Annika Seifart: Sports to Success
I have played sports my entire life. My parents put me on every sports team imaginable. When I was in first grade, I set foot on a soccer field for the first time. In summer gymnastics league, I learned to cartwheel and backbend. On the middle school swim team, I learned I was not very good at butterfly. In high school, I won a soccer title with a team of girls who did not speak the same language as me.
Growing up, playing sports has taught me a lot about the value of communication, unity, and selflessness. Now, as a college athlete, I have learned what it means to be on a team and work towards something bigger than myself.
Observing in clinical settings is a vital task that almost all aspiring healthcare workers normally complete before applying to graduate schools. This task can seem monotonous and daunting due to the lack of responsibility, but it plays a key role in shaping future health professionals. It is often one of the first roles that future health workers go through. Observation provides a unique opportunity to step into the role of a professional, understand clinical decision-making, and witness the flow of patient interaction and care. Observing without pay may seem useless, but it holds greater importance than any textbook can provide.
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to observe many different settings in the physical therapy profession. This role was set up with the University of Florida Health's rehabilitation services. I spent three to five days a week in clinical settings. I also observed at a private physical therapy clinic in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Exploring these different settings gave me a deep understanding of the dynamics between physical therapists (PTs) and patients and the characteristics needed to succeed in the field.
Before stepping into a physical therapist's office, I assumed there would be more of a defined hierarchical chain of command characterized by brief transactional interactions with patients while they were provided care. I imagined it would be strictly clinical and task-oriented, emphasizing physical recovery. As it turns out, I was wrong.
I enjoyed my time the most observing the acute patient care center for physical therapy at UF Health Jacksonville. This location is home to North Florida’s level 1 trauma center. There, I was exposed to many severe cases concerning senior citizens to newborn infants. Here, physical therapists are required to always remain on their toes to provide reactive and accurate care.
On a typical day, I arrive at the hospital at 7:30 a.m. I make my way to the physical therapy offices and meet with my assigned physical therapist, whom I follow around. I noticed that the workspaces are set up in an open layout. Here, the PTs share centralized desks to chart and ensure discussion and collaboration. The PT I was with was very knowledgeable and passionate. The physical therapists often asked me about my passions and interests in the field. They engaged with me by asking me what I would do in specific scenarios as we saw different patients. This challenged me to apply my academic knowledge to practical scenarios.
We would go around the hospital as he attended to his patients. Often, the PT and an occupational therapist (OT) would work together on one patient. I watched them help patients try and stand up, move their limbs, stretch, and become more mobile while staying in the hospital. PTs must create a collaborative, hands-on relationship with each patient. In turn, the patient has to respond by performing the exercises given.
Additionally, I noticed the relationship between the PT and the patient was very friendly. This is because the PT had been working with the patients for some time and got to know them on a more personal level. Small talk was often exchanged back and forth. When the PT was finished with a couple of the patients, we went back up to the workstations and charted the progress. This shared space is where the PT can lean on other team members to discuss further plans of action.
I noticed this form of work style was very similar in all the PT clinics I observed. The clinics always have an open layout to provide the main treatment, and the PT desks are centralized. No one had their own office like typical office buildings. It was a very casual atmosphere. There was no clear boss or leader. If they required assistance from co-workers, they communicated leisurely with positive responses. Unlike normal work settings where individual advancement is desired, and knowledge may be withheld to gain an edge, PT clinics aim to promote collective improvement.
My initial impression of physical therapists had changed, broadening my awareness of the behaviors practiced in physical therapy. What I thought would be a very formal and hierarchical work setting became casual and collaborative. An acknowledged shared purpose forms a sense of community and productivity in the office. Collaborative environments allow employees to learn from one another and create an engaged workforce. This way, members feel unified and needed. The PTs were always very communicative towards me, allowing me to engage with the patients and operations of the clinic. This is a key aspect of physical therapy clinics. There is a need for healthy communication not only between physical therapists but also between patients.
After completing this observational experience, I was surprised to find strong parallels between being a teammate and the skills needed to build a healthy work environment. Many qualities go hand in hand and carry over throughout life.
Playing mostly team sports has ingrained in my mind that no one person is responsible for the success or failure of the team. My teammates and I constantly lean on one another for support and guidance with the team’s best interest in mind.
Physical therapists rely on a supportive environment where other team members and specialists are encouraged to advise and aid the patient’s recovery. Selflessness is another fundamental attribute of a team. As athletes, we are aiming to win championships and make a name for ourselves as a group, not for personal ambitions. Selflessness encourages empathy. It allows physical therapists to make their patients feel heard and show that they genuinely care rather than just going through the motions.
I have learned the values of teamwork and how every role contributes to success. These values have taught me to celebrate successes, encourage feedback, and communicate in everyday life. I hope that I can translate what I saw in the physical therapy clinics and what I already know to become an impactful health worker in someone’s journey through life.
Annika Seifart is a Biology major, Chemistry minor, and Business Administration minor who observed at physical therapy clinics throughout Jacksonville, Florida over the summer. She is also a four-year member of the Lander University Women’s Soccer team. She will graduate from Lander University in May 2025. After graduation, she plans to gain work experience and travel before applying to graduate school.