Ready? Set? GO!
Lemme see your game face .... in the library.
Looking back on the past 12 months, I can hardly believe how quickly time has flown by. In the moment (generally those moments right before practicals or finals) minutes, hours, & days seems like an eternity. Looking back on it though, it feels like just yesterday I was sitting in my first day of class with Dr. DeLeo in Foundations of Examination so nervous and excited for what was ahead of me. Honestly, when I embarked on this journey several years ago and started taking my prerequisite courses up in NY, I had no idea how challenging this first year was going to be. Many of my friends and those close to me often jokingly describe me as 'professional student.' It isn't too off base though as I have found myself engaged and interested in many things in my life and have pursued a few as possible careers. When preparing for this project I looked back on my admission statement to GW and the first line read:
“When I grow up, I want to be a SPACE PALEONTOLOGIST”
Yep, I thought to myself, that one line sums up my ethos quite well. What followed in the subsequent lines was an affirmation of my discovery and passion for my now chosen path. That path has been mighty meandering but ultimately I have found my self here. Right where I want to be. On my journey, indeed have become very good at school…or so I thought.
Read More: Year 1 Learning Plan
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My first introduction to the Physical Therapy community on a national and global stage came when I attended The American Physical Therapy Association's (APTA) National Student Conclave Conference and The Combined Sections Meeting. As a first year student, the scale of these conferences was overwhelming to say the least, however they will remain incredible touchstones for how far I have come as I was able to attend both conferences in subsequent years!
Professional Development & Life Long Learning
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The 2nd semester of first year also introduced me to what ended up being a 3 year passion that I know will continue to develop as my career does! My absolutely fascination the with human body combined with a love of precision and drawing and the excavation abilities honed as an archaeology undergrad came together beautifully in the gross anatomy.
Read about my summer internship preparing dissections for the Medical School and see some original illustrations during the process here: Adventures in Anatomy
I have continued working in the anatomy lab and functioned as the teaching assistant for Gross Anatomy in my second year. While on my clinical rotation in New York, I was also able to attend the several seminars on Medical Illustration and dissection at the New York Academy of Medicine. Below are some work samples from anatomy lab:
Ode to First Semester
By Jenni Hathaway and Cristina Romagnoli
Class of 2014, hailing from 15 states
Came into town with a hurricane and quake
Different degrees from many a college
But one common goal: filling our brains with knowledge
Introduced to the faculty during orientation
We’re constantly amazed by their expertise and dedication
Big city life was different at first
Getting stuck on the metro can be just the worst!
The class ahead encouraged involvement in service
So we jumped in early, though a bit shy and nervous
Nation’s Triathlon, pro bono, health fairs, and food drive
Our class put in time to help the community thrive
While there’s many things to do when time is free,
There’s so much to learn to become a DPT
At first palpation was outside our comfort zone
But now we can do it with nary a groan
Our Fridays are short but our Tuesdays are lengthy
Dr. Scalzitti brings Reeses, so we don’t get too cranky
Fumbling with gonis and gait belts we hadn’t a clue,
Now we handle them with ease, thanks to Dr. Deleo, Jolene, and Dhinu
We’ve spent the semester learning the depths of our profession,
Dr. Halvaksz knows her stuff, for real, she ain’t messin’
Long days on the 6th floor, long nights at Himmelfarb
No matter the location we rock athletic garb
Double the Petes and double [espresso] shots
We work hard and play hard and celebrate “c” tots
We’ve learned so much and are enjoying our classes
Some call us nerds but we prefer “intellectual badasses”
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Ethical & Legal Practice
Compliance with rules that govern practice does not fully make for an ethical therapist. Ethical and legal practice requires that you learn how to act ethically even when rules do not govern how you act. We are faced with ethical issues on a daily basis in the clinic as well as in the classroom. We learn ethics from things we observe on a daily basis and it is these critical moments that leave an imprint on our value system that goes beyond the Code of Conduct and Standards of Practice of the profession and form the basis of who you are as a professional. Below are two work samples exemplifying my work as an ethical practitioner:
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Other Projects
Apparel Design: This year I designed a new logo for the PT program's apparel order as well as a fun T-Shirt design to use as a fundraiser for the Foundation for Physical Therapy.
