Like many clinicians, I decided to pursue the field of physical therapy for a few personal reasons. After sustaining a shoulder injury that sidelined me from softball during the winter of my sophomore year of high school, I became interested in physical therapy as it quickly helped me return to the sport I loved. Around that time I began to think more about the field in general.
My grandfather who had a stroke before I was alive had always attributed his ability to walk again to the dedication of the physical therapists he had while he was recovering. As I completed my own rehab for my shoulder, I contemplated the profound impact these therapists had on my grandfather’s life; this was an impact so great that he was still talking about it eighteen years after the fact. Despite being enrolled in the Finance and Business Academy at Gloucester County Institute of Technology, I decided at that time that I wanted to pursue a career in physical therapy. The idea of helping people achieve mobility and function they previously thought was out of reach was inspiring to me.
In 2019 I was completing my third and final year of physical therapy school at the University of the Sciences. As part of the curriculum and graduation requirements, we had to complete four rotations in various clinical settings. I realized that if I wanted to provide a high quality of care and make a true difference in the lives of my patients, I needed to find a company that saw value in one on one care, going above and beyond for their patients, and valued out of the box thinking. I believed the best way of finding this was seeking experiences with privately owned, small companies. I completed three out of these four rotations at various privately owned outpatient clinics in South Jersey. My last rotation was at 3 Dimensional Physical Therapy in Cherry Hill, with Anthony Perrone as my instructor.
This rotation began in October of 2019, only two months after the Cherry Hill clinic opened its doors. For four months, I spent countless hours learning new physical therapy skills, gaining confidence as a clinician, and just getting to know the people who made 3DPT a community. A really unique aspect of this rotation was getting to witness this clinic be built from the ground up. Unlike any of my friends at other clinics, I was going on marketing calls, discussing the trials and triumphs of a new business, and witnessing everyday decisions from a partner’s perspective.
I graduated from University of Sciences in the spring of 2020, but COVID -19 threw a wrench in my plans that March. As a direct result of the pandemic, 3DPT was not in a position to hire me at that time. I was disappointed as I knew this was the type of company I wanted to build my career with, but knew there would likely be opportunities in the future to return.
I moved to Philadelphia and took a job in an outpatient clinic there. I hold my time working in Philly with such value. I spent my first year as a clinician there and was exposed to many successes, failures, and learning experiences. The other therapists at this job provided me with invaluable training that I still use to this day. But despite having such a positive experience my first year, I knew deep down that 3DPT was home for me.
In December 2021 I returned to 3DPT as a full time therapist in our Cherry Hill office. Stepping back into the office that rounded out my time as a student therapist was very rewarding for me. I came back more confident and eager to continue to learn. From the moment I returned, Anthony and Chuck began pitching me learning experiences and mentoring me. In less than a year, I knew I wanted to pursue a partnership with 3DPT. I feel very passionate about opening my own clinic as I’ll be able to help more patients reach their goals and provide opportunities for people who are in the same positions I used to be.
The reason I initially chose 3 Dimensional Physical Therapy as a student was for the core values they exemplify. Now, I’m choosing to open my own location and enter a partnership with the company for those very same reasons. I can’t wait to be immersed in the Cinnaminson community and continue to exemplify these values to the people I encounter everyday!
Categorized as: Articles