October 2010

The “school” part of the semester is officially over.  Electives were great.  The big “Business Management” presentation went alright; our final paper ended up being over 100 pages long (including appendices, of course).  Now, we all start our next clinical on Monday.  I’ll be out in Utah at a rural setting for the next 12 weeks, doing outpatient, inpatient, a little bit of school and even some home health physical therapy.  We’ll see how all that goes.

Here is my research group and faculty advisor, Wendy. We're trying to get our paper done, which includes re-running a bunch of stats and writing conclusions based on our findings. . . . So, we decided to treat ourselves to dinner to celebrate our work together.

I have mentioned this in previous blogs, but I want to take a side-track and re-emphasize the numerous amounts of service opportunities here at Regis outside of school.  I asked two classmates, Ryan and Rob, to share their thoughts on the activities that they do.  Ryan has been part of helping with the athletics department at Arrupe High School down the street from Regis, whereas Rob was the Fun Run Committee chair for our class and helped head up the Regis 5K/10K Fun Run (sponsored by the PT school) the last few years. 

Here are Ryan’s thoughts:

“Although it has been roughly 7 years since I played my last high school basketball game, I still remember how much I loved it and its importance in my life at the time. There were a lot of things that had to happen to make those experiences possible. The most notable piece of this puzzle was the proper management of the bilateral patellar tendonitis that I battled throughout my entire senior season. Fortunately, before the season had begun, an orthopaedic surgeon’s PA taught me some basic management tips to get through the season. While at times I still had to play through some discomfort, I know that I wouldn’t have played at all without his help. I understand the frustration of playing hurt, and living somewhat hurt for that matter. If I had not had affordable access to healthcare, I may not have had the pleasure of knocking my rival high school out of post-season contention or earning academic all state honors that season. The burning question I have is why didn’t anyone mention physical therapy?

Participating under the guidance of Dr. Keirns along with several classmates at Arrupe Jesuit High School has allowed me to help those that are in my old shoes. It is worth noting that these students face other financial challenges. Many of the recipients of this service do not have the basic insurance that I grew up with. Furthermore, 70% of Arrupe’s students qualify for the federal free/reduced lunch program. This opportunity has also been enriching on a cultural level as Arrupe has a Latino population approaching 90%. While I did grow up with an appreciation for Latinos and their culture, that was not the motivating force behind my involvement, but rather an added bonus. This has proven to be an exciting way for me to give back to this community as opposed to the ESL classes I used to run. One thing that has held constant is that the men and women from every team at Arrupe have been courteous and grateful of our services. Needless to say, the interaction with the student athletes has been a bright spot.

The athletes are in a fun part of their lives right now with great futures ahead. As Arrupe is a small school, many of the athletes play multiple sports. Our group of volunteers has observed the athletes’ transition from fall to winter to spring sports. As a result, Regis students have been able to build rapport with the athletes. However, transitioning between sports without an off-season can exacerbate minor and nagging injuries. For this reason, access to healthcare is even more important for these athletes. Furthermore, in providing this service, the athletes may also benefit from having help to prevent minor injuries from developing into longer lasting injuries that could have negative effects later in life. As a matter of fact, athletes have approached us with injuries that they have been nursing for years. With our help, the athletes will be able to prevent some injuries from occurring and will also have better outcomes with any injuries that they do sustain or have already dealt with for a long time.

Many of the students in our DPT program chose to pursue physical therapy as a result of sustaining sports injuries. Who better to inspire the athletes of Arrupe to be better athletes and more importantly better students?  I believe that with our continued involvement, we may inspire these athletes to not only strive for higher education, but perhaps for medical careers as well. All in all, it is certainly a privilege to participate in this service learning opportunity. I enjoy providing the services to the students and know that I am making a positive impact in their lives. Conversely, the athletes have made an impact in my life, and not just from the standpoint of providing an enriching experience. Being able to practice the skills I have learned in class has helped me to become a better developing physical therapist. This added practice is a great supplement to seeing Dr. Keirns in action. His exemplary demonstrations and prodding questions are integral to points of emphasis during teaching moments. While Dr. Keirns is a great mentor to the students, there is also something to be said for the mentoring opportunities among the different classes of students. It is great to see a mentorship hierarchy developed in which I may mentor the younger classes and they in turn can mentor the classes below them and of course, the athletes. This provides all participants with an excellent role to play in a mentorship team. Furthermore, younger classes will see from the advanced students just how they may develop in the future. Younger classes may even become motivated to become even better than their student mentors. 

Overall, this is a great opportunity to be involved with. It is an excellent opportunity to foster personal development as a PT as well as a supporter of social justice. I am excited to see what our new incoming students will do to promote this service learning opportunity even further. “          -Ryan McNeil

Here is what Rob had to say about his experiences with the Fun Run:

Here, a bunch of classmates after the Regis Fun Run. After the race, there was a barbeque and live music. All the proceeds went to a local retirement center.

