PT Day of Service: An Event that the Critical PT Can't Refuse!

For once, I don't have a scathing review about something! I am actually writing in favor of the day and all its related events!

Please pledge to participate in the Global Physical Therapy Day of Service. Once you pledge, you can contact an ambassador in your state to see what projects are available for sign up, or you can create your own project with friends, family, or whoever else might like to participate!

Most of us join the PT field to help others, but this is a great way to demonstrate that passion on a global level! That's right! People in the field of physical therapy will be participating in this event around the world. How is that for unification?

Here is how to participate (the first 4 steps come from the webpage...the last one is my own addition):

1. Go to the 2016 PT Day of Service webpage. Click on the "Pledge to Participate" button in the middle of the screen. Or click here to pledge. 
2. Find an organization to serve or join an existing group through an ambassador in your region. Your ambassadors may also have information on organizations in the area that could really use your assistance as well as directions for contacting those groups. The project can be as big as a service trip to a foreign country or as small as a trail clean-up in your local neighborhood with a  few friends. 
3. Tell EVERYONE. I don't often condone social media, but this is an instance in which you would blast your message to the world to get as much participation (or at least awareness) of this event as possible. 
4. Serve on October 15th, 2016 or within 1 week of this date. 
5. Tell EVERYONE AGAIN! Tell people what fun you had or how you changes lives or how you helped someone in need. Start that conversation of service with others and get them involved too! 

Remember, the world relies on visibility: the more visible the event and your actions, the more the world can be informed of physical therapy and gain access to our services...so let that Tweet flag fly!

To read more about this awesome event can to be, (yeah...literally don't have a single bad thing to say about it....) click here!

PT Day of Service: Tips to a Successful Volunteer Experience

PT Day of Service is fast approaching! I hope that you all will consider participating as it is anticipated to be the biggest one yet! 

Below are some tips and hints for a successful volunteer experience so you will want to keep coming back for more:

1. Contact Locations Early: Sometimes companies can take a while to get back to you if they are really busy. They also may have a long list of groups of volunteers that want to get in to help, so you may need to reserve a spot a month or more ahead of time. This will differ from place to place, but the sooner you call, the sooner you are likely to get a response!
2. Don't Forget the Details: Make sure you do your homework on the place you are volunteering. do they require a specific time contract( 1 day versus a year)? Where are they located? Where should you park/where is the nearest transit stop? What should you bring? How many hours will you spend there? What is the name of the person you need to meet up with? Will it be outdoors/indoors? Should you bring your own water? Getting all of these details early will help you to feel calm and relaxed about your volunteer experience. You may even enjoy it! 
3. Create a Group: Volunteering is much more fun when you do it with someone you know. Take this as an opportunity to build connections and make new friends! You can even create shirts to commemorate the day or take a celebratory selfie. 
4. Contact your Local DPT or PTA Programs: Physical therapy programs in the area may have events already set up and usually need some help as the time grows closer. Contact local schools to see what they are offering for PT Day of Service, and if they aren't planning anything, maybe you can offer an idea or your time/support. It would be a great way for both you and the students to make a community connection!
5. Ask Your Ambassador: Each state usually has 1-2 ambassadors that are running individual service projects. By contacting them, you can easily jump onto a project. 
6. Create Your Own Project! Are you passionate about a community or an organization that would benefit from a service project? Create your own project and notify the ambassador in your area so they can help provide attention to you project as an alternative to theother events occuring throughout the 2 week period. 

If you have not yet pledged, you can do so here!

The CPT Code

I hope those of you will get the humor in the title; ironic, no? Anyways, here are 6 ways that I allow myself to think critically and step out of that stupid box that keeps getting slipped under us.

