April 2010

Stuff, Stuff, and More Stuff

  Since the semester is slowly coming to a close (still a few more weeks until finals), every week seems pretty crazy with group assignments, projects, presentations, and quizzes.  Also, since school isn’t free, we’re all in the middle of trying to get our Financial Aid stuff in order.  Most of us use subsidized, unsubsidized, and Graduate PLUS loans to pay for school and stay alive, and each year we have to re-fill out information and come to terms that we’ll be paying this off for many years to come (plus interest, of course. . . I wouldn’t want it any other way, right?) 

For a Neuromanagement assignment, 2 groups of 4-5 students were assigned to provide Physical Therapy to a volunteer patient (the majority were current/old patients from our faculty) with a neurological disorder (TBI, stroke, SCI, to name a few). For each patient, there were 2 groups, as this picture depicts, so as to have an oral discussion from a faculty "neuro panel" to talk about the different ways each group approached their particular patient.

  Although I don’t know much about the new bill President Obama passed recently about loans and education, what it means right now is the process is a little slower since the Financial Aid Office here is trying to transition from us “getting” our loans from our own lenders (mainly banks, such as Wells Fargo, US Bank, etc) to a centralized lender.  Not a big deal or anything, just new.  If only school was free.

Here we are posing right before the Easter Egg Hunt. Although Spencer made a quick dash towards the eggs, he wasn't quite sure what to do once he got to them.

  Other than that, not too much going on.  Easter, of course, was fun with Spencer.  He had a blast collecting Easter eggs at a park in the morning, painting eggs in the afternoon, and getting lots of candy the next morning.  We even had gotten that Friday off from school.  It was a fun weekend.

Here's a picture of the baby shower for one of our classmates, Dani. She's pretty close to her due date, but I think she's hoping to make it until finals. For those curious about our class, of the 54 students, 12 are married, 3 are currently engaged, 4 of us have kids (5 kids in total), and one soon-to-be mother. Good luck Dani.

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April 2010

While giving a tour a few weeks ago to a group of prospective students from Idaho, I was asked a great question:  Since Regis University is more expensive when compared to an in-state tuition school I’m looking at, what makes it so great?  Or in other words, as a future graduate from Regis, will l be more marketable in the work force? 

I talked to a few professors about this topic, and their immediate response was, “Absolutely you’ll be more marketable.”  For the sake of time, I’ll summarize (in good ole’ bullet-points) their general responses.  (As you read these, don’t think I’m saying other schools don’t have aspects of these things.  These are just great things of Regis that are worth considering.)

• As a Regis DPT student, you have many opportunities throughout the curriculum to observe many specialties.
  • Since most faculty members are well respected specialists, you get lots of exposure to their expertise during lectures, labs, and even one on one discussions.
    • Examples:  Wound care, Cardiovascular PT, Indwelling EMG/NCV, orthotics, LOTS of manual therapy (especially with the spine and shoulder), LOTS of neuro-management, LOTS of pediatrics
• Last semester of coursework includes specialties
  • Although we’re not there yet, past classes have included women’s health, advanced manual therapy, pediatrics, Spanish, world health, geriatrics (you get to take two of  the offered classes)
• This is important because it may give you an idea of what you want to specialize in earlier; plus it is great as a foundational tool when you start working.
• During our last semester of coursework, we have a business management course in which we are taught how to be more marketable and to magnify our strengths in the clinic and to a potential employer
• The world of therapy knows about Regis, the Jesuit tradition, and many of the faculty
  • People know that Regis has a mission about service learning and encouraging us to be a well-rounded professional, not just a great clinician.
  • Because of the Jesuit Tradition, there are opportunities to go abroad and provide health service
    • Locations such as Mexico, Ethiopia, and Nicaragua
• Don’t want to go abroad?  There are countless opportunities just on campus to provide service and leadership
  • DPT Student Government positions, Student Ambassadors, or help with different projects going on around campus or through the APTA
  • You get exposure to research
    • During semester 3, you get assigned into a group of classmates (6-8) with a specific focus of therapy and a faculty advisor to help you along the way.
    • You’ll have subjects to test, statistics to run 😦 , and discussions to write.

 At the end of the day, there are a lot of things money just can’t buy.  I am enjoying the experiences here at Regis and am satisfied with the program.  It’s far from perfect, of course, but I am happy here.  They try to help prepare us to be great practitioners. 

As I mentioned during this entry about "student ambassadors," here's a picture of the ambassadors from my class (excluding Kari. . sorry, I couldn't find you after class). We primarily give tours to prospective students. It's not too bad being the only guy with a bunch of pretty ladies. Lucky me. . . right? Or better yet, how about lucky them 🙂 You decide.

Colorado weather is crazy. Although today was close to 70 degrees, this picture demonstrates that spring snow is a reality. Spencer and I had fun building a snow fort.

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