“I believe the Regis Fun Run is a true representation of social justice combined with physical therapy outreach into the community.  We are addressing an issue where many elderly individuals don’t have the means to support themselves in assisted living facilities.  As in many years past, we supported the Argyle Foundation, a local assisted living facility where these social justice issues are prevalent.  The Fun Run profits go to these individuals to buy medication, room and board, or other equipment they might need.  In addition, it is a great promotion for physical activity, and stresses the importance of exercise on a regular basis.  We incorporate this message of healthy living to all participants in the race. 

This year I had the honor of serving as the Fun Run Race Chair.  It was an opportunity I had to develop leadership skills, learn the “ins and outs” of a community race, and got to support members of our society through the Argyle Foundation.  There were a several challenges in determining the best method of organizing volunteers, what equipment was needed and where, and communicating with the city to put on the event.  It was very rewarding on Sept. 25^th when all of the runners, walkers, and individuals with disabilities lined up side by side to participate in the run.  We even had the blessing to observe an individual with a long term disability take her first steps in many years across our finish line.  This is what the Regis Fun Run represents.”                 -Rob

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July 2010

Just a few weeks left in this clinical.  As part of the requirements, all of us are required to give an in-service to the faculty/staff at the facilities we are working at.  My presentation is supposed to be about 45 minutes on the topic of fibromyalgia and the implications for Physical Therapy. . . . Doesn’t it sound riveting?

Here Spencer poses on a warm Sunday afternoon watering my soon-to-be 7 foot sunflowers. Grown from seed, too.

Life has been crazy since my last entry.  My birthday was the 18^th of May, Ashley’s the 29^th, and Spencer’s the 4^th of June.  Lots of presents and lots of cake.  It was fun, but it’s nice to finally be off the withdrawal effects of sugar.

Spencer was really excited about me opening my presents. He himself picked out the hat on my head and the remote control truck in one of the boxes. I'm pretty sure he had himself in mind when he picked that one out.

A few months ago, I mentioned how Jeff and Katie went to Mexico for a service learning opportunity.  While eating my Lucky Charms a few weeks ago, it occurred to me that I really didn’t give them or their trip justice.  To make some sort of amends, I asked Jeff to write about his experiences in Mexico.  If I am not mistaken, the following entry is the reflection he shared with the school during their presentation about their trip.  Thanks Jeff.

This trip means many things to different people. Even with our presentation today, the growth and connections we have made pales in comparison to anything we can tell you – or show you. However, I think we have shown you a little of why we went, whom we met and how we changed and, perhaps, how we want to continue changing.

Good ole' Jeff

I think a lot of us have heard that the destination in a journey isn’t as important as the journey itself. This is because the questions we ask ourselves in an attempt to understand why we are on it, whom we will take and meet, and how we will travel it defines the experience and, on a personal level, defines who we are. So let’s start asking these questions:

Why?  Why Mexico and why Nueva Rosita- what did we hope to achieve?

To bridge the gap between cultural communities.

Continue a long standing relationship with the people of Nueva Rosita.

To become more actively involved as people within a global community.

These reasons represent a long standing relationship that we have become part of through our involvement with this program. It also emphasizes that the act of developing social awareness and immersing ourselves in service is just one component of why this trip was so powerful .  The other, I have come to believe, is that the reason we decided to go on this trip wasn’t to just provide a service and to create bonds – it was to expose and embrace common bonds. Through this we were enabled to pursue different, deeper aspects of relationships and come to understand the true nature of what a global family is. This trip to Mexico is about creating relationships and jointly working towards empowering one another and planting the seeds that drive change.

That’s what I think at least – but as I told all of you, that to truly understand what this trip means is to ask a much deeper question from each of us. It’s not the trip that means so much – it’s the people we met and connected with. So, what do the people of Nueva Rosita mean to us?

One of the most outstanding experiences I had in Mexico was the morning we left. I might stretch the truth to say that none of us could have ever thought that we could have ever developed a deep relationship with anyone in Nueva Rosita in a week’s time – especially considering some of student’s limited Spanish speaking skills – myself included.  However, what I saw and felt shocked me.

