Tag: #PT

Victoria Harwood Hamby

Louisiana Tech University, Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology, 2009

LSU Health Sciences Center, Doctor of Physical Therapy, 2012

University of Louisiana Monroe, Doctor of Education, expected 2026

Welcome to my career story. As an educator in physical therapy, I’ve traveled a path filled with challenges, insights, and unexpected turns. This blog is my chance to reflect on where I’ve been, how I got here, and where I’m headed next. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just curious, I hope you’ll find inspiration, advice, and maybe even a bit of humor in the experiences I’ve gathered along the way.

I still remember the loud popping nose when my knee gave way during cheerleader tryouts. I had just turned 14 years old and was in the 8th grade. Within 2 weeks, an MRI confirmed a complete tear of my Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). I was told I couldn’t play sports for at least 6 months, perhaps a year. Up until then, I was a multi-sport student athlete. I danced competitively, cheered (gymnastics/stunting), played catcher in softball, and played sweeper in soccer. Of course, as a young adolescent, this news was devastating. I had my ACL reconstructed and remember crying in the hospital when the physical therapist (PT) came to teach me how to use crutches. However, as I began outpatient physical therapy and noticed my own progress, my outlook changed. My PT was so passionate about his job, had such confidence in my ability to recover, and offered so much fun during the process, that I started enjoying my PT visits 3 times a week early in the morning before the school day started. I realize now, in hindsight, that moment was when the seed was planted. I wanted to make others feel like he made me feel – that I could succeed; that I would overcome this bump in the road; and I would not let my injury define me.

I graduated from West Monroe High School in 2005 with offers from many Louisiana and out of state schools. I really did not know where I wanted to go, but I had two friends going to Louisiana Tech. I decided to give it a go, and we attended Honors Day orientation together. After being on campus, I could tell this was a closeknit community, and I wanted to be a part of it. Still uncertain of my exact career choice other than helping people, I majored in Biology, knowing that I could attend medical school or physical therapy school with those respective degrees. I spent 2 semesters majoring in biology before switching solely to kinesiology. I knew that I wanted to be a physical therapist. What a great choice that was! I spent the rest of my undergraduate experience in kinesiology. I was very involved on campus, holding various positions in my sorority, Kappa Delta, including President. I was also a member of the Student Advancement Team. I became an officer in the Exercise Science and Physical Education (ESPE) association. I am really dating myself here… when I first enrolled in the College of Education on the pre-physical therapy track, the courses were named ESPE (pronounced ess-pee) and only later changed in my junior year to Kinesiology (KINE). I still credit Dr. David Szymanski for my ability to “breeze through” my exercise physiology course in PT school. I also attended the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) conference with Mrs. Rhonda Boyd and Mrs. Smiley Reeves my senior year, which was an enlightening experience and prepared me for national conferences that I would attend in the future.

I graduated from Louisiana Tech in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. Earlier that same week, I had already begun coursework at LSU Health Sciences Shreveport. I had a wonderful 3-year experience there. As a third-year student we were able to return to the gross cadaver lab as Teaching Assistants (TA). We were assigned to a row of tanks (3) and were responsible for providing supplemental instruction to the medical school professors. As I would help students assigned to my row, I began to notice other students flocking to our area in the lab. I did not think anything of it as I was just trying to help first year students learn their anatomy. I quickly realized I enjoyed teaching very much. As course evaluations were completed at the end of the semester, I had multiple comments from students that included “natural born teacher” and “should consider a career in academia one day”. I knew I was returning to my hometown of West Monroe with my betrothed (also from the area), and I just never thought there would be an opportunity for me to teach here. I decided to just squash that spark. I knew that being a PT meant I would constantly be educating my patients and family members, and that was enough for me.

I began my career as a PT at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, LA. I was assigned to part of the Physical Rehabilitation Team in acute care. Acute care in physical therapy refers to the specialized delivery of physical therapy services in a hospital or inpatient setting where patients are receiving treatment for acute medical conditions. These conditions typically require short-term, intensive care due to sudden or severe health issues, such as surgery, trauma, illness, or exacerbation of chronic diseases. I never thought there is where I would work, but it was an excellent first job as a PT. I was able to gain insight for patient’s progress, where they began, and how far they had come when they were ready to be discharged home or to another rehabilitation facility.

