Paolo-Miguel Amor is a physical therapy student at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, and expects to graduate in May 2026. Read his winning essay below.
When I first started my physical therapy journey in 2019, I started off as an aide. I quickly learned how different the field of PT was from other healthcare professions. I was seeing the same patients two or three times a week, so we quickly bonded, and I learned more about their interests, family, and what led them to seek PT. It was through these interactions that I saw how valuable it is to learn more about patients and connect with them further than just their injury to fully understand who they are, where they come from, and what I can do to help them get back to their life. When I worked as an aide at ProActive Physical Therapy in Redmond, Washington, I had a conversation with my clinic manager, Jayme, and she said something to me that will always stick with me throughout my PT career. She told me that she hires PTs not because they had the best grades or graduated from a world-renowned program, but instead if they have the personality to fit in with the clinic dynamics. She says that everything else can be refined through mentorship down the line. I did not fully understand what she meant by this in the beginning, but towards the end of my time there before I started PT school, I understood her message clearly. A positive, fun, and interactive dynamic of the clinic where therapists talk to other therapists’ patients and patients joke around with other patients while doing their exercises or while being “tortured” during manual therapy is what fosters an environment where patients will look forward to their next PT visit, which improves their rehab potential and quality of life.
Having completed my first year of DPT school at Regis University, I have come to reflect on all the coursework that has prepared me to go into my first clinical experience in late August. My psychosocial aspects of healthcare course taught me how complex humans are and how I can utilize my own experiences to help foster the patient-therapist connection. My courses on evidence-based practice have instilled in me to be a life-long learner and to be critical of new research being published. With all the information that I have acquired just in my first year of the program, I am confident that I can be the spark to help guide patients in their rehabilitation journey. I want to be the therapist that has an excellent connection with their patients where they can reach out to me for any advice they need. I also want to be the therapist that gives my patients the confidence and tools they need to succeed so that they can get back to the activities they love to do instead of letting fear of reinjury rule their lives.
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