Although becoming a new graduate physiotherapist is a great milestone, it also comes with a special set of responsibilities and challenges. It involves more than just working hard and being dedicated; it also involves continuously improving your abilities and learning new things. It’s crucial to find a work environment that prioritises your professional development, while also supporting you during a huge life transition. Working with a team that wants you to be the greatest version of yourself is crucial; success shouldn’t only be determined by patient volume or budgetary goals.
As I moved from university to clinical practice, I saw a wide variety of patient presentations and disorders; some were well-known, while others were entirely unfamiliar. While I learned the fundamentals of physiotherapy in university, I believe actual professional development occurs in the workplace. Clinical reasoning and expertise really grows in the clinic, with practice and supported refinement. That being said, in the absence of appropriate supervision and a systematic approach to ongoing professional development, this may easily become overwhelming. Expert physiotherapists, for example, can identify early symptoms of some illnesses that I may not be aware of at this time. It has been really helpful for me to be able to discuss cases with senior team members. I benefit from their experience and improve patient outcomes.
My development at The Healthy Body Company has been greatly aided by the support I’ve received as part of the graduate program. I’m never alone in the clinic. If I need help, I can always talk to my colleagues in clinic with me, or other senior physiotherapists from any of our offices. Extended consult times for the graduate year are beneficial to my patients because they provide me the opportunity to carefully evaluate complex issues and confer with senior colleagues. I have observed continual improvement in my diagnostic skills and I am confident that my patients receive the best care possible, with this partnership.
Rebecca Fawkes applying k-tape to a patient who is seeking assistance with knee pain.
In addition to this real time support, I engage in weekly one-on-one mentoring meetings with a senior mentor and then every two weeks, I present cases with our other graduates under the guidance of our seasoned senior team members. These opportunities have been crucial in helping me gain confidence, develop my clinical reasoning, and become more capable of handling a wide range of patients effectively and independently.
The Healthy Body Company approach is unique because of its dedication to building a team that enjoys learning from one another, working together, and encouraging one another. Every practitioner has a distinct area of skill, and I’ve benefitted from observing the varied approaches taken by different clinicians. Our team is stronger because of this variety, which is one of the main reasons I chose to come work here. Helping our patients reach their best outcomes—whether it’s getting back into sports, going back to work, or just living pain-free—is our goal.
Being a recent graduate, I have found my experience so far, to be quite fulfilling. I am grateful to be a member of a team that is highly motivated, and committed to professional development and patient care. I’m looking forward to see how my career develops and the chance to keep developing, learning, and improving the lives of my patients.
