Physical Therapy Student Association
Student Spotlights
Name: Christopher Odell
Cohort: Class of 2019
Hometown: Pacific Grove, CA
Why do you want to become a physical therapist?
I want to become a PT because of the impact I can make on people’s lives, whether it be a young athlete, aspiring professional, or a mother of three kids. Each patient that will receive my care brings a unique story and it is those people who live and work their hardest to accomplish daily goals that give me my drive. Being able to guide these individual’s plan of care is a rewarding job because of the mutual respect and trust. As a PT we don't just help, we send our patients away with the tools to help themselves.
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What has been your favorite experience so far as a DPT student at CSULB?
This is a tough question for me. The first and second summer session had to be the most fun. Meeting Peggy Moyer and surviving her Anatomy class while being challenged to think at a higher level, bonding with my cohort, and planning a trip together to celebrate the ending of the first semester had to be the most fun.
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years I see myself with a family, as a practicing PT. I hope to practice alongside my twin brother who is also becoming a PT… While opening a brewery.
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Any advice for students interested in going to PT school?
Hard work goes a long way, the road to success is not marked by the destination but by the path you travel. Remember that everyone is unique and has their own personal strengths and weaknesses. Where one student realizes their greatest success you may face your greatest challenge, and what defines you is how you respond to that challenge. Figure out how you learn the best, and practice becoming efficient before getting to PT school because that is a lifelong skills that will make you successful.
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How can interested students get in contact with you if they have questions?
You can email me with any questions at codell12@gmail.com
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Name: Katrina Camus
Cohort: Class of 2018
Hometown: West Hills, CA
Why do you want to become a physical therapist?
I have always been interested in the field of medicine, but physical therapy has always appealed to me because of the relationship you get to build with your patients. There are so many fields of physical therapy that the benefits can span to all different types of people…canines too! To be there as a support system and to be able to help others with their rehabilitation process is truly a rewarding experience. Physical therapy is an avenue that allows me to help these patients achieve the long-term health benefits that their own bodies are capable of doing so that they can not just live, but to thrive. It is also a profession that is continuously evolving to promote its foundation of providing optimal patient-centered care.
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What has been your favorite experience so far as a DPT student at CSULB?
It’s hard to pick a “favorite” because I’ve had so many good memories already with my cohort just with our everyday classes. We have all grown so close, and I am beyond blessed to be with such an inspiring group of people that I could not imagine going through this challenging part of my life without them. Everyday they make me laugh and support me when I need it most. They make the late-night study sessions a bit more enjoyable haha. If I were to choose, perhaps some of my “favorites” include attending the APTA Combined Sections Meeting in Anaheim this past year and playing basketball games at the Rec Center every so often.
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully having my Doctorate and being a licensed physical therapist. I have yet to determine if I want to specialize in a field, but it would be cool to somehow work in a combined Outpatient-Neurologic and Orthopedic setting…or perhaps open up my own practice some day with some of my fellow DPTs! Who knows!
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Any advice for students interested in going to PT school?
I would really emphasize taking advantage of any opportunity you can to talk to current students who are in the schools you are looking at. Being able to get this unique view is so valuable because every school is so different that you want to make sure that the school is a right fit for YOU and your needs. Touring the school would also be beneficial to make sure that you can truly picture yourself spending the next 3 years of your life there! To strengthen your application, I would also recommend going to volunteer at different types of physical therapy settings during your application process so that you can gain a well-rounded perspective of the profession. I know there are so many Outpatient Orthopedic clinics out there, but you can’t forget about all the others such as Cardiopulmonary PT or Pediatric PT, just to name a few!
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How can interested students get in contact with you if they have questions?
I can be reached via email at katrinacamus@gmail.com and I am open to answering any questions you may have! Don’t hesitate!
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Name: Matt Downey
Cohort: Class of 2017
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Why do you want to become a physical therapist?
I almost wanted to shy away from the generic "I want to help people" but I really can't. Physical therapy is such a positive profession that empowers patients. I love that we are movement experts that treat movement dysfunction to help improve the way people move. The keyword being "move"!!! I'm so excited to be part of such a dynamic and driven profession that continues to grow and evolve with the end goal of improving patient care and outcomes.
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What has been your favorite experience so far as a DPT student at CSULB?
Going to conferences has always been one of my favorite experiences. The department pays for registration for 1st and 2nd years, so I made sure to go to every CPTA Conference and California Student Conclave available so that I could learn and network. I also enjoyed going on those road trips and conferences with my classmates - so many awesome memories! Even as a 3rd year a good amount of my classmates still go to conferences because we see the value in attending.
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years I hope to be a licensed physical therapist who has a specialization in orthopedics (maybe...still thinking about it!), has become an awesome mentor to other physical therapists and students like the mentors I've met in PT school, and is still involved in the APTA and CPTA.
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Any advice for students interested in going to PT school?
I've met a lot of pre-PT students who have a lot of questions about PT school or need direction. The biggest and easiest thing that I can say is to ask questions! Too many students stress out because they don't know what to do, but most PT schools are more than willing to help you along the way. Gloria, our department coordinator, was always willing to let me come into the PT department office (I went to CSULB as an undergrad) to ask any questions and to have peace of mind. Many programs will also have a few students who are their go-to contacts when pre-PT students want to talk directly to a student.
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How can interested students get in contact with you if they have questions?
Shoot me an email at matthewbdowney@gmail.com or find me on twitter @MattyLMNOP :D
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