If you’re interested in exploring a career in the health services field, physical therapy (PT) is an excellent way to combine your interests in how the human body works with your passion for helping people reach their best potential.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 17 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Helping People Be Their Best Selves
One of the main factors that many cite for pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is the ability to change people’s lives.
“I was a dancer and got injured, and the doctor I met with prescribed medications and a whole month of bedrest for a sprained ligament,” says Anat Lubetzky, associate professor of physical therapy at NYU Steinhardt. “When I went to a physical therapist, he diagnosed the same issue, we worked together for 10 days, and I was back to dancing. As physical therapists, we get to use our critical thinking skills to solve problems effectively and help empower patients to thrive.”
Growing up in Missouri, current NYU Steinhardt physical therapy student Alexis Edwards always knew she wanted to go into a health field; she became interested in physical therapy when she realized what an impact she could have on people’s lives.
“At age 11, I went back to China and visited the orphanage that I was adopted from as an infant,” says Edwards. “A lot of the kids there had physical disabilities that made them ineligible for adoption. However, many of their impairments could easily be addressed here in the United States with interventions like physical therapy. It made me see how lucky I am to live the life I have, and it inspired me to want to work with pediatrics and underserved populations in my future career.”
Flexibility for a Lifelong Career
Another aspect that makes physical therapy a strong career choice is the wide scope of professional flexibility, with paths including orthopedic, neurologic, cardiovascular, geriatric, pediatric, home care, in-patient, outpatient, sports, and more. Students receive curricular training in these areas and undertake clinical placements in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, nursing homes, and more for hands-on learning.
“As a student at NYU, I had clinical experiences at Bellevue Hospital where I worked with patients with psychiatric disorders and on the prison floor, as well as experiences in an orthopedic clinic, a skilled nursing home, a lymphedema clinic, a sensory gym for pediatrics, and more,” says Rosie Sheehan (DPT ’16), who is now the senior director of quality assurance and professional development at FOX Rehabilitation Services in New Jersey. “A physical therapy career can be a long one, and with these kinds of experiences, I have the foundation to know that I have the opportunity to take many different directions in my career.”
A Promising Career Direction
Physical therapy is a promising career direction for many. In fact, physical therapy currently ranks #3 in Best Health Care Jobs and #6 in 100 Best Jobs, according to U.S. News & World Report.
With small class sizes, a broad curriculum that emphasizes multiple systems of the body, and a vibrant location in Manhattan’s thriving medical district, NYU Steinhardt’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree is a comprehensive PT program that will help you build your knowledge and skills in all aspects of physical therapist practice – cardiovascular/pulmonary, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and the body’s other systems – with a major emphasis on exercise.
If you are looking for a no-capstone-project program in which you’ll gain invaluable clinical experience at a selection of more than 500 placement sites across the country, then NYU Steinhardt could be the place for you.
Learn more about NYU Steinhardt’s Doctor of Physical Therapy — including what makes our program special — and request more information today.