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January 2023
Eric Trauber, a member of 14 years, shares how a background in athletics and a Scoliosis diagnosis led him to where he is today. His spotlight is filled with insights into his day-today role and what he does in his free time.
Read more about Eric's passion for physical therapy and his background below!
How long have you been a member of APTA New York?
I have been a member of the APTA of New York for over 14 years.
What brought you to PT? Share your journey with us.
Growing up, I was an active athlete and had dreams of pursuing sports in college. However, I was diagnosed with idiopathic Scoliosis when I was 14 years old. I ended up having surgery 2 years later despite conservative measures. The road to recovery was not easy at all, but the care I received from my physical therapist was a critical point of my rehabilitation process. My physical therapist was compassionate, caring, and motivated me to succeed. I knew at this point I wanted to return the favor. I knew I needed to be a Physical Therapist!
I graduated from Utica College in 2010. From there, I practiced in New York City in an array of outpatient settings including PT-owned and physician-owned clinics. I was able to improve my clinical skills through those valuable experiences, but more importantly I gained different perspectives to guide my career development.
I then transitioned to working at hospital-based outpatient settings at NYU Langone Health and Hospital for Special Surgery. I was involved in many educational initiatives including evidence informed practice, educational opportunities, and professional development. I was able to become a board-certified orthopedic specialist and continued to explore my interests in manual therapy and enhancing the patient experience.
I was fortunate enough to work alongside amazing individuals. Reflecting on my past experiences has helped shape my future and given me a clearer direction in life. One of my greatest accomplishments was becoming a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. I completed my training at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. The education I received, learning new approaches/techniques, and continuous mentoring was paramount in allowing me to see how much we can offer as physical therapists. We provide more than care for our patients. We are educators, advocates, and resources for the community, but also for the profession. Physical therapy has continued to evolve, and we all need to evolve with it in order to further advance the profession.
Currently, I am the Director of Clinical Education for Fabrication Enterprises, Inc (FEI). FEI produces brands such as CanDo, TheraPutty, Digi-Flex, and Baseline. The people here are forward-thinking and constantly considering how to move both our company and our industry forward. FEI and I have a common goal to be a universal resource and take an active approach to help the development of both students and clinicians. We firmly believe professionals need to be in possession of the necessary concepts and principles to guide their development.
What is a typical day like for you?
A typical day for me is sometimes a mixed bag of activities. Activities may include developing educational content for presentations, participating in educational initiatives, preparing abstracts to submit to conferences, contributing to blog writing, being a subject matter expert with various products, and acting as an available resource for the entire team. My job description has certainly evolved over time, and I am looking forward to where it takes me next!
What was the exact moment you decided to join the PT profession?
Growing up, I was an active athlete and had dreams of pursuing sports in college. However, I was diagnosed with idiopathic Scoliosis when I was 14 years old. I ended up having surgery 2 years later despite conservative measures. The road to recovery was not easy at all, but the care I received from my physical therapist was a critical point of my rehabilitation process. My physical therapist was compassionate, caring, and motivated me to succeed. I knew at this point I wanted to return the favor. I knew I needed to be a Physical Therapist!
What would you tell your student self about the profession?
The profession has endless opportunities available. No matter what path you choose, it will ultimately lead to success.
What is the biggest challenges of your profession?
I started my new role in January 2021, and the main challenge has been in transitioning away from a clinical role. As with any new position, there is a learning curve, but my team has been supportive and has helped me onboard with relative ease. I look forward to contributing to the profession and development of aspiring clinicians.
What is the most rewarding part of your profession?
The rewarding part of my current role is leveraging my clinical knowledge and utilizing it in a different way. I am able to do many things that I may have not had time to do in the past, including developing education content, submitting manuscripts to journals/blogs, and being able to communicate with other companies that share a common goal of improving the delivery of care for patients.
What’s the most important trend you see in the industry?
The most important trend that I have noticed is that we utilize a holistic perspective in treating patients. Healthcare is very individualized and should be approached from a patient-centered standpoint. Enhancing therapeutic alliance is essential to promote and improve compliance/adherence to a program, motivation, and overall self-efficacy. Understanding from the patient’s perspective allows clinicians to develop plans of care that are more meaningful and provide better insight on long-term self-management strategies.
Who is one of your role models and why? My role model is my late mother. She was a speech language pathologist and practiced at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital (Hospital for Joint Diseases) as well as Nassau BOCES Rosemary Kennedy School. She was a highly respected practitioner in her field, heavily involved with the clinical education of speech language pathology students, and was actively involved in the Long Island Speech and Hearing Association (LISHA). One year, she earned the recognition of Long Island speech language pathologist of the year. She was no stranger to hard work and more importantly, being a mentor to everyone she encountered on a daily basis. I have always looked up to her and this gave me the motivation to follow in her footsteps.
She provided me with the drive and ambition to accomplish anything that I set out to achieve. She was truly inspirational in the development of becoming the professional, husband, and father that I am today.
What are 3 fun facts about you?
1.) I have an amazing wife, 2 kids, and a dog
2.) I love anything mint chip
3.) I enjoy binge watching Netflix including Stranger Things, Cobra Kai, and the Great British Baking Show
What do you love the most about being a part of APTA New York?
I enjoy the sense of community that the APTA of New York shares. I always find it refreshing to be surrounded with like-minded individuals who help guide and advance our profession.
What would you tell someone who is interested in joining APTA?
Get involved and be proactive! Try to attend meetings and participate in committees to learn more about the APTA. Also, I would try to network with other members as they might provide some great insights and knowledge to help better guide you with your journey. Take advantage of your available resources as this can help guide you with your own professional development.
Pitch the benefits of APTA New York in one sentence.
The APTA of New York provides a sense of community, engagement, and endless potential for professional development.
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