I began my postprofessional Doctor of Physical Therapy journey at A.T. Still University 25 years after completing my initial physical therapy degree. When others learn of my journey, they often ask me three questions: ‘Why?,’ ‘Why now?,’ and ‘Why ATSU’?

Why? I am a firm believer that a growth mindset is critical for both professional and personal success. During my years as a practicing orthopedic physical therapist, I pursued growth as a clinician and as a clinical educator. Clinical education of physical therapists and physical therapist assistant students has been such a challenging and rewarding experience for me. My career path has placed me in a position of administration and patient care is now a very small percentage of my job duties. I am regularly challenged by our leadership team to set goals and to strive for growth. Earlier in my career, growth was centered around learning about new treatment techniques or interventions. Now I need to grow in areas that my initial physical therapy education and continuing education courses did not cover.

Why now? The thought of going back to school after being in practice for so long was intimidating. I realized that by the time I completed the degree in 2024 I would be almost 50 years old. That’s quite old to be a new graduate! Would I have enough of my career left afterward to justify the time, effort, and cost? Then a friend gave me some wise (if not obvious) advice. He said, “By 2024 you will be that old with or without the new degree. So why not go for it?”

Why ATSU? I wanted to select a university with a solid reputation. I must admit, I knew nothing about A.T. Still University before I began this search. Colleagues in PT education told me ATSU offers a well-respected program among educators. As I researched the university and the post-professional DPT program, I became convinced it was a good fit for me. The classes were organized such that I could continue to work my regular work schedule while in the program. My professional experience was factored in during the application process. I was given advanced credit in some areas and the remaining academic degree program was tailored to my specific educational deficits. The school was reasonably priced and did not include hidden fees or an increasing fee schedule after starting the program. Most of the class resources were included in the program’s flat rate, which was a pleasant surprise. My experience in the postprofessional DPT program at A.T. Still University has met or exceeded all my expectations. I have found the instructors and administrative staff to be knowledgeable, responsive, and caring. I have been very impressed by the structure and organization of the entire process. From my first inquiry about the program all the way to the commencement ceremony, there has been clear and consistent communication. My wife was recently in grad school at another university, and she regularly says that she is jealous about the superior organization and communication I experienced at A.T. Still. With rolling start dates and with each student having unique academic plans, I imagine there are a lot of moving parts to consider. I am glad that I chose to complete my postprofessional DPT at A.T. Still University. ATSU instructors and students have diverse backgrounds and experience which has added to the depth of my experience. It has been a rich and rewarding opportunity. I am thankful for the growth I have experienced and am thankful for each member of the ATSU team!