Me and my trusty bike at the Washington Monument
Second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy Hybrid student Amanda Klein is completing a 15-week clinical education experience in Bethesda, Maryland, and is providing updates on her experience and what she’s been learning!
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Hi everyone, welcome back to the University of Pittsburgh Doctor of Physical Therapy clinical education experience mini-series. My name is Amanda Klein and I’m on rotation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
I’ve been here for 11 weeks so it’s time for an update. I’ve been working at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence which is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) specific clinic that works with active-duty service members who have suffered from multiple head traumas throughout their life. The patients come from all over the globe to take part in a four-week outpatient program that is a massive interdisciplinary effort. Alongside physical therapy (PT), patients also undergo neurology, audiology, psychology, mind-body and cognitive skills sessions that focus on tools to help teach self-management techniques for the variety of problems that come with years of military service and head traumas. It has been a really cool experience to be part of and I’ve really enjoyed the more holistic approach to medical care that I’ve seen here.
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
In physical therapy I focus on orthopedic and vestibular problems helping patients better understand what’s going on with their bodies and how to optimize exercises and protective strategies to give them a better quality of life. I also help them understand the multi-sensory integration necessary for balance and what the vestibular system does during their vestibular evaluation and why that’s important. It’s been challenging for sure; the pace can be challenging but the schedule doesn’t change each week, so you always know what to expect. The patient population is fun to work with, but the variety and extent of the different orthopedic complaints can be a lot to tackle. For example, I’ve had patients come in with neck, upper and lower back, shoulder, wrist and knee pain – and we treat all of it.
The Lincoln Memorial
While the clinical time is a tiring challenge, the off time has included a lot of sight-seeing and bike rides which has been great. I’ve been to the monuments, the zoo, some of the museums and tackled quite a few of the bike trails in the area. I attended a tennis match in early August and explored more places to eat. While I have more adventures planned as I wind down my time here in DC--and as fun as it’s been--I’m looking forward to getting back home. I’ve definitely missed being in my own space with my husband and dog, having access to a car and the comfort that comes with knowing where everything is. I miss my old routine quite a bit, but I’ve settled into a good groove here. I was able to take a quick trip back to Spokane to see my husband and that was a nice break.
A playful orangutang at the Smithsonian National Zoo
Four more weeks to go till I’m home in Spokane, and I’ll write my final thoughts. See you guys soon!
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Written by:
Amanda Klein (DPT ’23)
Be sure to read Amanda’s first blog post on preparing for her clinical education experience
For more information on the DPT program, please see our website or contact an enrollment specialist at enroll@pitt.edu today!
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Published September 27, 2023