Internships and clinical experiences provide college students the opportunity to apply their education and prepare for their careers. They are especially beneficial when they learn from professionals who were once in their shoes.
Noah Novak is a perfect example. As a graduate student in Slippery Rock University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Novak is completing his clinical rotations at Precision Physical Therapy and Performance, an outpatient clinic in Allison Park that is privately owned and operated by two graduates of SRU’s DPT program.
“Schools can only prepare you so much but having that real-world experience is really beneficial and it challenges you to improve more,” said Novak, a native of Greensburg (Greensburg Salem HS), who earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from SRU in 2022. “I really enjoyed the hands-on experience at SRU in the exercise science program. It prepared me for PT school, which is a rigorous program that’s three years and go year-round, but it’s well worth because it prepares you for your career.”
The third year of SRU’s DPT program includes 30 weeks of full-time clinical work in a variety of practices across the country, from geriatrics in hospitals to sports performance clinics like Precision, which has a clinical affiliation with SRU.
Michael and Karly Allen, both 2006 graduates of the SRU DPT program, opened Precision seven years ago and they enjoy working with students like Novak from their alma mater.
“We want to give back like people did for us,” said Karly, who completed clinicals as an SRU student in Ohio, Hawaii and at a hospital in Pittsburgh, including a spinal cord injury unit. “You learn your academic work within the program curriculum, but in your third year you are out in the field the whole time, doing the nitty gritty. Having students here is important to help the profession and guide young professionals who are going to be up and coming and contributing to our field.”
Versatility of Practice
Like Allen, Novak was provided the opportunity to explore different practices and clinical settings. After doing inpatient and outpatient clinical work in the fall at Concordia Lutheran Ministries, a skilled nursing facility, and at Drayer Physical Therapy, Novak is finishing at Precision in the spring where he developed a greater understanding and appreciation for the intersection of strength and fitness training and physical therapy.
“I really enjoy helping people and I found a way to combine that with exercise,” Novak said. “PT is a great way to help people with their movement and helping them through exercise, rather than giving them a shot or a pill.”
The Allens developed a return-to-sport program at Precision tailored for athletes of all ages who were discharged from PT but who are not ready to return to their sport and remain at risk for reinjury.
Novak learned about how he can better serve different populations through physical therapy, not just athletes.
“I also see a lot of value in working with older populations and in skilled nursing facilities,” Novak said. “That’s one of the great things about PT; there are a lot of avenues you can take and try different things.”
Historical Connections
And the more professionals who are out in field, the more opportunities students have to connect with alumni.
“We value our clinical partners, and we value them even more when they are alumni because they are vested in our program and they understand the needs of our students,” said Chris Hughes, professor of physical therapy, who served as an adviser for both Novak and Karly Allen. “That’s a huge plus because they know how we train them, they know what they need and they’ve been there themselves.”
“I really loved the program at SRU; the faculty, the facilities and curriculum are great,” Karly Allen said. “I had opportunities to go to other universities but Slippery Rock was by far the best.”
SRU first offered a PT master’s degree in 1988, seven years before becoming only the third such program in the country to transition to a doctoral program. Although the program remains relatively small, with a cohort of 50 students, it is well-respected in the field for having professionals working with some of the top sports and health care organizations in the country, including the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
“A huge part of that is connections,” Hughes said. “Our network is so much more expansive for having a program for more than 35 years. Our alumni are leaders in the field, and they love taking our students for clinicals. We also benefit as a program. Alumni like Mike and Karly are very innovative and we rely on them to get updates about trends in the field.”
Rewarding Profession
Novak learned many lessons from his time at Precision, but his biggest takeaway focused on providing the best possible care.
“It’s about treating the person, not the condition,” Novak said. “You must take into consideration the patient’s activities and their daily life. Are they playing pickleball and warming up properly when they play? You have to provide a comprehensive plan of care for patients.”
Novak echoed Karly Allen’s patient-centered approach that is similar to their eagerness to give back and help others, whether for patients or emerging professionals –– it’s all based on their foundational education at SRU.
“I love the profession,” Karly added. “The best part is the reward of seeing someone come in, figuring out what’s wrong, finding a solution and helping them get back to what they enjoy doing.”
More information about the DPT program is available on the program webpage.