We met that morning at the Chapel. The sun had just barely risen over the horizon and there was a cool breeze. I had been awake since 3am in part because I was anxious and in part because all of the roosters in the ejido seemed to congregate outside of my window and I shared a room with two very boisterous sleepers. Perhaps it was because I was delirious from lack of sleep, but my mind was sharp and dulled at the same time. I was intensely focused, but every-time I tried to grab at a thought or feeling it seemed to escape me. As we sat there waiting for the pharmacy students to arrive, each of us stood next to our respective family – and while we stood there I couldn’t tell if we stood close for protection against the cold or because we were seeking a deeper comfort. When someone spoke, it was discrete and muffled, almost secretive. Some part of me thought that the somber mood was appropriate because it reflected our pending departure. In each of us, the quiet magnified the raging thoughts and feelings that dominated our minds and hearts. I saw it in the down-cast eyes and the shuffling feet – a nervous energy grounded in an unwillingness to accept what we couldn’t. When it came time to leave, we did so with heavy hearts. We dwindled into the vans and left – faces were plastered to the windows and with tears in their eyes. If there was any experience that shattered my own expectations for this trip – that was it. I was left – lost and overwhelmed.

I have participated in immersion programs in the past because I wanted to be part of something good, something greater than myself. What I have consistently battled with is a fear that there is possibility that what I do would make no difference or that the differences I do make are inconsequential. So, I think – in the end – I needed a tangible experience to establish my individual role in a global community and to find an answer as to how I can continue my service personally while finding a deeper connection with those I serve. I found it on this trip – and a lot more.

I think that the ‘why’s we ask ourselves’ are grounded in attempt to qualify our choices – to give them meaning. For me, the ‘why’ was because I wanted to be a leader and I wanted to be able to set a standard. I wanted to promote social justice and live my life in dedication to others. I wanted to be able to live in accordance with my own values. These are still my own goals and I think they were emphasized during this trip. However, I can’t help to go back to the day of our departure – and I came to recognize that it wasn’t my goals that were important – my own ‘why’s’ weren’t important. If this trip was about ‘bridging the gap’ of culture, stereotype and established beliefs –  this couldn’t have been done without stepping outside of myself and perceiving the world through someone else’s eyes and dreams, opening myself to someone else’s life. This is what this trip has offered me, all of us – perspective.

I have read that those we serve and those we serve with change us – and by enacting change in the lives of others we can find the potential to change ourselves. I think this is true, but I would add that the act of changing others requires a foundational connection. Why we decided to go on this trip, the goals and expectations we set, our experiences were all based on a connection to an ejido that has been a part of this community for many years. Through our participation in this journey we haven’t just continued a tradition we have become a part of THEIR community as well. Through it all, I think the best way we can share our experiences, to express ‘why’ this trip was so important, and what it all means is to understand our pursuit of deep, thoughtful relationships that stand the test of cultural differences, distance, language, and stereotype – in other words, to understand why it was so important to us, is to understand our own perspective of what a family and interconnection is; and one of the greatest lessons I have learned, is that there are others out there who will embrace us with open arms – as a family.

As my final thought: In an effort to continue this journey in our lives – we will continue to question, we will continue to challenge ourselves and we will push others to do the same, while never forgetting our family in Mexico and recognizing our role as members of a greater global community.

Here’s a blurb from Katie and her experiences in Mexico:

“Every year Regis spends Spring Break sending a few students to Mexico for a service learning immersion trip.  I have been lucky and have been able to go 2 years in a row.  The group is usually a mix of Physical Therapy, Nursing, Pharmacy, and undergraduate students that work on a long time project of the small ranching community’s Community Center and making home visits to families in the community trying to address any appropriate medical needs.  As health care students we put on Health fairs for the kids and adults in the community and visit health care facilities in the larger nearby city. As a first year I loved getting to know a few 2nd year students, seeing what they knew that I had yet to learn.  As a 2nd year student, home care visits were clinical opportunities to evaluate and treat patients with faculty members giving one on one feedback.  I loved that in Mexico I was able to get to know my classmates and professors in a different way and on a more personal level.  My lack of Spanish vocabulary was a huge anxiety factor for me…I was anxious going, but I learned early in the trip and more the 2nd year around that you can communicate quite a bit with body language, a pocket dictionary, and a pathetic attempt at pronunciation.  I found my Spanish skills only got me to the level of a three year old.  I loved the people in Mexico so much.  I learned to try new things, and laugh at my progress.  I came to love the family I lived with.  I felt so connected even in a strange place and was able to grow professionally, socially, emotionally and spiritually.  My experiences in Mexico were some of my favorite moments at Regis.”

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March 2010

Spring break for me was spent here in Denver with Ashley, Spencer and Daisy.  From playing at parks to going on runs, we had a great time.  A lot of my class headed home for the break or up into the mountains for some skiing/snowboarding, whereas two particular classmates, Katie and Jeff, had a somewhat different experience.

Jeff and Katie (both classmates), who went on the Mexico trip last year, were group leaders this year and mentored students from the class of 2012. Among the many things they did included some house visits for Physical Therapy and two health fairs during the week.