Image courtesy of http://bettermontanajobs.com/the-need-for-dissent-in-innovation/ 

1. Dislike the idea, not the person. Good people can have bad ideas and bad people can have good ideas. Believing the contrary to this is actually a logical fallacy known as "ad hominem." I disagree with my loved ones on things all the time. My parents and I have different political ideals. Is that grounds for dismissal of them form my life? Not so long as we aren't harming each other. I love my parents. I don't love some of their ideals. This isn't always simple. but it is still straight-forward.
2. Instead of "us" and "them," be aware that there are more than those 2 views. Debates are rarely broken up into just two parties (although our political system would have you fooled this time of year). This actually is done for brevity sake. This stratification also insinuates that you can't have opinions that encompass or dismiss both sides because it doesn't fit in with the nomenclature being used. You are allowed to have an opinion other than the 2 options being presented to you at the moment. 
3. Let's just forget "us" and "them" altogether, shall we. Who are those people anyways? What dictates an "us"? How do we define "them"? These are terms used to rile you up and think there is an enemy out there that is out to get you. By creating an enemy, people in power are able to control you better by causing you to fear. (Go Google the Red Scare from the 1950's for a great example.)
4. Don't get emotional. You are defending your idea; not yourself, and if the person you are speaking with is attacking you (calling names, insinuating you are below average intelligence) then to be honest, they have already lost the debate and they aren't constructive conversation. The best example of this is when The Young Turks were taken over at the RNC this week. Both groups got overtly emotional and angry and it turned into a matter than security had to address. While I am pro-TYT, they lost the debate (if you can even call it that) due to their reaction.
5. You are the expert, until you aren't. Look, we've all been there. We have our perfectly formulated ideas and rebuttals, and then SMACK. Someone hits us with evidence we weren't aware of and it changes everything! Now you have some options here. You can either announce the discussion is over and leave; hear out the other party, but not actually look to understand their position; or you can ask them questions and explore that point into more depth. It's your choice, but I highly suggest the last one. What is the point of conversation if you are unable to learn something from it anyways? If you continue under your current paradigm, knowing that evidence is out there to refute your claim, you are doing yourself, as well as the scientific community a disservice. Many people see changing their opinion as "losing," but if you have learned something for free, isn't that still #winning? Take the "loss" and walk away a better person. This will help you in the long run when it comes to future debates.  
6. Pros and Cons are relative. There. I said it. It should be obvious, but we don't like to think that our precious morals and ethics are as greyscale at Ser Jorah Mormont (spoiler!). Let me make my point more clear: If you are debating an issue that is moral (such as not killing people), then any pros for that topic would also be moral and any cons would be immoral. Now lets make the issue an immoral one (such as murder). Now any pros for this topic are immoral and any cons are now moral. Its all about perspective, and its important to remember that. 

I took the NPTE...now what?

Dear Reader,

You are taking the boards this week...Congrats! You have officially made it through one of the toughest parts of your academic career and are about to take the ultimate test of your PT knowledge. It's also most likely to be one of the most stressful moments of your life. I mean, you've prepped for around 3 years. You've taken almost every practice test you could get your hands on. You've paid out the ass to even get to this point. You've memorized what both O'Sullivan and Giles have to say about the test format. You are ready, my friend!

But what happens after you finish the test? After 5 grueling hours your body is fatigued, confused, and battered. It might seem like impending doom is just around the corner. You thought you were going to rock it, but now you aren't so sure...How do you cope with this identity crisis??? Lots of blogs and articles tell you about how to prepare for the test, but most fail to mention the after-effects of such an event.

Here are some very helpful tips for taking care of your mind and body after completing the NPTE:

