3 - 5 pm: Pathways in Practice: Navigating Your First Years as a PT - Panel Discussion
This interactive panel discussion brings together practicing physical therapists from diverse clinical settings—including acute care, home health, hospital outpatient, VA, and private practice—to provide real-world insight into life as an early-career clinician. Additionally, it consists of physical therapists and former PTAs who had various paths to gaining experience through residency training. Through a moderated question-and-answer format, attendees will explore the day-to-day realities of each setting, common challenges faced in the first years of practice, and strategies for professional growth. This session is designed to help students and new graduates make informed career decisions, gain confidence in their transition to practice, and better understand the wide range of opportunities within the physical therapy profession.
Following the moderated question and answer session, panelists will assume locations around the room, and attendees can move around the room for more personal conversations with panelists who they would like to learn more from.