They, along with a few professors and students from other classes, travelled down to a small town in Mexico for a service learning project.  They conducted two health clinics and made house visits to do physical therapy and exercise teaching to residents of the community.  Although they came to school today (they arrived back yesterday morning) looking pretty tired, I know they both really enjoyed the experience. 

As I’ve said in the past (or in case I haven’t, I’ll say it now), Regis University has a lot of opportunities for providing service; it is a big emphasis of our program, and you can even do it during spring break.   

Here's a picture of some classmates enjoying the beautiful mountains of Denver. A lot of my classmates enjoy snowboarding/skiing on the weekends or whenever there is a break.

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October 2009

Well, we’re back into the classroom, and that includes long hours of lectures, labs, article reading, and all the planning involved with when this assignment is due or when that quiz will be held. I’ll spare you the details, but for those interested, year 2 (which we’ve just started) involves A LOT more article reading than year 1. And I’m not referring to articles from mainstream magazines; these are all from academic sources, which mean some are more interesting than others. The positive thing is that I’m starting to actually understand these articles. But that’s a whole different topic there.

In the midst of the above battles, our program is unique in that we have EVERY (all caps for emphasis) Wednesday morning off. Other programs may have a different schedule, but I love having that morning to catch up on homework, study, and if I’m being truly honest, put homework aside for a bit and do other stuff.

The following pictures, which were taken last Wednesday and this Wednesday, show a few things that I find myself doing on those mornings off. The pictures also demonstrate the crazy weather patterns of Denver that I’m becoming familiar to.

A great Wednesday morning for a hike in the mountains to see the leaves change colors.

A week later from photo 1, really foggy outside, Spencer all bundled up to go in his jogging stroller for a morning run.

First snow fall of the season.

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, Service Learning is a big component of our program. Each semester, we’re given different opportunities to go into the community and provide at least 10 hours of service, usually health-related. Here are some pictures of our project. About 12 of us went to a local high school and created a health fair for students to participate in during “report card night.” Students would go around to the stations and learn about different aspects of their health. Our booth, for example, focused on “Health Literacy,” specifically blood pressure, vision, and heart rate. Go Service Learning.

My group's platform poster about "Health Literacy."

The members of my class who were at the fair, posing for a photo at the end of the night.

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August 2009

There’s a reason why a tough guy like “Buffalo” Bill lived and was buried here in Denver, CO . . . . only people like him didn’t mind the crazy weather patterns. Allow me to share what I mean with these photos of shattered dreams. The first picture, Exhibit A, is taken sometime in June when my sunflowers began to grow. Such fond memories.

Exhibit A: Our sunflowers starting to grow

Exhibit B shows the magnificent plants flourishing in the beautiful sun of Denver. We had been nourishing them, watering them, singing to them, and all, as you shall see, for naught.

Exhibit B: The sunflowers almost as tall as me!

Just a few weeks ago, a storm out of nowhere hit town. Some weathermen said it brought a Class 2 Hurricane. I can’t confirm or deny that; all I know is that at approximately 9:42 PM, with all power out, hail, wind, and rain came down and destroyed my SUNFLOWERS and the flowers around it. Due to the graphic scene of demolished sunflowers, Regis chose not to show the picture. Luckily for me, no windows were broken. Other people were not as fortunate. Trees were uprooted; windows were broken; paint was chipped off. It was pretty crazy.

But, enough of that talk. It’s bringing up buried emotions. Once finals were over, I, like many classmates, headed back home to recuperate before our first clinical experience, which will start on the 24th of this month. We had fun working in our parents’ yards, 4-wheeling, picking raspberries, and just hanging out (as much as possible when a 2 year old is involved).

Having fun on the 4-wheeler

Riding the barrel train at a local fair. . . I love being squished.

It has been really nice to have a break, even more so because between Spring and Summer semester, there was just 1 week of no classes. It was hard to come back and be in a classroom during the summer, but, surprisingly, Service Learning made it a little more bearable. As part of the DPT program here, we give 10 hours of service each semester, which is unique to Regis. This summer has been especially memorable because many of us helped out with the Denver Parks & Recreation, which coordinate activities with physically and mentally handicapped individuals. Classmates helped with water-skiing, karate, biking, softball, and tennis. A lot of us helped out with a Saturday activity full of games, arts and crafts. I was part of the canoeing group. For that activity, I’d be the engine at the back of the canoe and an individual would sit in the front as we’d paddle around Sloan’s Lake. It was a blast.

4 of us at a community dance ("Summer Luau") we helped set up for community members with special needs

Getting ready to go canoeing!!

Spencer and me and Daisy on the canoe.

It’s a little overwhelming to think we’ll be in our first clinical experience in less than 2 weeks. But, it definitely will beat tests, textbooks, and lectures. We’ll see if I’ll be singing a different tune at the end of the 6 week experience.

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