1. Leave the testing center with your head held-high. You amazing person. Not only did you just take what might have been the hardest exam of your LIFE, but you also woke up, got dress, and dragged your ass out of bed even though you knew that a great challenge laid ahead. For that, I salute you. You should already see yourself as a winner just for facing the day you have been dreading for years. You are courageous, you matter, and you ROCK! 
2. Set a specific time to review materials and then WALK AWAY. I know that it is all too temping to sit down with the the Scorebuilders book after the test and re-read the whole damn thing, but DON'T. Pick 5 topics you want to look over before leaving the testing center. Give yourself 30 or so minutes to leaf through your notes once you leave, but not a second more. If you don't have enough control to self-regulate this, then get a friend to physically remove you from your materials and provide a distraction. There is no harm in a little friendly redirection in this situation. Otherwise,you might spend hours agonizing over what you cannot control and has already been done. Walk away. Move on. And don't torture yourself over things you cannot change. 
3. Re-hydrate. Even if you drank enough water before the test and used your scheduled break for  water/bathroom trip, you will still be dehydrated due to the high stress your body was under during that time. Drink water and juice/sports drink/whatever to replenish those electrolytes and fluids. Avoid alcohol as it can only further dehydrate you. Your body has just experienced a mass metabolic freak out and replacing the water in your body allows for it to continue to facilitate those chemical reactions to calm itself down.
4. Refuel. Everyone talks about bringing a snack for during the test, but you should also bring one for after the exam as well. Sitting and thinking for 5 hours, even with the occasional water or bathroom break is mentally taxing. While your butt is planted, your brain has been running a marathon and needs to replenish itself. Bring a carbohydrate snack to help recuperate your noggin. Also, eating it before you leave to drive home is a great idea for both your and everyone else's safety on the road. 
5. Reward yourself. Look, pass or fail you have just accomplished a feat that not many other college grads can say they have. Passing PT school, prepping for the test, and sitting through the exam is no joke. You have earned a reward for all the effort you have put into this moment. If you are on a specific diet, reward yourself with a post-test cheat meal. Or maybe go out and buy that new PS4 game you've wanted. Utilize a little retail therapy at the mall. Get a pedicure/manicure. Buy items for PokemonGo! Pick something based on pure lusting want, and not a basic need. Also, give yourself a big pat on the back while doing it. 
6. Stay the hell away from social media and other people who have taken the test. Don't let your classmates or friends rile you up. Everyone and their sister is a nervous Ned coming out of that exam. It's all too tempting to ask your friend about what they answered on certain questions, so don't put yourself in that situation. Not only is this illegal, but it also keeps your body in a constant state of stress, making it impossible to calm yourself down and allow your body and mind to heal. Also, go dark on social media for a while. Ignore the panic. Give yourself some time to get your own emotions under control before immersing yourself into the land of web. This is something that I practiced for the majority of my major exams in PT school as I had several classmates that would work each other up into a frenzy. Not only was their ritual detrimental to my cool, but it was also annoying as hell to witness. 
7. Have a Post-Test Game Plan. You can incorporate the above tips into an overall plan for the rest of your day. Don't let yourself aimlessly wander through textbook after textbook, only to find discrepancies that make you even more nervous. Do something else! Go for a run to get out your jitters (after you re-hydrate and refuel please!). Volunteer at a local animal shelter for the added stress relief of doing something productive, but also being around adorable baby animals! Go home and play video games until your eyes bleed. Download PokemonGo and find out what all the hype is about! I really could care less what your plan is (unless its illegal...then don't!), but just have something else to do to take your mind off of the test.

This is how I managed my post-test stress: Because the size of the town my school was in was so small, I had to travel to take my test. I got there the night before, had a good dinner and went to bed early. I got up early and got to the testing center. After taking the test I already had a game plan for what I was to do next. I scoped out an IHOP right next to the testing center and had my cheat meal for the day right then and there without shame. Then I drove to a neighboring town to visit with my best friend's grandmother whom I hadn't seen in three years. Once I arrived, it was time for lunch, so I snacked throughout the meal and chatted with a whole host of people. One person I met was a WWII veteran who stormed the beaches of Normandy. Talk about a reality check. Suddenly my life seemed pretty damn good as I had this unexpected stranger suddenly put everything into perspective for me. I drove home that afternoon, went for a run, had dinner with a friend for a few hours, and headed to bed early. Other than driving a few hours to take a super expensive test, it was kind of business as usual for me. Once I returned home I kept up my normal evening routine, which helped make the previous day feel like a really weird dream sequence the next morning. I then managed to ignore the majority of my classmates who had taken the exam for the next week until scores were posted. I was able to successfully calm myself down, and I wanted to stay that way as I had a thesis defense as well as a graduation ceremony coming up, for which I didn't want to be sick. For me, my program allowed us to take the test in April, and we still had courses flanking the exam, so I was able to fall right back into my routine of classes, work, and research without falter. This really helped make the transition back to "normal" a lot more seamless. 

Bottom line guys, YOU GOT THIS! No matter what happens in that test, stick to your routine and grab an accountability buddy if you think that you might have a hard time with that. A little structure after such a chaotic 5 hours can go a long way in taking care of yourself. Listen to your body and don't be afraid to be a little selfish after CRUSHING the test. 

