November 13, 2013

On October 25, second year Drexel Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students attended an interdisciplinary panel discussion in the Geary B auditorium of the New College Building. The purpose of the panel was to discuss the reality of working in clinical medicine and the role of the Physical Therapist in that setting. The panel occurred at the end of a five-week term, just prior to the start of the students’ first six-week full-time Clinical Education I Program. The atmosphere was extremely open and conversational. Rather than being structured as a lecture, the interdisciplinary panel was a way in which students could gain valuable knowledge from people who are already working in the field in several different roles.

The panel included Social Worker Remi Ojumu, Speech Therapist Monica Diak, Occupational Therapist Jessica Pehlman, Art Therapist Yasmine Awais, Physician Assistant Adrian Banning, Clinical Nurse Specialist Julianne Jabionski, and Physical Therapists Jason Ngai and Joe Adler.

The panel opened with a case study of a patient who went though some traumatic injuries. The moderator then went down the “line of care,” much like what would happen in a real-life situation. Physician Assistant Adrian Banning began, giving an overview of what she would do with this particular patient. “Everyone truly works together to try and deliver the best care possible,” Banning said. Next, Nurse Specialist Julianne Jabionski explained what her role would be in the care of the patient. She was followed by all of the other panelists.

After the patient in the case study was stabilized, the role of the Physical Therapist came into the picture. Joe Adler discussed his approach and also solicited the ideas of the students in the auditorium. He asked the students what first step they would take as Physical Therapists when treating a patient with a traumatic injury. This was a way for the students to apply their learning in the classroom to a real-life situation. Adler also gave personal advice from what he has experienced in the field as a Physical Therapist in the Intensive Care Unit at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “I highly encourage you to see the real environment, because it gives you structure and you’re able to wrap your head around everything,” urged Adler.

The students will soon begin their first clinical education term. The panel discussion served as a stepping stone for the students to begin thinking as higher level professionals.