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November 2020
Hammouda Soliman is man of hard work and integrity. He has spent his life’s work in service to others - a principle that he learned early on from his parents. He learned at a young age that life should not be centered around oneself, but
rather in service to others. After emigrating from Egypt and getting a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, Hammouda developed a passion for treating the geriatric population. As NYPTA's Brooklyn/Staten Island Chapter Director, Hammouda’s
time, insight, and experiences have been a valuable resource for the Chapter.
Take a few minutes and get to know this month's member spotlight with us! Enjoy the Q&A with Hammouda below.
1. How Long have you been a member of NYPTA?
I have been a member of NYPTA for twelve years. After graduating from The University of Cairo in Egypt, I immigrated to the United States in pursuit of the best practice in the field of physical therapy. I began working in a subacute
rehab facility and home care, while continuing my education by applying for my DPT degree at Stony Brook University. After graduation, I received the opportunity to begin work as a rehabilitation manager in several home care agencies.
2.
What do you enjoy most about NYPTA?
I have been an active member in the Brooklyn/Staten Island district and after all the meetings and events I’ve attended as well as the delegate assemblies I’ve attended for the last 10 years of my membership, what I found I enjoy the
most is being awarded the opportunity to work with and learn from both old and new members. I believe my colleagues are a crucial component of my continuing education and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to meet with them and share
ideas.
3. Tell us a little about your background, and how your path led you to where you are
today.
I was a physical therapist who immigrated to the United States thirty years ago and began working in Indiana. Later on, I moved to New York where I eventually worked at several subacute rehab and home care facilities. My experiences
unveiled my passion for geriatric physical therapy which ultimately guided my decision to focus my expertise within that field.
4. What’s the most rewarding part about your work and what are some challenges?
After graduating and receiving my doctorate, I began asking myself how I can contribute more and provide help for the elderly population in my community. Helping seniors be independent and better their quality of life has always been
my leading drive and what I find to be the most rewarding part of my work. Working as a rehabilitation manager in health care agencies has been very challenging as I was given me more access to public data concerning senior living
and with that came my understanding of the true value of physical therapy and home care. Anyone in my position could have been overwhelmed with the task at hand but it was important for me to take the initiative and believe in and
stand by my efforts. One avenue I chose to take to improve patient outcomes was falls prevention and so I initiated and promoted falls prevention programs in assisted living facilities in Staten Island. By encouraging these programs
at home care visits for each therapist, I found that this reduces patient hospital visits and ultimately leads to better patient outcomes.
5. Who is one of your role models and why?
My role models are my parents, who raised me and my siblings in Egypt. They were brought up without any proper education and yet raised me and my eleven siblings with guidance, morals, and principles to fall back on and use to navigate
our lives. They gave us something far more important than material possessions. The engrained in us a foundation and belief that we can accomplish anything as long as we’re willing to dedicate our time and effort. They also taught
me at a very early age that my life should not be centered around myself, but rather I should live it in service of others. They taught me that this was the only way at achieving the most accomplished and fulfilled life. In retrospect,
seeing how far I’ve come and the life I was able to provide their grandchildren, I get filled with overwhelming gratitude and deep reverence for the nurture and love.
6. What advice would you give NYPTA members who are new to the profession and
want to make a difference?
One piece of advice I would give to a new member joining the NYPTA would be that a strong organization is created by active members who are engaging in chapter and district activities. Thus, it is important to be as proactive as possible
and share your ideas, but more important than that I would argue, is to come in with an open mind and a willingness to learn from others as we all come from different backgrounds and experiences.
7. How do you make time to volunteer and be active in groups you’re involved with?
Even though I manage my own business while simultaneously raising 3 beautiful children, I still find the time to attend all district meetings and all delegate assembly meetings as I navigate through my third year as a NYPTA chapter
director for Brooklyn and Staten Island district. It is not as a result of an abnormal level of discipline and work ethic that I’m able to do this but simply because it is where my passion lies. I will always believe that there will
always be time to tend to what you truly care for. For volunteers struggling with time management the best solution I can give is to be extremely self-aware. Manage your time professionally and start off slow in order to see what works
best for you. Above all else it’s important to lean on one another for support which is why a few of my fellow colleagues and I created an organization called Egyptian Physical Therapy in USA (EPTUSA) to help bring all therapists of
our similar background together to share our ideas, struggles, and solutions to help each other and our community
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