Your Colleague, 

Heidi S Moyer, PT, DPT

We've Come So Far, but We've Got so Far to Go: A Social Narrative by Hannah Althof

Overall, Chris Hayhurst wrote a very respectful piece on transgender healthcare. It’s clear that he did his due diligence in researching the issues that transgender people face when they seek out medical care.

However, Hayhurst’s overarching problem within his article is how he describes transgender people’s “biological” sex. He says Keelin Godsey, whom he repeatedly references in his article, was “born and remains legally female but identifies as male.” This contradicts itself. Godsey identifies as male - therefore, he was born male. Godsey being “legally female” is the author’s own description and is, in itself, transphobic. For this article, Hayhurst did amazing research on the medical issues that transgender people face but he seems to have done very little research into the social aspect of transgender people. Had he done so, he would not have referred to Godsey as female in any way. Godsey’s legal gender identity (and, indeed, his sexual organs) has no bearing on this article. Simply referring to Godsey as a transgender male would have been more than sufficient.

This ties directly to my next problem with Hayhurst’s article. In his “creating a friendly practice” subheading, he discusses “properly worded intake forms.” Hayhurst is correct that the current practice of having the patient check the tickbox for either male or female sends a message to the transgender community. However, one of his sources, Daniela Mead, says the same thing about her transgender patients as Hayhurst did when introducing Keelin Godsey. Mead uses an example of a female patient who is biologically male. The questions she would add to intake forms are similar - she would include “what was your gender assigned at birth”” and “what is your current gender identity?” - which many transgender people will find transphobic. Hayhurst follows this stating that Godsey agrees with Mead’s ideas but the quote Hayhurst uses doesn’t show this. Godsey says that “intake forms should give the patient the opportunity to tell you everything you need to know.” Godsey doesn’t mention anything about “gender assigned at birth” or “current gender identity.” Many transgender people balk at discussing any of this but most recognize the necessity of being 100% honest and upfront with doctors. Godsey’s idea - which I agree with more than Mead - would give the patient the space to explain their identity as necessary.

To be fair, a lot of these overarching problems are not the fault of Hayhurst or Mead. In the entire medical community, there is an entire lack of understanding of transgender identity. A transgender man is not biologically female. He is a man, full stop. the medical community needs to improve its understanding. A vagina is just a vagina. It is not female anatomy, nor does it prove that someone is biologically female. Intersex people prove that there isn't just penis or vagina, so why does the medical community insist on making these changes?

About the Author: Hannah Althof graduated from Arizona State University in 2013 with a bachelors degree in English Literature and minors in Psychology & LGBT Studies. She is an LGBTQ activist always looking to increase her knowledge of how the world intersects with the LGBTQ community with the outlook towards improving related social needs issues. She also serves as the editor and creative consultant of this blog.

Read the assenting opinion here.

PT in Motion: Appropriately Handling Sensitive Issues

From www.lgbthealthwellness.com

In the latest edition of PT in Motion, spreading from pages 16 to 22, was an article that has been a long time coming. It was titled "Managing Patients who are Transgender," and focused on many of the aspects of health care that serve as barriers to this population and what physical therapy can do to advocate for our patients. I really, really enjoyed this article and would like to offer an analysis of some of the context within the article to prove just how important this article really is to our community as a whole.

