Career Decision

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teaman -> Career Decision (August 3, 2003 12:46:00 PM)
Over the past six months I have been doing research into the field of physical therapy and have shadowed several PTs in their orthopedic practices. I applied to and was lucky enought to be accepted to a local PT program in a private college a number of months ago and was strongly considering changing careers after spending 20 years in another field. A friend suggested that I look into sonography and I applied to and accepted into a very comptetive program at a local public college. I am now faced with having to make a decision between the two. I am tending towards physical therapy because of he satisfaction I think it would bring as a result of interation with patients and being a part of a healing process. I find sonography to be very interesting but am thinking that it may not be as rewarding because of the limited time that would be spent with any single patient. However, in our area there is a huge demand for sonographers at this point in time, the program is one year shorter, and since it is a public school, is about $50k cheaper in tuition. Hence, my dilemma. I realize that this site is orientated toward physical therapy, but if anyone has friends or colleagues who happen to be sonographers, or if you know anything about the field, I would appreciate any insights you may have to help me in my decision. Thanks.

Matthew Hauger -> Re: Career Decision (August 4, 2003 1:32:00 PM)
What is sonography? --Matt

teaman -> Re: Career Decision (August 5, 2003 9:26:00 PM)
Ultrasound is a diagnostic procedure that uses high frequency sound waves to image organs, masses, and fluid accumulations within the body. Most people are familiar with a sonogram which depicts an unborn fetus during pregnancy but there are other specialties such as abdominal, vascular, and echocardiology. The following link describes an application of interest to physical therapists discussed in another thread: [URL=http://www.advanceforpt.com/common/Editorial/Editorial.aspx?CC=20032]http://www.advanceforpt.com/common/Editorial/Editorial.aspx?CC=20032[/URL] Hope this helps. [This message has been edited by teaman (edited August 06, 2003).]

Matthew Hauger -> Re: Career Decision (August 6, 2003 5:26:00 PM)
I really can't give you much advice one way or the other. However, I believe there are physical therapists who are certified (or at least trained) to use diagnostic ultrasound. If you look back through the archives here you might be able to find it. Sorry I can't be of more help. If you have specific questions about PT or what you'll have to go through in PT school I'd be more than happy to help you with those. --Matt

Dr.Wagner -> Re: Career Decision (September 5, 2003 5:30:00 AM)
As a former PT and now a Doctor, I currently work with alot of Ultrasound Techs (as they are commonly called)...I know they are highly sought after, though get little credit for the work they do for us. PT offers more autonomy and better hours, US is more of a technical environment working closely with cardiologists or OBGYN's the most. Two completely different fields...do your research. I wish you luck.

teaman -> Re: Career Decision (January 8, 2004 8:41:00 AM)
Thank you very much for your reply. I apologize for not getting back to you sooner, but thought that I should hold my response until the fall semester was complete. It was a busy one at that, for I took classes in both curriculums and felt very schizophrenic the whole time. I decided that PT would be the direction that I should take if I were to choose between the two. It is really a gut feel, but I think that one of the reasons is that a PT plans the course of therapy and an U/S Tech provides diagnostic information for someone else that formulates a course of care. I think my personality is more suited to the leadership aspect that the PT role would offer. Although the PT classes were brutal, I really enjoy the academic challenge they offer. I am very intrigued to know how you feel about your position now as a physician. My interest in health care really began during college, about 28 years ago. I was accepted by a DO school but was not able to attend at the time and had always had that possibility in the back of my mind as my "hidden agenda." I was told last year by a DO school that I have a very good chance of getting in their program if I updated my MCATs (no small feat as you can imagine)but at my age am concerned about getting into the large amount of debt this would require, particularily in view of the financial issues physicians are forced to face these days. If I was in my twenties I would probably think differently, but I would be in my late fifties when I completed a residency (here I am being schizophrenic again). I like PT because of the healing aspect and think that may satisfy the previous drive I had to be a physician. I think the demographics are on the side of the PT profession but I still would have to deal with similar issues professionally that physicians are facing. So, if you wouldn't mind, I'd love to know a little bit about your feelings since your change, particularly in view of the years you had already put into becoming a PT. Thanks!

Dr.Wagner -> Re: Career Decision (January 21, 2004 4:16:00 AM)
Sorry for the late reply. I chose to change from PT to DO after 2-3 years of orthopedic PT practice. I had started a post graduate DScPT program after my PT school, but felt that it really wouldn't add anything to my current practice, except for the ability to teach. I wanted a "hard core" academic program that would absolutely challenge me. Medical school was not only difficult to get into, but difficult to get through. I have absolutely no regrets. PT is a gratifying field, but for me I wanted life and death, I wanted true pathology. I wanted something more. I love PT and think that it has made me a better physician. If I had to do it over again, I would do it again...even at the age of 35.

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