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February 2022
Ayse’s career trajectory is a great example of hard work and determination. Her passion for teaching has driven Ayse’s career as an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy for Dominican College. What stands out most about Ayse’s dedication to the field of physical therapy is her commitment to furthering her education in physical therapy in not one but two countries. Ayse is a great example of a global physical therapy educator.
Take a few minutes and get to know this month's member spotlight with us! Enjoy the Q&A with Ayse below.
1.How Long have you been a member of APTA New York?
My membership in APTA New York began in 2012, so I have been an active member for 10 years.
2. What do you enjoy most about APTA New York?
I have enjoyed many aspects of my membership with APTA New York. Some of them are going to the Fall conference with my students and seeing them present their research, reading the APTA Newsletter and Hot Points, and getting to know more about APTA New York. When I became a member of the APTA NY Research Committee, I attended meetings of the Committee and the yearly chapter meetings. It has been a pleasure connecting with others at these meetings, serving the chapter members as a member and chair of the Research committee, and being a part of a big physical therapy family that works with a constant desire to improve our profession.
3.Tell us a little about your background, and how your path led you to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Turkey. I have also had my physical therapy education in Turkey. When compared with the USA, the Physical Therapy profession is very young in my country, and I did not know what physical therapists do when I graduated from high school. One of the most influential people in my life was my high school principal. During my college preparation, he said to me, "Physical therapy will be the most rewarding and popular job in the future, you are a smart student, why don't you go to physical therapy school and work in the healthcare field?". In those days, there were only two physical therapy schools in Turkey, and attending them was very difficult. However, I have graduated from the Hacettepe University School of Physical Therapy in 1992. Right after graduation I became interested in learning more about my profession and in becoming an educator, so I pursued my master's degree in 1993 and received my PhD in 1997. I also began working as a teaching assistant at Dokuz Eylul University School of Physical Therapy which was the third physical therapy school in Turkey. Over the years I held various positions at that school, including assistant professor, associate professor, director of upper extremity orthopedic rehabilitation, and director of anesthesia reanimation intensive care physical therapy unit. The year 2006 changed everything for me. I got married and moved to the USA, leaving everything I had in my country aside from my personal and professional experiences. Since I did not have a physical therapy license, it was difficult to start my professional life in the USA. I nearly had to start all over at the age of 35. It was the most challenging but also the most rewarding years of my life between 2006 and 2009. During the time I was living in another country, I was going through a huge cultural shock and also had no job. Meanwhile, my daughter Esen was born in 2007, which made me the happiest person in the world. I set my goals and studied extremely hard for the licensing exam, passed it and started working again as a physical therapist in 2009 after a three year break. After 3 years of working in PT clinics, nursing homes, and homecare, and experiencing the physical therapy world in different settings, I had the desire to return to the classroom at PT school. Since starting at Dominican College Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in 2012, I have been a tenured associate professor and teaching research courses and collaborating with my students on research projects.
4.What’s the most rewarding part about your work and what are some challenges?
Both in Turkey and the USA, I have served as a faculty member at different physical therapy schools. It is most rewarding to be a part of the physical therapy education when you witness a student's first day at school, through their schooling, and their transition from student to qualified physical therapist. I am always fascinated by the fact that our students become our colleagues in the end. Graduation ceremonies are one of my most favorite occasions. I am usually touched by graduation ceremonies because I am seeing my students for the last time after they were students for 3-4 years.
Furthermore, I enjoy teaching my students how to conduct research, and guiding them to become independent researchers or researchers/practitioners. Conducting a research project is also a very satisfying process since each step begins with just one question and ends with knowledge that is very valuable to your profession.
5.What is a typical day like for you?
In my mind, I always have a to-do list for each day. Before going to bed, I plan out what I'll do the following day. I have mostly been working remotely since the pandemic began. I am always on email, have virtual meetings, work on my research paper, get training, attend continuing education courses, and attend other scholarship and service-related meetings.