I loved my 3 years at SFMC, but I began to desire more. I wanted to pay off my student loans; I wanted patients to remember the help I had provided to them; and I wanted to build longer lasting relationships with my patients. I began seeing patients with St. Francis Home Health on the weekends or after work as a PRN (as needed) job. It was a great experience seeing this different side of physical therapy. I also began a PRN job at the Orthopaedic Clinic of North Louisiana. After 2 months of working PRN for them, they offered me a job. I accepted in 2015 and worked there for over 7 years, learning and cultivating my skills in assessment and manual therapy. In 2017, I became certified in Functional Dry Needling. Other certifications I gained during that time include a Kinesiotape practitioner, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, and Blood Flow Restriction Therapy.

At some point around 2019, I had heard a rumor that the University of Louisiana Monroe was going to start a physical therapy program. I was a bit skeptical, because, well… how ‘bout them dawgs?! But I began to wonder… could my “dream job” actually exist here, in the area where I live? I knew if I wanted to be considered as a faculty member, I needed to step up my game.

In 2021, I studied and sat for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties exam in Orthopaedics and passed!

I expressed interest to the ULM Program Director in assisting with curriculum building through an email survey. I was offered to become “Community Faculty”. As a member, I helped build out courses within the curriculum to assist in applying for accreditation. Even though this was an unpaid position, I was exposed to the academic world. The experience confirmed I wanted to be there. I was hired at ULM as Assistant Professor in July 2022. We received provisional accreditation status in November 2022, and I officially began working on campus in January 2023. I became Assistant Director of Clinical Education in July 2023. The inaugural cohort began coursework in August 2023.

My teaching responsibilities include Assessment & Management of Musculoskeletal Systems; Integrated Clinical Experiences, where students are exposed to clinical environments and simulation experiences that assist integrating knowledge from didactic learning across all courses each semester; Professional Education, where students embark on long-term clinical rotations; and Assessment & Management of Patients across the Lifespan, encompassing treating adults and the aging population, as well as orthotics and prosthetics.

This is a collaborative simulation lab with the nursing program. Students were exposed to managing ICU lines while assisting patients out of bed, maintaining precautions.

In the Clinical Skills Development course, I created an “Olympic ceremony” where first place was given the gold glove award, second place received the silver wheelchair, and third place was awarded the bronze crutches.

As a professor, I also help with recruitment and interest in pursuing a career in physical therapy. I frequently visit middle schools, high schools, and college campuses to inform potential students about the opportunity to become a physical therapist at ULM.

Area Health Education Center (AHEC) visits provide the same opportunities for me to inform others about health care careers in physical therapy and providing a PT activity for them, such as performing deep tendon reflex testing.

I am also involved in professional organizations including the American Physical Therapy Association and the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board.

Our inaugural cohort’s class president accompanied me to an American Physical Therapy Association – Louisiana meeting.

I am involved in research that pertains to physical therapy on a state and national level. I am on the Research Committee for the American Physical Therapy Association of Louisiana, representing the Monroe district. I help to provide peer review to research intended to be presented at state conferences.

A colleague presents a poster presentation of his dissertation at the American Physical Therapy Association of Louisiana.

I pursued a voluntary position with the American of Physical Therapy Geriatrics section on implementing an annual mobility screen for geriatric patients and was selected to join the Task Force.

My contributions with the task force are featured in the April 2024 issue of GeriNotes (Vol. 31, No. 2), a publication of APTA Geriatrics. GeriNotes_April_2024_page_19

I also have my own research agendas underway. My interests include clinical readiness of student physical therapists, interprofessional education, and prevention in the geriatric population.

My colleagues at ULM conducted a project for interprofessional education between OT and PT students while conducting an awareness event for disabilities. We were voted “Outstanding Poster Presentation” at Spring Symposium 2024. We are currently pursuing publications following including OTA and SLP disciplines this Fall 2024, while interpreting participants’ feedback of the experience.

I continue research for balance in the geriatric population using the Bertec Balance Advantage System at ULM.

Being a part of a brand new DPT program has been so amazing! Our first white coating ceremony just occurred in Fall of 2024. Students could choose their mentor-coaches, instructors, family, or friends to don their white coats for the very first time.

I was given the privilege to don 4 white coats (3 of which were La Tech graduates) before they embarked on their very first clinical education experience.

I never thought this is where I would be – teaching physical therapy – and… at ULM! But we are truly doing something amazing here. Our program has a focus on rural health and the medically underserved. There are populations who deserve treatment, no matter where they live or their other circumstances. If you are interested in our program, do not hesitate to reach out to me at hamby@ulm.edu. I am happy to answer any questions and direct you to the appropriate person.

Don’t worry… I still bleed blue. 💙 I will ever loyal be to thee, my Alma Mater.

Victoria “Tori” Harwood Hamby