1. Navigating a Complicated Health Care System. People who are transgender face unique obstacles as well as barriers to their care. Access to care has three realms: financial, provider knowledge/available services, and pursuance of such care by the consumer (the patient). This article addresses each realm as an important aspect of physical therapy. As the article lists, individuals who are transgender can be strapped with a myriad of other health costs including hormone replacements, surgical procedures, and other medical-related expenses. Further barriers exist within an underlying general distrust of the medical community for fear of judgement or denial of services. These obstructions serve as an opportunity for the field of physical therapy to act as an advocate for our patients who are facing these issues, transgender or not. Through these enhanced interactions, we can further advocate for direct access to our patients through being a provider that is truly on the forefront of patient championing. 
2. Clinical Tips and Tricks.  The article starts with a bang by painting a great picture of the barriers that transgender individuals face, but it then picks up further momentum as the author offers solutions to these issues. So now, not only have we been educated on the issue, we also have no excuses for being able to address some of these issues. I particularly enjoyed the added push of the importance of individualized conversation regarding gender identity in order to appropriately and safely screen patients for systemic issues. A simple check box is not adequate to gain trust and promote full disclosure within the PT/patient relationship. With this, the author has made a statement that providing inappropriate care is not only an ethical issue, but also a potential malpractice issue as well. We can't ignore items of our patients' medical history because it makes us uncomfortable. Finally, we are also given a myriad of resources for additional information, further pushing the "no excuses" attitude of this article. 
3. Style and Grace. Not only does the article list all of these very important issues out and pair them with possible solutions, but it also does so with great sensitivity and objective perspective. Its states the facts, stays away from controversy that is based on emotion, and even delivers general knowledge on terminology to provide education for those who many not be familiar with this realm of the human experience. This article was composed in such a non-threatening and logical way that I personally haven't seen more of an uproar about it. But perhaps the best part about this article is the actual title itself. The way the words are ordered, this title demonstrates people-first language. The person comes before any qualifier that can be applied to them.  These people are our patients, first and foremost. Secondarily, they are defined as transgender. This is important for not only individuals who are transgender, but also patients who have chronic pain, a learning disability, or any other medical issue. This helps keep humanity and humility in the forefront of our minds as we tackle this controversial topic. 

Coming from a program in a small town in Texas, this was a hot topic among my classmates, professors, and the rest of the professional community as a whole. I knew that the moment I brought this topic up during a discussion related to pelvic floor treatments I had made a grave mistake. The class erupted into such a ruckus that not only did I not get my question answered, but people persevered on it for the next few days as well. As someone who completed their undergraduate degree in Flagstaff, Arizona, this reaction was completely foreign to me. It was shocking how the conversation was turned about from focusing on caring for the patient to a selfish rant on why being transgender is offensive to them. As members of the field of physical therapy, we need to remember this is not about us, it's about our patients (go read the APTA Code of Ethics if you don't believe me). Additionally, as a professional, if I am not able to put my personal beliefs aside for the benefit of my patients, then I have no business being in the healthcare field. Compassion extends outwards towards others, it does not inwardly project.

I have seen many narrow-minded comments and arguments both on and off-line in relation to this topic. One of the most frequent, as well as disturbing comments I have witnessed is, "It doesn't matter if they are trans, everyone should be treated the same." So if I have two patients with recent ACL repair and one is 16 and the other is 60... I should treat their rehab the same? Or if I have a patient s/p stroke, and one is 300 pounds and the other is 100 pounds, I should treat them the same? There is so much wrong with this statement that it literally makes my blood boil. As the article states (in purple bold face, I might add), patients who are transgender have certain unique needs. To ignore these needs is to deny vital and deserved services to a community of individuals who have already faced discrimination as the hands of the medical system. Let's be different. Let's show the world that we are equipped and open to serve all members of the community and that we take direct access for all populations seriously. 

For more resources, I highly suggest checking out Chris Mosier's website Transathlete. Chris is the first ever athlete, who is transgender, featured in ESPN's Body Issue.

Read the dissenting opinion article by clicking here.

Welcome to the 76th Annual Profit Games!

I have seen this post pop up on my news feed several times and each time I see it, I get chills. No, not chills... more like an allergic reaction to the terrible way cash-based physical therapy practices are presented.

First, I would like to point out that the clinics owned by this individual are in the UK, not the US, meaning that it's likely for rules and regulations to be slightly different than those we are familiar with. I am not certain about transparency laws in the UK, so I am not insinuating that that is being done here is illegal or unethical (ethics are relative to the country and healthcare system in play). No doubt, this individual runs several successful clinics and is a high profile character, meaning that is unlikely anything he is doing is wrong. What I am stating is that I disagree with how he is doing it and how he is encouraging others to do it.

For those of you that have not clicked on the link, it is essentially a list of tips on how to get your patients to pay cash when they ask if you accept their insurance. The article is definitely worth a read to comprehend the full context for this analysis.

Now...let us dissent.

