SLU PT Students Promote Direct Access During Annual Lobby Day

SLU PT Students Promote Direct Access During Annual Lobby Day
By Jamie Brew (SLU DPT Class of 2020)

MPTA Lobby Day is an annual event in which members of the Physical Therapy and Physical Therapy Assistant communities come together to advocate for our profession. This year, we discussed two main propositions: HB410 and the Anti-POPTS. HB410 is the Direct Access bill for Physical Therapy in the state of Missouri. With this bill, Physical Therapists hope to treat patients without a referral from a physician, which will provide a more efficient way for patients to access our care, as well as utilize our education in differential diagnosis.

Our Anti-POPTS discussion was regarding a current law in which physicians cannot own physical therapy clinics. POPTS are currently illegal, which helps to lower the amount of unnecessary visits a patient is seen. There is talk that the physicians would like to appeal this law, so our main agenda was to inform representatives of this possible movement and to advocate for why Physician Owned Physical Therapy Services should remain illegal.

This year, Jamie Brew (PY2, MSSIG Vice Chair), Caroline Lipic (PYI, Core Ambassador), Brandon Moseley (PYI, MSSIG Representative) and Lauren Stollman (PYI) attended MPTA Lobby Day. They joined other students and therapists to speak with multiple representatives to advocate for our profession at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City.

This is one of several posts featuring SLU PT Student experiences. Many students choose to be involved in physical therapy professional organizations and advocate for the profession. For more information about Saint Louis University's Program in Physical Therapy, please visit: https://www.slu.edu/doisy/degrees/undergraduate/physical-therapy.php.

Photos submitted by Jaime Brew, SPT.

Meet the PTSA Board for 2019-2020!

Meet the PTSA Board for 2019-2020!
By the Saint Louis University Physical Therapy Student Association

Kelsey Bequette

Position: President
Year: Senior
Hometown: Hallsville, MO
Why did you want to become a PT?
I wanted to become a PT because I love helping people and I enjoy science, so what better profession than one where I get to do two of the things I love everyday!
What’s something on your bucket list?
Ride in a hot air balloon
Fun fact:
I have held a koala!

LAUREN FOSTER

Position: President
Year: Junior
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Why did you want to become a PT?
When I was little, I always wanted to become an elementary school teacher and that was my plan until High School. After competitively dancing for 15 years, I injured my back and was given a script for Physical Therapy. I was immediately fascinated by the different techniques used in therapy and the knowledge my PT shared with me. It was this experience that led me to SLU to pursue a career in Physical Therapy and learn to be a teacher of the human body. I look forward to the opportunity to give back and make a difference by helping others the way I was helped to heal and recover.
What’s something on your bucket list? 
By the time I am 30 years old, I hope to have traveled to all 50 states!
Fun fact: I can communicate with others in American Sign Language!


Allison Drury

Position: VP of Programming
Year: Senior
Hometown: Bloomsdale, MO
Why did you want to become a PT?
What originally spurred my interest was my huge obsession with the St. Louis Cardinals. I thought it'd be incredible if I could work for them by helping the players recover from injury. While that is a huge dream, I still will love PT whether or not I ever work for the Cardinals. I love science, studying the human body and how it heals through exercise, and I love children so I am definitely interested in pediatrics.
What’s something on your bucket list?
Walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain after I graduate!
Fun fact: I stood about 15 ft away from Pope Francis

Stephanie Kim

Position: VP Programming
Year: PYI
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Why did you want to become a PT?
I have always had a curiosity for the health sciences, but also have always loved movement, so the idea of combining the two to work with patients and use exercise as medicine really inspired me!
What's something on your bucket list?
Name my first dog Potato
Fun fact:
I started the Instagram account, Dogs of SLU!


Kathleen Sullivan

Position: Treasurer
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Aurora, CO
Why did you want to become a PT?
I love helping people and active work, plus I think anatomy is super interesting!
What's something on your bucket list?
I would love to go to Australia
Fun fact:
I am a second degree black belt!

