Calling Physical Therapists!

I took Athletic Training and Physical Therapy in ROP in HS. We worked under the supervision on the Head Athletic Trainer at the HS and assisted with all of the school's sports. It was an amazing experience. I did a little more in college but then my life took me in another direction.

My friends daughter is now in her senior year of HS. Last summer she volunteered in the occupational therapy department at a local hospital. They had a special program for students that were interested in that field where she rotated to various positions to get a feel for the job.

Your son should definitely call around. Businesses seem to LOVE volunteers.

H.,

I volunteered at our local hospital in the PT department. They allowed me to place the TEMs and heat packs and ice packs. I watched as people did their exercises and how the PT interacted with the patient.

Have him contact the local hospital - heck there are even PT businesses out there and ask if he can volunteer in their office.

Schools that are GREAT for PT? Pepperdine, UC San Diego, Cal State Northridge, Emory and Elon..he has a LOT of choices!!
Good luck!

I would check with a teaching hospital and see if they have any programs like that.

I'm a PT in Fort Worth. When I was in college, I just went to a couple of local rehabs and therapy clinics and asked about coming in to volunteer or any possible tech/aide positions. There was one outpatient clinic I got to go observe a couple of times. Honestly, I hated it - I was bored and thought to myself "oh no I have wasted 3 years of college and am applying to a grad school to do something I hate". However, I then got in touch with the rehab unit at the local hospital where I attended college and went in every morning that summer for several hours to observe. I loved that. I was able to observe treatments, and even help occasionally (hold equipment for therapists or move wheelchairs with them as they walked a patient. I would also clean mats and stuff like that, but it was fun to be involved. I say that so if your son goes one place and hates it, make sure he tries a variety of settings. Most nursing homes will have therapist on staff if he wants to observe some exercise classes with the elderly. Also, if he gets in touch with home health agencies he might be able to do a "ride along" and observe (home health is a whole different world!). I would think almost any hospital or outpatient clinic will have procedures in place for volunteers. Keep in mind, he may have to do some leg work ahead of time. I work for Cook Childrens and volunteers actually have to go through some training and background checks to guarantee safety and understanding of privacy/HIPPAA before observing actual patients. So don't get discouraged if it takes some time, that's part of the process. It's worth it in the end- you learn alot, you get an idea of what kinds of area/patient populations you enjoy or DON'T enjoy, and it does look good on applications. That rehab aide I volunteered for all summer? Yeah, they hired me as a rehab tech when the school year started back up and worked there for more than 2 years as I got ready to apply to therapy school, and periodically on weekends when I first started school. They also hired me my first year out of PT school and my first job was at that same hospital, working alongside some of the same therapists I had worked under as a rehab aide. There are many clinics in Arlington as well as several hospitals, so he shouldn't have to travel far to find some great opportunities!

Updated

I'm a PT in Fort Worth. When I was in college, I just went to a couple of local rehabs and therapy clinics and asked about coming in to volunteer or any possible tech/aide positions. There was one outpatient clinic I got to go observe a couple of times. Honestly, I hated it - I was bored and thought to myself "oh no I have wasted 3 years of college and am applying to a grad school to do something I hate". However, I then got in touch with the rehab unit at the local hospital where I attended college and went in every morning that summer for several hours to observe. I loved that. I was able to observe treatments, and even help occasionally (hold equipment for therapists or move wheelchairs with them as they walked a patient. I would also clean mats and stuff like that, but it was fun to be involved. I say that so if your son goes one place and hates it, make sure he tries a variety of settings. Most nursing homes will have therapist on staff if he wants to observe some exercise classes with the elderly. Also, if he gets in touch with home health agencies he might be able to do a "ride along" and observe (home health is a whole different world!). I would think almost any hospital or outpatient clinic will have procedures in place for volunteers. Keep in mind, he may have to do some leg work ahead of time. I work for Cook Childrens and volunteers actually have to go through some training and background checks to guarantee safety and understanding of privacy/HIPPAA before observing actual patients. So don't get discouraged if it takes some time, that's part of the process. It's worth it in the end- you learn alot, you get an idea of what kinds of area/patient populations you enjoy or DON'T enjoy, and it does look good on applications. That rehab aide I volunteered for all summer? Yeah, they hired me as a rehab tech when the school year started back up and worked there for more than 2 years as I got ready to apply to therapy school, and periodically on weekends when I first started school. They also hired me my first year out of PT school and my first job was at that same hospital, working alongside some of the same therapists I had worked under as a rehab aide. There are many clinics in Arlington as well as several hospitals, so he shouldn't have to travel far to find some great opportunities!