September 2022 Megan James is a dedicated APTA New York member who dedicates her life to the profession and keeping healthy outside of work! Read more about Megan's passion for physical therapy and her background below!
How long have you been a member of APTA New York?
I've been a member since 2011.
What brough you to PT? Share your journey with us.
I have always been interested in health & the human body; sustaining an injury and going through rehab myself as a high school athlete sparked my interest in physical therapy specifically. I love that I have time to build relationships with my patients, and sometimes their families, while guiding them through the process of rehabilitation or working to improve performance.
What is a typical day like for you?
My days are pretty variable, and my client/caseload stays relatively low due to the demands of other jobs, my family, and my personal needs. I spend a large portion of my time in the coaching aspect, communicating with my athletes (runners) about their training, managing any problems that arise, and planning workouts & races. I also spend time developing educational courses & workshops.
What would you tell your student self about the profession?
Be open to change! As a student, I was (or, I thought I was) destined to work in an inpatient rehab facility, with a focus on TBI & SCI; I was planning to apply for a neuro residency, and never wanted to work in outpatient or own a practice. It took one poor clinical rotation (#3, outpatient neuro) and one outstanding rotation (#4, outpatient ortho/sports) to realize I needed a new plan. Fast forward a few years -- plus insurance challenges, the desire to work exclusively with runners, and wanting greater autonomy & flexibility -- and I started Immersion PT!
What is the biggest challenges of your profession?
Lack of public knowledge regarding what physical therapists know and do.
What is the most rewarding part of your profession?
The moment when a patient accomplishes something they thought they would never do, either after an injury or as a part of their training.
What’s the most important trend you see in the industry?
Patients taking control of their own healthcare and seeking out the appropriate providers & experts.
Who is one of your role models and why?
Heather Kidder, PT DPT -- she was my clinical instructor on my 4th rotation. She is incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, and fun. On my first day, she gave me a quiz to assess where I was so she could better individualize my rotation. Her patients enjoyed coming to their visits, and she quickly earned their trust because of her honesty, skill & compassion. She is a mom, and watching her be so involved and successful in her career while having a young family was really impressive. (She also introduced me to putting pineapple on my burrito/taco and it's one of my favorite fix-ins now!)
What are 3 fun facts about you?
1. I've run 10 marathons (2013-2022 and counting!), including 3x Boston Marathon (2014, 2016, 2022).
2. I am working on becoming an Adirondack 46er (climb the 46 designated ADK High Peaks)
3. My husband and I both coach cross country at our former high school.
What do you love most about being part of APTA New York?
Being able to connect with others who have similar aspirations to continue to advance and promote our profession
What would you tell someone who is interested in joining APTA New York?
It is a great way to connect with other PTs/PTAs and educate others about who we are and what we do. Teach, learn from, and build relationships with other PTs/PTAs who want to help our profession grow!
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