MEMBER

SPOTLIGHT

Paige Weston, SPT

Clarkson University Doctor of Physical Therapy Student

February 2023

Paige Weston is a student at Clarkson University as a Doctor of Physical Therapy student who has aspirations of becoming a lymphedema specialist!

Learn more about Paige's involvement with the APTA New York chapter and what inspired her to become a therapist in the interview below!

How long have you been a member of APTA New York?

I have been a member of the APTA of New York since August 2020.

What brought you to PT? Share your journey with us.

I decided that I wanted to be a physical therapist because I believe I can better the quality of life of people to help build healthy and happy communities. While volunteering in the rehabilitative services department in my local hospital during high school and college I was able to see the impact physical therapists can have on individual lives. This inspired me to attend Clarkson University as a Pre-Physical Therapy undergraduate student and Student Physical Therapist. During my undergraduate education I was involved in my school physical therapy club where I helped promote the profession among students and the community. Throughout my graduate education so far I have been involved in many social advocacy and community wellness efforts. I will be graduating from DPT school in May 2023 and am very excited to begin my journey and career as a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

What is a typical day like for you?

At this time I am usually in classes from 8 AM - 3 PM and completing assignments and studying outside of that. I try to always make time for physical activity and mental health in my day to practice self care. In the evenings I am a Graduate Assistant in our departments anatomy course and I perform the cadaver dissections used to teach our first year students and undergraduate students.

What was the exact moment you decided to join the PT profession?

  When I was 16 and a volunteer in the physical therapy department at my local hospital, the Director of Rehab Services at my local hospital sat me down and told me that I was going to be a great physical therapist someday and that she wanted to help me learn about the profession and gain experience through shadowing. At the time I had no idea what I wanted to do for my future career but in that moment I realized that physical therapy was a great profession and a good fit for me.

What is the most rewarding part of your profession?

The most rewarding part of the physical therapy profession is helping individuals in my community reach a better quality of life and achieve the goals that they never saw themselves achieving.

Who is one of your role models and why?

My first clinical instructor was a role model for me because she demonstrated excellent patient care and held her practice to the highest standards. In return she gained the respect of other health care professionals and that respect was extended to the rest of the physical therapy department at the hospital.

What are 3 fun facts about you?

1. I am interested in the utilization of Nordic pole walking as an intervention to promote reciprocal arm and step patterns in individuals with Parkinson's Disease.

2. I hope to become a lymphedema specialist in my future physical therapist career.

3. I really love anatomy. I have performed 3 cadaver dissections and assisted in teaching human anatomy for 4 years.

What do you love the most about being a part of APTA New York?

I really enjoy utilizing the rehab reference center to familiarize myself with different health conditions and the best practice for working with different patient populations. As a PT student it has been very helpful in my academics and clinical experience.

What would you tell someone who is interested in joining APTA?

Joining APTA is an excellent way to stay up to date, get involved, and utilize a vast amount of resources to better your PT practice.

Pitch the benefits of APTA New York in one sentence.

The benefits of APTA NY are that it connects clinicians with evidence based resources, information on current events in the physical therapy profession, and other clinicians to build a sense of community within the profession.

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