Health Services: Physical Therapist
Health Services
Physical Therapist: Lisa Curtis
by Mike Yoshiura
Lisa Curtis was a very active teenager, but by the time the three-sport athlete reached her senior year of high school she was already experiencing excruciating pain.
A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and a bone scan revealed that Lisa had vascular mercosis in her right ankle, which was a result from the lack of blood circulating down to her foot. Lisa was forced to wear a protective boot for part of her senior year and her entire first semester of college. "I had this big, awful boot on my leg. It looked like I had a bionic leg. It was disappointing to not finish my senior year of track."
Stumbled Onto Something
Lisa had aspirations of walking onto the track team once she got to college, but those plans would change for her. At that point in her life, she was more concerned with getting the mobility back in her leg so she could lead a normal life.
Growing up in the rural town of Massillon, Ohio, Lisa attended Jackson High School. The teenager thought she would someday become an engineer because her scholastic strengths were Math and Science.
Lisa volunteered at Mercy Medical Center in her junior year, and she came to the realization that she wanted a profession in which she could make a difference in the lives of others. "After volunteering I realized I wanted a career where I could help people."
A Need To Know Basis
Lisa graduated high school in 1997 with a cumulative 4.0 GPA. In the fall, she attended Akron University on a full academic scholarship. Like most 18-year-olds, the Ohio native still had not figured out what career she wanted to pursue. All she knew was she wanted to help people. "I don't think you need to know at this point. There are enough required classes [that you need to take] to keep you busy for your first two semesters."
She Got Skills
According to Lisa, the good grades she earned didn't come easy. She credits her success to the study skills she picked up in high school. "In high school I was driven to get good grades, and I worked hard for everything. The study skills I learned in high school really paid off for me in college."
From experience, Lisa knew she had to keep up with the massive loads of reading in order to get good grades. "I'm not a visual person. When you read the textbooks before the teacher's lecture you can pick out what parts of the lecture are important. Having read the section, it's easier for me to visualize what the teacher is lecturing on."
Making The Most Of It
Lisa joined a mentorship program in her freshman year of college, and her first assignment was to job shadow an engineer. "It was very interesting, but it didn't seem like a rewarding job. I really didn't want to be chained to a desk all day."
Being sidelined for the track season turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Lisa. With extra time on her hands, she decided to volunteer at a nursing home. Volunteering helped reinforce that memorable experience she had in high school, but more importantly, it revealed her personal niche. As a physical therapist, she could make the difference she sought, and volunteering exposed Lisa to the rewards reaped from the profession.
Making The Grade
Lisa graduated from Akron University in 2001 with a Bachelor's of Science in natural sciences and a minor in psychology. Once again, she finished with a cumulative 4.0 GPA, which was a testament to her hard work and determination to succeed in life.
The Final Leg
All physical therapists are required to obtain a post baccalaureate degree, which is an additional three years of college. They must also pass a national examination and obtain licensing by the state they intend on practicing in. The final leg is mostly composed of clinical work and research, allowing students to work under the supervision of an accomplished physical therapist.
In 2003, Lisa graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, which is recognized as one of the top ranked physical therapy schools in the nation. "You have the opportunity to take classes while you're working in a clinic. It really helps you retain the information, and you get to practice the different techniques you learn in the classroom."
Destiny
Once her days as a college student was done, Lisa got a job as a traveling physical therapist. She came to Hawaii in September 2005 on a temporary-three-month assignment, but she liked it so much she decided to stay. Lisa Curtis is now the Clinical Director at Physical Therapy Hawaii, and come to think, she wouldn't be where she is today had she not volunteered on her free time.