Thank You SLU SSM Health Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residents for Let's Talk About the Undervalued Gluteal Muscles

Thank you to the SLU SSM Health Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residents for their Let’s Talk…About the Undervalued gluteal muscles presentation to the SLU clinical education community. There were over 80 attendees to the 50-minute discussion via zoom. Pictured here Dr. Shelby Wilson, Dr. Ben Modde, and Dr. Juan Paz Delgado. Each shared a case with a relevant article and discussed how that article impacted their care of the patient.

Hosted by the SLU Program in Physical Therapy’s Clinical Education Team and moderated today by Dr. Carol Beckel, DCE; the Let’s Talk series has been a yearlong outreach to the SLU clinical education faculty to engage on numerous topics. Each is presented via zoom and attendees can earn CEUs. The next Let’s Talk presentation will be on July 19, 2022, at Noon CST with the SLU SSM Health Physical Therapy Women’s Pelvic Health Residents, Drs Brea Rhein and Alex Lanty.

The SLU-SSM Health Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency Program is an accelerated post-licensure program to advance the orthopedic skills of physical therapists. It is the only ABPTRFE accredited orthopedic physical therapy residency in Missouri. Founded and accredited in 2014-2015, this unique collaboration between Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy and SSM Health Physical Therapy currently has 3 Residents and has graduated 16 licensed physical therapists. In addition to clinical practice and teaching in the entry-level DPT program, each resident completes over 150 hours of mentoring and over 300 hours of educational experiences.

For more information on the program, visit https://www.slu.edu/doisy/degrees/ssm-residency.php or contact the Residency Program Director, Dr. Chris Sebelski at chris.sebelski@health.slu.edu.

SLU PT Student Elizabeth Liese had an Encouraging Clinical Experience at Select Physical Therapy in Greeley, Colorado

SLU PT Clinical Site Spotlight – Select Physical Therapy in Greeley, Colorado

By Elizabeth Liese (Class of 2022)

"At Select Physical Therapy, I treated a variety of simple to complex orthopedic and medical conditions with an emphasis on concussion and vestibular physical therapy. My clinical instructor, Micah Maley, taught me so much, but first and foremost, he taught me the true power of simply listening to my patients, which is especially important when working with patients who have suffered concussions or have vestibular impairments. He fostered a very safe environment for all of his patients and immediately established trust with them. These interactions demonstrated the importance of viewing my patients as humans first and patients second. We worked with several patients who had not been heard or truly listened to by previous healthcare providers; Micah handled these patients with grace and after the fact, engaged me in conversation about how sometimes the most therapeutic approach is giving your patients a chance to use their voice and to make them feel heard. 

Another area of care that Micah prioritized was patient education. He reinforced the importance of providing our patients with information to make educated decisions and encourage self-efficacy. With every patient he worked with, he took the time to have sincere conversations, providing resources- pamphlets, pictures, etc.- and explaining the pathology of their injuries/conditions as well as the trajectory of their plan of care. These interactions made it very clear how deeply Micah cares about his patients; this also translated into my experience working with him as a student. He often initiated one-on-one conversations with me to discuss the ""soft skills"" of our profession and how those are the skills that make a good clinician great; additionally, he never failed to encourage me in the moments when I needed it the most. I truly enjoyed my experience working with Micah; I notice a significant increase in my confidence as a clinician and feel more empowered to make a difference in my patients' lives while also allowing my patients to make a difference in my life. "

Micah, thank you for passing along your experience, knowledge, and advice to me. Most importantly, thank you for treating me as an equal and for constantly asking and valuing my opinion on clinical and professional matters. You taught me countless lessons that cannot be learned in a classroom and watching the way you interact with and empower your patients was inspiring. You challenged me to rise to many occasions and I feel so much more confident and prepared to be a full-time practicing clinician after working with you. Thank you for teaching me to never stop caring for every patient who walks through the clinic doors. You're the best!

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy students featuring their clinical site and their clinical instructors. The number, quality, and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU PT Program

SLU PT Student Kaitlyn Kohm had Great Guidance at Advanced Training and Rehab in Kirkwood, Missouri

SLU PT Clinical Site Spotlight - Advanced Training and Rehab Kirkwood, Missouri

By Kaitlyn Kohm (Class of 2022)

I have spent the last few months working alongside my clinical instructor and SLU alumni (Class of 2016), Chris Sorgani, DPT, as well as two other SLU DPT alum, and PTAs that taught me so much about treating and managing orthopedic conditions. During my time at Advanced Training & Rehab in Kirkwood, I really started to break out of my shell and demonstrate more confidence in my abilities as a future physical therapist. Before this clinical experience, I was pretty sure I did not see myself in an outpatient orthopedic setting due to the demanding caseload, but this clinic made me do a 180 on my attitude of where I want to practice after graduation. I really learned how to work as a team player while providing excellent patient-centered care. I formed genuine connections with my patients and significantly improved my communication skills with the guidance of these therapists. I loved how all the patients are welcomed by everyone at this clinic right as they enter the door and they all get to know the patients, even if they do not typically work with them. There was never a dull moment and I will cherish all the interactions and experiences I had here. Thank you ATR!

Chris, thank you for the wonderful experience and countless learning opportunities during my time here. Even though it didn't seem like it, I appreciated you asking me questions and putting me on the spot to further my clinical reasoning. AND thank you for answering all my questions I would throw at you.

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy students featuring their clinical site and their clinical instructors. The number, quality, and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU PT Program.