FAQ: Specializing in Pelvic Health as a New Grad
“I’m in my 3rd year of PT school and will be graduating in August, super excited to be completing my final clinical with a women’s health specialist! I was wondering any pieces of advice you could give for a new grad entering the world of pelvic health? What types of jobs to look for/courses to take/etc.?”
I just received this question via e-mail from a participant at my most recent Level 1 Pelvic Floor course in Little Rock, Arkansas. (See upcoming course schedule!) As knowledge and exposure about pelvic floor disorders and pelvic PT grows, we see more and more doctoral students attending level 1 courses. And honestly, it makes me so excited about our future! These students are passionate, hungry for knowledge, and can't wait to enter into the field and help people get better! I have mentored many students and new grads over the past several years, and this particular question frequently arises. I hope this post can be helpful for many new grads and DPT students in the future!
Not Your Average Advice For Physical Therapy Students
When students ask the questions listed above, they often are hit with well-intended, but often somewhat discouraging advice:
"You should really do orthopedics for a few years first, and then go into pelvic health."
"I really don't think new grads should go straight into the pelvic health specialty"
"It's really important that you use all of your other skills first so you don't lose them."
While this advice often means very well – aiming to create well-rounded practitioners, I find that this can feel very disheartening to that passionate-about-pelvic-health new grad. So, in that light, my advice is often a little bit different.
I find we are all biased by our own experience, and in reality, many excellent clinicians spent multiple years in different specialties like orthopedics, neuro, acute care etc. prior to specializing in Pelvic PT, so I think there is a tendency to see this as the "best path" to becoming the most skilled clinician. Of course, I am biased the opposite way-- I jumped into pelvic PT immediately upon completing my doctorate, and never looked back. Of course, this has meant that I had to do some work to build upon other skill sets that were needed over the years, but this path worked well for me.
So, why am I telling you all of this, excited-soon-to-be-new-grad? Because, honestly, you can do whatever you are passionate about doing! If you want to take some time to practice in another specialty, do it! If you are just too excited and want to jump right in to pelvic health, welcome aboard! Your experience alone is not going to make you an incredible clinician. Rather, it will be your passion, your hunger for learning, and your dedication to your patients that will fuel your path. So, on that note, here are a few of my top tips for new grads entering into pelvic health!
Top Tips for PT School Grads
Choose an employer who will support your learning journey.
In many ways, it has become very popular for clinics to build pelvic health programs. This is wonderful for patients (if they are committed to building good programs!) and a great opportunity for those entering the field. So, when you interview with an employer who is excited about your pelvic floor interest, ask questions to find out how much support they will give you along the way. Will they pay $$$ for your continuing education courses? Will the provide you time to work with a mentor? Will they support you by providing adequate time in your schedule for your patients (meaning, 45-60 dedicated minutes, not overlapping patients)?
Negotiate for what you want.
This is very very important. When I was first hired as a new grad, I negotiated with my employer for them to pay for me to attend 4 continuing education courses within my first year of employment. This allowed me to complete a full pelvic health curriculum within the year. Now, I realize that may seem a bit ambitious to some, but I considered this my personal "Residency" program and I felt like it gave me the jump start I wanted! So, this can mean negotiating for courses, mentoring time (get it in writing!), or even participation in an online mentoring program – check out mine here!
Find a good mentor.
Of course, my perfect scenario for you involves finding a good job with a good mentor attached to it, but I realize that is not always easy to find. Reach out to local pelvic PTs in your area and connect with someone who is willing and able to be a resource to you! Of course, this can involve meeting periodically for coffee, or could be a more formal mentoring program. If the latter is the case, see point #2.
Don't be afraid to jump ship.
If you start working somewhere and you don't find that you are supported in the way you need to be, or you just don't like the place you are working, it is totally ok for you to find a new job. Seriously. Life is too short to be unhappy where we spend our time.
Be hungry for learning.
I would encourage you to make a plan for attending coursework to help build your knowledge within the specialty. There are many excellent course series out there – Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, the Section on Women's Health, Evidence in Motion, among many others. Of course, I teach with H&W, so would love to have you at one of my classes! :) Check out my online mini-courses with Dr. Sara Reardon DPT (aka The Vagina Whisperer)!
Also, there are so many wonderful opportunities for learning today, outside of traditional continuing education. Read blogs (like this one!). Research conditions and diagnoses that you are not familiar with. Join social media pelvic health groups like Women's Health Physiotherapy and Global Pelvic Physio (both facebook groups!). Attend conferences like the Combined Sections Meeting through the APTA, the International Pelvic Pain Society's Annual Meeting or the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health's Annual Meeting. Come and attend Pelvicon! And don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it!
I hope that is helpful! We are so fortunate to have so many excited and passionate clinicians joining our field! What other tips do you have for those joining this wonderful specialty? What other question do you have my dear PT students? Reach out, I’d love to hear from you!
Professional Resources for High Quality Patient Care
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