Health Sciences Honors Program Students Gain Insight to Careers in Physical Therapy

On March 31, Dr. Debbie Dittman Zagray ’86 Physical Therapist and Director of Clinical Education at Rasmussen University (sister of Julie Dittman Tonini ’85 and Lori Dittman Lavelle ’90), visited Saint Joseph Academy to speak with Health Science Honors Program (HSHP) students about the Physical Therapy (PT) profession.
 Thirty-five students learned from Dr. Zagray as she explained popular undergraduate degrees, how to prepare yourself for PT school, and the various careers within the physical therapy field.
 
The goal of her visit was to provide students in the HSHP with a knowledge and understanding of the complexity of physical therapy. She explained that Physical Therapists can work in home health, public health, in-patient, outpatient and sports settings. Students learned about the various aspects of physical therapy, the importance of preventative care and the different ways a physical therapist treats and diagnoses patients. Dr. Zagray encouraged students interested in a PT career to shadow and explore various work environments and to start shadowing sooner than later.
 
Dr. Zagray said, “Being well rounded, active in the community, volunteering and shadowing in healthcare environments will help you stand out.” She shared that as a student at the Academy, she benefited greatly from the shadowing program. She was able to gain first-hand exposure and experience that strengthened her interest in the PT profession and allowed her to confidently choose a major and career that’s right for her.
 
Saint Joseph Academy brings in guest speakers from a wide variety of health professions to educate HSHP students. These speakers, like Dr. Zagray, help students to understand an array of health science disciplines and potential areas of study in their post-secondary education. Students have the opportunity to learn more as speakers explain their careers and explore if a certain path is right for them. 
 
Dr. Zagray was one of the founding professors who developed the PT school at Rasmussen University. She is currently the Director of Clinical Education at Rasmussen University.
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