I have several  qualms with this article as a whole, so I will try to keep it as categorical as possible for the sake of brevity. I have resisted the urge to write a line by line review (let's just call it a moment of personal growth), so below are a list of the top three moral sins committed by the blog post:

1. Painting our patients as unintelligent.  I have a real problem with people who treat consumers as idiots. In the advent of the internet, people from any level of education, socioeconomic status, or creed have the opportunity to research physical therapy as well as the healthcare field in general. It may not make them an expert, but it makes them more knowledgeable than they were 20 years ago. I have met some patients who are more familiar with the system than most seasoned clinicians. I don't agree with the idea that the patient doesn't know how to ask any other questions, as the author blatantly states. Furthermore, the author goes on to describe the interaction as no different than a guy throwing out cheesy pick up lines at a bar. How degrading. Maybe I bring a different perspective to this argument as I am of the female persuasion while the author is male...but these ethanol-enhanced conversations can be awkward and down-right threatening on the receiving end...which is not how I would like to paint my interactions with my patients. Demoting an important question regarding financial services to nothing more than a misogynistic conversational exchange between two parties at a bar is completely unprofessional and unacceptable. It also isn't funny as I suspect it was intended to be.
2. Anticipating  an uncomfortable response. Now, I can't say that I am innocent from this critique, as one of the major purposes of this blog is to stir people up and get them thinking critically about issues they otherwise wouldn't be pondering about. However, the author describes that his method may be awkward for people to execute. Now, feeling uncomfortable while thinking about something (my blog) versus feeling uncomfortable while doing something (this idea) are two completely different beasts. This leads one to ask the resounding question: why? Why should something claimed to be so simple and so right be so difficult? Because reading from a script and not answering a question that a patient is asking you is deceptive and borderline unethical according to the APTA's core values; mainly altruism (placing the patient's needs above the physical therapist's) and integrity (being trustworthy). If is sounds deceitful and it feels deceitful, then it probably is deceitful. And there is a huge difference between thinking like a deviant and acting like one.
3. Deceptively deceitful. For the remainder of the article, the author insists that you don't answer their question directly with a yes/no. That's right. Do not answer the clients question. Seems a little deceptive to me. This is similar to you asking a used car salesperson if the vehicle has been in an accident and the salesperson replied that is has recently had work done to upgrade its quality. This is a sneaky tactic to manipulate the consumer for your own benefit. Instead of losing out on clientele or from profits due to insurance stipulations, you aren't being forthcoming with information. This means that you are not providing all of the information necessary for the consumer to make an informed decision....which is kind of important, particularly in the eyes of the Nuremberg code which is an international credo. 

Cash-based clinics are popping up all over the nation and are a huge trend in physical therapy today. As insurance companies set tighter stipulations and regulations for what we can and cannot do (when they THEY get their PT degree, huh?), clinicians are needing to seek other ways to build revenue. I have no qualms with cash-based clinics, but I believe that this method of marketing is shady at best. Furthermore, it doesn't paint us in the most ethical light for the general public as a whole or other factions of the healthcare community which might not be our biggest fans (*cough cough* AMA). 

Dear Students, Your Program is Working for You, Not Against You.

Normally I try to post on a topic that isn't highly popular and at least attempt to present both sides to some extent while giving merits to the side I disagree with. This aim isn't difficult as the other side always has a good purpose they are trying to achieve. Well... today's post is a little different. It is more a commentary on student attitudes and work ethic; and honey, it ain't pretty. This commentary extends beyond the DPT curriculum, and is easily applicable to many fields of study, however due to my limited experience with those other programs, I am keeping a narrow focus on PT programs.

Now, let us dissent. 

Time and time again I have seen/heard the phrase "this class/teacher is trying to fail me". Speaking from my experiences with the DPT program I came from, this is not the case, and those who allow this kind of thinking to prevail are just as guilty as those voicing it.

Look, I get it. Sometimes classes are hard and its difficult to see the light amid a bunch of brain slices or psychometric measures. I've been in danger of failing before and it's wasn't a picnic. But the moment you begin to lose value in the challenge of your education, you've already failed. That's right. If you think that big bad test (which, by the way, the majority of graduated students have passed), don't even wait for the failing grade. Go home. Give up. You obviously no longer value your education so why stick around and whine about it while the rest of your classmates are actually taking the experience seriously?


