Intern Cole Murray- Advanced Physical Therapy

Hi, my name is Cole Murray, and I’m a senior at Andale High School. I was born in Hays, Kansas, and moved to the Andale area around the age of ten. My family consists of my mother, father and sister who is three grades below me. I am a very active member in my community, participating in several clubs and sports including cross country, track and field, Student Council, National Honors Society, and CYO. I will be interning this fall semester at Advanced Physical Therapy in West Wichita, and I will also be making several visits to a P.A. office during the course of this semester. My dreams have wavered over the years from being a teacher to a entrepreneur to a writer and so on. But in the last year, I have found, through the help of many science courses, that the healthcare field is the one I have settled onto. I’m so intrigued as to how the human body works and how we as humans are able to repair it from sickness and injury. I have not yet decided what specific career fits me best yet, so this internship will help me decide if physical therapy or physician’s assistant is the route I will choose.

Physical therapists and physician’s assistants both require schooling after high school. Physical therapists are required to receive both a Bachelor’s degree and a DPT. A DPT is a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree which will take about three years in order to earn. A P.A. will have a similar education path: a bachelor’s degree and a two-year P.A. program. I am planning on earning my Bachelor’s degree at Kansas State University and going to Wichita State for their P.A. program. These programs will not be easy, and I understand this. Ever since I can remember, I knew that I would do whatever it takes to make sure I have a successful career in what I decide to do. Perseverance and determination are two words I would use to describe myself. My actions in high school have shown this I am able to participate in many school activities while holding a job on the weekends and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. I will continue this showing of hard work in order to achieve my end goal and further still throughout my career.

While interning at Advanced Physical Therapy, I would like to observe the work environment of a physical therapist, what starting salary I should expect, and how the job grows and changes as time goes by. Being able to see first hand the working environment will be one of the deciding factors of figuring out what career I choose. The work environment is important to me because this is the career I would choose until I retire. Salary isn’t as important to me, but I would like to be able to provide for myself and my future family. Being able to travel and see the world is important to me, and I would like my family to have those experiences. Technology does not stand still; it evolves, and as it evolves, physical therapists will need to be able to adapt. I would like to see how physical therapy has changed over the past twenty years and new ways it is changing. Being able to see the progress the medicinal and technological fields have made will open my eyes to what I am getting into.

The only part of this internship that scares me is the fact that I really don’t know what I am getting myself into. I know what I should expect, but until I am actually in that office, I do not know how this experience will go. Getting along with the coworkers there will not be a problem for me. I work in customer service at a local wildlife park  and am able to connect with people easily. Being able to start and hold conversations with ease will not only help me with coworkers but with patients as well and provide them with a positive experience on the path of healing. I learn with ease and will be a dependable worker. I have been trained in several different positions at my current workplace. This shows how I am able to pick up new skills fast and that I am someone our managing team can rely on.

Advanced Physical Therapy has many different locations throughout the Wichita area, including their West Wichita location near Bishop Carroll High School where I will be interning. They deal with injuries ranging from aches and pains to those that require surgery. Advanced Physical Therapy is also a member of PAK (Physician Alliance of Kansas) whose main goal is to provide quality health care that is cost effective.