Kristen Maleski

Position: VP of Service
Year: PYI
Hometown: Long Grove, IL
Why did you want to become a PT?
I knew that I wanted to go into a career in the medical field and physical therapy was the career path that combined what I was passionate about: physical activity and helping people.
What's something on your bucket list?
I want to go scuba diving in Bora Bora
Fun fact:
I met Joe Jonas and cried.


Tara Frank

Position: VP of Service
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Lake Zurich, IL
Why did you want to become a PT?
I hurt my knee playing soccer when I was younger, and my rehab was my first experience with the profession. Then in high school, I got to shadow a PT in her outpatient clinic for over a year. I've been on both sides of it and still love it, from being the patient, to getting to shadow alongside PTs.
What's something on your bucket list?
Scuba diving with seals!
Fun fact:
I ran a marathon in a day for my 18th birthday just for fun


Weronika Przybylo

Position: VP of Fundraising
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Vernon Hills, IL
Why did you want to become a PT?
I wanted to become a PT because I wanted a job where I could stay active while helping my patients recover.
What's something on your bucket list?
Learn sign language
Fun fact:
I was in a boot for 4 months because I tripped on my dad's shoes.


Divya Gandhi

Position: VP of Fundraising
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Skokie, IL
Why did you want to become a PT?
I wanted to become a PT because I want to see my patients progress on their road to recovery, and I want to stay physically active.
What's something on your bucket list?
Go skydiving!
Fun fact:
I am left handed!


Emily Gier

Position: VP of Philanthropy
Year: Junior
Hometown: St. Charles, IL
Why did you want to become a PT?
I had reconstructive hip surgery in high school so before and after surgery I spent a lot of time in physical therapy and fell in love with the profession!
What's something on your bucket list?
Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
Fun fact:
I have participated in the World's Largest Tomato Fight.


Kate Weaver

Position: VP of Secretary
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Jasper, IN
Why did you want to become a PT?
I did a lot of sports throughout high school, so I enjoyed being active and healthy. I fell in love with the human body through anatomy and an internship class at my high school. I got to shadow a lot of different health professions and loved PT the most!
What's something on your bucket list? 
Go skydiving
Fun fact:
My grandpa played for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1960s



Emma DeVarenne

Position: VP of Secretary
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Why did you want to become a PT?
I have always been active through sports and love that physical therapy allows me to continue being active in the workforce. I love how everyday is different, how I will be able to interact personally with patients, and the necessity of adaptability.
What's something on your bucket list?
To run a marathon
Fun fact:
When I am home for the summers in Chicago I work at Wrigley Field where the Chicago Cubs play.



Caroline Cooke

Position: VP of Alumni Relations
Year: Junior
Hometown: La Grange, IL
Why did you become a PT?
I have always been interested in a career in the healthcare field and growing up an athlete, I have always been intrigued with the way the body functions and moves. While learning what I love, I will be able to help others be able to do what they love.
What is something on your bucket list?
Visit at least 6 of the 7 continents
Fun fact:
I can burp the ABC's backwards

SLU PT Student Expands His Professional Horizons at First CSM

DPT class of 2020 posing for a picture at Lost & Found DC

CSM: A Student Experience
by Richard Guillen, DPT Class of 2020

For the past few years, I have heard a lot about APTA Combined Sections Meetings (CSM) and how I would be able to go when I was PY2. I have helped some of the faculty in the past with tasks pertaining to CSM, so I got a little a taste of what CSM was before I even got to go. I was so excited when I found out that CSM was going to hosted in Washington DC this year because I have never been to DC. In fact, the farthest I’ve ever gone east in the US is probably to Chicago. I took advantage of my APTA membership and registered in the same week registration opened. Once I registered, I immediately started counting down the days until I landed in DC. Registering for CSM was probably the easiest part of my CSM experience. I was put in charge of social media for my program, manning the registration table of our alumni reception, and coordinating a gathering for the students and faculty. 

