To celebrate National Physical Therapy Month, we asked Kirkwood Community College alumna Aleece Finley (class of 2023) to share how her time at Kirkwood helped pave the way for a rewarding career as a physical therapist assistant. Today, she brings her skills and compassion to patients at Rock Valley Physical Therapy in Iowa.
What made you choose Kirkwood, and how did your time here shape your personal or professional journey?: Initially, I chose to attend Kirkwood after high school because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to major in. I liked that Kirkwood offered transferable undergraduate classes and had a Career Services department to help guide students. The summer before starting, I used Career Services resources and learned about the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program. Having been a physical therapy patient in high school, I found the field both enjoyable and fascinating — so I applied. The rest is history.
What was your major and what degree(s) did you earn?: My major was Physical Therapist Assistant and I earned both my associate of applied science and associate of science degrees.
Would you share a moment, class, or mentor at Kirkwood that had a lasting influence on where you are today?: Growing up, I struggled with fear and anxiety, and going through PTA school was no different. I firmly believe that the main reason I am where I am today is because of the wonderful support from my teachers at Kirkwood. Specifically, the program director, Feryl York, was instrumental in my growth as a student and the clinician I am today. Feryl is passionate about helping you grow, not only as a student but as a person. She helped me through my anxiety and fear and encouraged me during the unknowns of stepping into a health care career. Because of Feryl’s encouragement and outlook on life, I carry her passion for others with me as I treat patients every day.
What accomplishments are you most proud of since leaving Kirkwood?: Since leaving Kirkwood, I have been blessed with the opportunity to work in my dream setting, which is an outpatient physical therapy clinic. Rock Valley Physical Therapy believes strongly in mentorship and growing your practice as a therapist. Since I have been working these past several years, I have been able to grow my practice to include a variety of populations. Rock Valley has supported my growth to include treating patients with hypermobility disorders, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), and I am currently pursuing Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist (PCES) certification to treat pre- and postpartum women.
What is one of your favorite memories from your time at Kirkwood?: It is difficult to pick a favorite memory because I have so many, but my favorite experiences occurred during our lab practice time. This is when we would practice our skills and treat each other, simulating real patient scenarios. A lot was learned during these times, as we would fail and fail often, but always with laughter. I think back fondly on these times because of the relationships we developed.
What advice would you share with current Kirkwood students who hope to follow a path like yours?: If you are looking to pursue a path in physical or occupational therapy at Kirkwood, my recommendation would be to use your resources. Kirkwood professors are wonderful and always willing to help when needed. During office hours, we were able to use the lab space to practice skills or get questions answered using professors as a resource. Office hours were where I grew the most, not only in my knowledge but also in my skills for performance exams.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?: The most rewarding part of my job is getting to help patients throughout their whole journey following injury or surgery. With my current clinic, the majority of patients we treat are post-surgical. Because of this, I get to help patients starting right after surgery through their entire journey to achieve their goals. There is something beautiful about helping patients regain aspects of their lives they thought they may never get back due to injury or pain.
What are some of the biggest challenges patients face with physical therapy, and how do you help them overcome these?: Some of the biggest challenges that patients face are overcoming the early stages of rehabilitation, including immobility, weakness, and pain. Oftentimes, I am educating patients on what symptoms are normal and what to expect along their journeys. Following injury or surgery, muscle atrophy occurs quickly, causing patients to lose strength and motor control rapidly. It can be a challenge to train patients to recruit and strengthen these muscles again, requiring verbal, tactile, and visual cueing from a therapist to regain neuromuscular control. I spend a lot of time encouraging my patients and walking alongside them through their fears and reservations to help them through each stage of recovery.
Want to learn more about the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Kirkwood? Start here.