Daniel | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Lockport, IL |
| Thomas | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Chicago, IL |
| Devin | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Des Moines, IA |
| Jared | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Skokie, IL |
| Victoria | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Milwaukee, WI |
| Alicia | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | West Lafayette, IN |
| Andrew | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Milwaukee, WI |
| Alexandra | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Chicago, IL |
| William | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Crystal Lake, IL |
| Bailee | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Omaha, NE |
| Giancarlo | SCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Park Ridge, IL |
| Joseph | SCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Naperville, IL |
| Kristen | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Elkhorn, NE |
| Claire | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Westchester, IL |
| Kelly | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Rockford, IL |
| Gregory | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Bloomingdale, IL |
| Kyle | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Monee, IL |
| Kelli | OCS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists | Chicago, IL |
Will YOU push beyond the DPT?
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The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.
