Insights from the Field: Shannon Brown, DPT23, on Navigating DPT Clinical Education Experiences
Explore Brown's insights and advice as we dive into her transformative journey through clinical education.
Get an insider's perspective on clinical experiences from a graduate of Tufts' Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. From urban Brooklyn to scenic Sonoma, Shannon Brown, DPT23, highlights key lessons learned, memorable patient interactions, and valuable advice for future DPT students.
Where did you complete your clinical placements?
"I had two outpatient clinical rotations in Brooklyn, NY, and my third clinical rotation was an inpatient rotation in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) in Sonoma, CA."
What were some of the highlights of your clinical education experiences?
"Some of the highlights of my clinical rotation were the patients I treated. I happened to work a lot with older adults in my outpatient and inpatient rotations, and they were so generous and supportive of me as a student; and they were also so appreciative of the care I gave them. Another highlight was my Sonoma clinical rotation, where I now work as a PT! I had a great CI to whom I could direct any question, and the PT, OT, and nursing staff at the site were so welcoming. It was a great learning environment, and I'm happy to call them my colleagues now. Plus, I was in wine country, so that was definitely a highlight!"
How did the Tufts DPT program prepare you for your clinical experiences?
"Beyond the clinical skills, the emphasis in the Tufts DPT program on building strong patient-therapist relationships helped me to relate to all different types of people in my clinical rotations, across cultures, ages, and life experiences, and to use those connections to positively impact my patients' health and wellbeing. The emphasis in the program is on relating to and treating the person, not just focusing on their bum knee, sprained ankle, or whatever other physical impairment they might have."
Did you have any memorable patient interactions or cases?
"One funny and rewarding patient experience was working with a patient living with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) who had contracted COVID-19 and was admitted to the SNF I was in for my third clinical. At his initial evaluation he couldn't even sit up without significant assistance. Over the 15 weeks of my clinical, I helped him regain strength, balance, coordination, and function. He improved so much that one day toward the end of my clinical, when I cued him to increase his walking speed in the hallway, he actually started running (much to my surprise and momentary panic)! I work with him now on maintenance therapy, and we had a good laugh about it together just the other day."
How did your clinical education contribute to your professional growth and development as a future physical therapist?
"Well, my last clinical site offered me a job, and I moved to California, so it definitely contributed (and is contributing) to my growth and development! My prior outpatient rotations helped me learn to communicate with patients about their care in order to gain their trust and buy-in. They also taught me that sometimes it's better to pull back on the exercise therapy in order to spend time talking with the patient about their issues, goals, and obstacles so that they can move forward in the healing process."
What advice would you give to current and prospective DPT students regarding clinical rotations?
"Ask all the questions—it's a learning experience! Don't be afraid to admit you need more experience on a particular technique or that you don't understand something. It's in your and your patients' best interests for you to gain as much information, skill, and confidence as possible so that when you start your first job you can hit the ground running."
Looking back, what are some key takeaways or lessons learned that you will carry with you into your future career as a physical therapist?
"People are more than their problem or disease. Connect with people, and that's where the magic happens: you'll see people improve who didn't think they would ever be out of pain or ever get back to their prior level of functioning. You will see people at their lowest and most vulnerable point, and it's a privilege to be a part of a team that helps move them to a better place."
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