I and a group of my classmates managed to get the same flight and 2.5 hours later, we were in DC. We had arrived early and luckily one of my friends is from Maryland, so we were able to stay with her for the night. The day of CSM we woke up around 5 am and got a ride to the metro station by my friend’s mom. Being on the metro allowed me to experience how it is to be a regular commuter in DC. I saw people wearing suits, other people wearing sweats, some people were on their phones talking business, and some were just sleeping. I saw people from a variety of socioeconomic statuses, professions, and race. I really did feel like I was a part of their community. 

Once we arrived at our stop, we still had to do some walking to get to the convention center. When I entered the convention center, all I could see was the sea of people that were there. Thousands of physical therapist, physical therapist assistants, and physical therapy students in one location with the goal of learning something new. My goal was to make the most of this opportunity and attend sessions from different fields of physical therapy. I was able to attend sessions about resistance training for runners, how to make treating geriatrics “sexy”, using positive psychology, and LGBTQ+ barriers in physical therapy. I learned information that I would not have learned in the classroom and I am incredibly humbled that I was able to attend this conference. I talked to representatives from different clinics, hospitals, and vendors just to get my foot in the door. 

When CSM was officially over I got the chance to explore the city a little bit and saw some historical monuments. Overall, I can safely say this experience at CSM was probably one of my favorite experiences in my five years at Saint Louis University. I will definitely be looking forward to attending CSM in the future.

This is one of several posts featuring SLU PT Student experiences. Because of its unique format, the SLU PT program provides students the ability to travel to CSM the spring semester of their PY2 year and not miss classes. For more information about Saint Louis University's Program in Physical Therapy, please visit: https://www.slu.edu/doisy/degrees/undergraduate/physical-therapy.php.

SLU PT Alumni Spotlight - Derek Fenwick, PT, MBA, GCS, SHRM-SCP

SLU PT Alumni Spotlight - Derek Fenwick, PT, MBA, GCS, SHRM-SCP

Director of Professional Development, Infinity Rehab

Hometown: Cape Girardeau, MO
Current Town/City: Portland, OR

SLU MPT Class of 2003

Interests, Activities, Clubs, and Professional Organizations

American Physical Therapy Association: APTA Nominating Committee, Leadership Development Committee, Post-Acute Care Work Group

Oregon Physical Therapy Association: OPTA Nominating Committee, past President, Vice President, Oregon Delegate to the APTA House of Delegates

See more at https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekfenwickpt/

If you could come back to SLU and teach a class, which class would you like to teach?

Strategic Human Resources (HR) for Health Care Professionals

What was the most valuable lesson — inside or outside the classroom — you learned at SLU?

If you see work that needs to be done and no one to do it, you're probably the right person for the job. I'm not even talking about big things; it is the day-to-day opportunities that you see to do the right thing and hold the space where others won't that can have the most lasting and positive change in the world. Don't worry that you won't do it right - making the effort to do it at all is good enough.

What is your greatest professional accomplishment?

Helping to create my own dream job. I am blessed to work for an organization that takes risks and innovates to tackle big business challenges. When the need to do more to support and engage our high-performing employees became clear within our company, I worked with our Vice President of Human Resources to craft a draft job description for a Director of Professional Development role focused on turning high-potential employees into influential leaders. Together we made the business case and got it funded. Now many years later, I have had the privilege of helping to build several key programs to address the clinical, management, and leadership needs of our company, and in the process have found an exciting career path in human resources that I would have never imagined possible during my time in PT school. 

What advice do you have for students getting ready to graduate with their DPT?

There will always be a job for a PT willing to take on a leader role in health care. Health care needs more leaders with clinical backgrounds. If the opportunity for management or other leadership presents itself early in your career and you've got a curiosity about it, take a chance and do it. You will be forever changed for the positive - and so will the patients you serve.

This is one of several posts featuring SLU PT Alumni experiences. The Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy wants to recognize the exciting and innovative things our alumni are doing, here in St. Louis and around the world. For more information for and about SLU alumni experiences go to: http://www.slu.edu/alumni-and-donors/.