May 24, 2021
Interests in the way the human body works and a desire to help people fueled Paris Caudill’s decision to go into the Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) program at Shawnee State University.
“I was searching through degree programs on the university’s website when I found Physical Therapy and this led me to do more research on it,” he said. “I chose this major because I love to help people, and I find anatomy, kinesiology, and the function of systems inside the body fascinating.”
Staying close to home to attend college, the Minford resident saw the university’s affordability and small class sizes as a way to connect with his faculty members through his degree.
“The faculty is extremely helpful and have always been eager to assist me with any issues I have had,” he said.
The PTA gives the students a lot of hands-on work as it prepares them for their career’s real-world environment.
“I have done some interesting things during this major,” Caudill said. “We got to work with children at the Vern Riffe School and we had an event with Physical Therapy (PT) students at Marshall University. The event at Marshall gave us students an inside look at how PT’s and PTA’s work together on a daily basis.”
After completing the PTA program, there are numerous career opportunities available. During the program, the students are exposed to different job possibilities, which prepares them for the future.
“At the Vern Riffe School, we held a field day for disabled children,” Caudill said. “This was eye-opening to the many different job possibilities of a PTA, whether it is working at a nursing home, home health, outpatient clinics, or at a school with children.”
Caudill, who has been in the Ohio Army National Guard since 2015, is happy with the way that Shawnee State University’s faculty is working with him.
“The faculty at Shawnee State have been amazing when it comes to working with me when I have to miss classes or events due to my military obligations,” he said. “Recently, I was activated to Washington, D.C. and my instructors acted swiftly in figuring out a solution and plan of action for the clinical hours I missed while I was away.”
Working in physical therapy can be challenging at times and there are specific skills that are important for PTA students.
“Certifications aren’t required other than your degree, but they are encouraged so that you can provide better patient care,” Caudill said. “I would say that the most important skills for a PTA are the ability to, communicate well, be empathetic, and understanding your patients.”