My daily routine involves making homemade food, mostly Turkish/Mediterranean dishes, shopping for fresh veggies, meat, and desserts, and cooking for dinner around 4-5pm. Moreover, I take my daughter to her after school activities, such as volleyball practices and drama club rehearsals. As a family, we try to go outside 5-6 times a week to do some outdoor activities like hiking, walking. Additionally, we enjoy watching movies and cooking shows together.
The COVID has also placed many challenges on us; however, we try very hard to spend our weekends with other family members and friends.
6. Who is one of your role models and why?
I enjoy interacting with people and learning from them. In my life, there are many role models I admire. I believe that I learn something from everyone I meet in my life. It does not always matter how old I am or where I went to college, sometimes I recall my college professors and apply their educational perspectives to my classes, sometimes I recall a colleague and apply her/his professional skills, and I even sometimes I learn something new from my daughter, and apply her skills for my life. Everyone around me can be my role models in some way, and they inspire me to become a better person.
If I had to name a role model, I would name my mother and father, since they gave me everything I need and because of them I am where I am today.
7. What’s the most important trend you see today?
Many things have changed since Covid-19 began. Nothing is as it used to be. There is much less face-to-face interaction, which I find frustrating. Computers and other technology play a significant role in both our professional and personal lives. Last year, because we went virtual, faculty members had to come up with innovative ways to educate students using technology. Technology will increasingly be used in physical therapy education in the future, so being curious and open to using technology will be key to success.
8. What advice would you give APTA New York members who are new to the profession and want to make a difference?
I strongly encourage the members to participate in APTA New York and all other APTA activities. Besides allowing the members to network and learn from each other, it would also strengthen the New York chapter's advocacy efforts and make the profession stronger. In addition, participating in the APTA New York activities would improve collaborations among the members and create a positive learning environment for physical therapist clinicians, educators, and students.
In addition, I recommend that members contact the administrators of the APTA if they have any new ideas, plans, or opportunities, and share their ideas to act together as a group and have an impact on the profession. The APTA New York district and the APTA have so many opportunities for service. Each member can make a difference in the profession and have an impact in our future. Since I worked as a Research Committee member for the last four years, I was very pleased that there were many good research funding opportunities for the members. I would also recommend that the members look for funding opportunities through APTA New York.
9. How do you make time to volunteer and be active in groups you’re involved with?
Interacting with other people, learning from them, engaging in the activities is really important to me. It is therefore easy for me to make time to volunteer. Managing your time and being willing is all that matters. Depending on what you want, you can use every minute of your life for various activities or you can do nothing at all. To make our lives more meaningful, I think it is essential to devote our time to others. As a result, I have no problem finding time to volunteer.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Access (DEIJA) initiatives are extremely valuable to me. As a result, I have been volunteering to develop a course for our school and emphasize DEIJA more in the education of physical therapists. I believe that cultural humility and an openness to learn from others will be key to the advancement of physical therapy in the future.
10. What else would you like your fellow APTA New York Members to know about you? (Feel free to tell us a little about yourself here, whatever you’re comfortable sharing – family, hobbies, pets, fun facts about you, etc.)
As a foreign-educated physical therapist and someone from a different culture, I would say that physical therapists in the United States are very fortunate. As an autonomous profession, physical therapy encompasses a broad spectrum of experiences. Therefore, I consider myself incredibly lucky to work and live in the United States.
It was a great blessing to have my uncle and aunt as my parents. As a result, I feel sad that some other children do not have the same luck as me so I wanted to do something for them, and I got my foster parent license 5 years ago, and we have fostered children in our house time to time.
With my husband Atila, daughter Esen, and our two cats Princess and Houdini, we enjoy spending time as a family. We also enjoy to travel domestically and internationally to explore the world and cultures. Having my family in my life is the meaning of my life, and I consider myself very lucky.
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