The use of this phrase is a deadly cycle in the educational system today. In the advent of social media, what we say has a lot more pull. Its not always white noise...some people do pay attention and will remember what you say, so think about the repercussions before posting your grievances to be immortalized on the internet. (Even I wait about a week after composing a post before publishing it to make sure that the passion behind my ideas are driven by logic and not purely emotion.)

This behavior also perpetuates serious fear mongering among next years students. The class behind you enters the curriculum with preconceived notions that its the Kobayashi Maru of PT classes, which it obviously isn't as the program you are in has most likely graduated a class or two unless they are in the accreditation process. Now you have just tainted what might have been a  rewarding and challenging class for another student by priming them with self-doubt and fear. So now not only are you disrupting your own educational potential, but now you have just ruined the same opportunity for another student. Not exactly a shining moment.

I saw this a lot in other students as our curriculum got harder. It was disheartening to hear these brilliant minds thinking our professors (who slaved over a lesson plan and researched for hours to put together a lecture on the latest and greatest techniques) were just out to get us and didn't care about our performance. Wrong. If they didn't care, then they would tell us to read the book and be prepared for a test in 16 weeks. They wouldn't answer our questions, they wouldn't ask us to share our experiences, and they certainly wouldn't be willing to meet outside of class.

A DPT-level education isn't easy. You can't coast by in it, nor should you. I am always surprised at how students are stunned that they don't just deliver the answers to us on a silver platter. Um.... This isn't grammar school. Because that isn't a great way to retain information. And who is going to want a PT that just did the bare minimum work and lets others tell them how it should be done? You are much more marketable for yourself and to your patients if you go out and actively seek answers and *gasp* ask for help when appropriate.

The "Us versus Them" argument is pervasive throughout society. It appears in sports rivalries, world conflict, and now, premiering in a classroom near you! Your professors are not working against you by challenging you, they are training you to think critically and work hard to find the answer. They are actually training you in real-world problem solving, because once you graduate, you may need to find answers by yourself on occasion without a teacher to guide you. While exploring your ability to fulfill this task in an environment where you have mentorship and a moderate level of protection, they are giving you the best gift they possibly can: autonomy.  And I would consider that a pretty important endowment, seeing as its one of the 4 main principles behind medical ethics. By not babying you and handing you a passing grade, teachers are acting in a completely ethical manner.

Furthermore, challenging the young minds of tomorrow ensures the future of the field of physical therapy. It raises a generation of problem solvers who can look into complex situations and maintain the velocity in which the APTA is currently traveling. To act in a manner contrary to this would jeopardize our future. I also have a feeling that your professors are challenging everyone equally. It would be silly to only challenge a few students and not the rest, such as giving different tests or excluding some from extra credit opportunities (also illegal). If it seems like other students are successful with a similar challenge, you might want to investigate how they are approaching the topic. Use them as a resource for your own success; there is no shame in that. They might have insight that you don't.

And yes, I will say that occasionally everyone in the class fails a test. In that case, investigate what happened! Was it a new test that hasn't been given before? Is the professor new and maybe needs some time for acclimation? Both parties can benefit from the self-discovery involved in this situation. Also, purposely trying to fail a specific student or a group of students, is not only unethical, its also illegal. It's also the reason why honor and academic committees are in play. If you feel like this is seriously the case, then take action; don't just gripe about it on social media. This is a serious allegation and it should be dealt with on a no-tolerance level. And if you're not serious enough about these allegations, then keep your thumbs still. It looks bad on you for complaining and it looks bad on the program/professor.

So do yourself a big favor and look at the situation as an opportunity for professional growth instead of a personal attack. Your education is an investment; take it as such. And remember: YOU applied, YOU interviewed, and YOU volunteered to be here, so why play the victim when the only person responsible for your predicament is you? Take charge and go the extra mile. Schedule an appointment with your professor for extra help. Start a study group. You would be surprised that when you do more than just the bare minimum to pass, you might actually retain something...which comes in handy for boards. Is PT school hard? YES. But is there a way to get through it. YES, multiple, in fact. You just need to think critically, utilize your resources, and optimize the opportunity you have at hand.