Ben and I were both practicing clinicians for more than five years when we decided to pursue our tDPT in 2008. We were seeing the changes in the profession and we felt that we needed to go back and learn more if we wanted to continue serving our patients the best we could.
We were toying with the idea of eventually moving back and teaching in the Philippines.
The In-classroom tDPT program at Rutgers Newark was the best choice among the schools we considered in the area and we were not disappointed. I looked forward to going to class at the end of my work day. I was mesmerized hearing what I thought were just ideas and questions in my head being discussed in class and identified with proper terms.
I was glued to Ethics, Professionalism and was smitten by the Outcomes class which only a handful opted to take. The professors were wonderful and passionate about teaching. They were also strong advocates for the profession.
Two months after starting school I found out I was pregnant with our first child. As my knowledge was increasing, so was my belly. 🤷🏻♀️ I gave birth in the summer and went back a few weeks later for the fall semester because I thought “I have a month to recover, I’ll be fine😱.” Showed my ignorance on Motherhood at that time. By the time we graduated, Christian was 9 months and I marched during graduation 6 weeks pregnant with our daughter Chelsea.😅
Earning my Doctorate degree humbled me because it showed how little I knew. More than anything, it gave me the courage to be an advocate for my patients and profession as we decided to take the more challenging responsibility of being practice owners of Life in Motion PT.
I am grateful to the people around me especially my husband Ben who made it his commitment to share in my endeavors and to my mom who helps out with everything else that I cannot do in the house on a daily basis.
Being an Alumni of the number 1 college in the United States for Health Professions is a privilege which comes with great responsibility. I am humbled to be honored with such an award and I can only pray that God continues to guide me as I model and shepherd how it is to be a Doctor of Physical Therapy to my colleagues, students and the global community.
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