Name: Isabel Shin
Class Year: 2022
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Alpharetta, Ga.
Internship Organization: PhysioEdge Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Job Title: Physical Therapy Intern
Location: Marietta, GA
What’s happening at your internship?
I am a physical therapist intern at PhysioEdge Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Marietta, Ga. This internship is giving me an inside perspective of a physical therapist’s practice. I have an opportunity to shadow the physical therapists to learn about assessment, treatment, and long-term care of patients with acute and chronic injuries. My case study is following the recovery of a student athlete who recently had surgery on her torn ACL.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I was unsure about pursuing a career in physical therapy, so I wanted to use this summer to get a better understanding by being mentored by a licensed physical therapist. PhysioEdge is one of the leading and well-respected physical therapy centers in Georgia. In addition, this internship will provide a clinical experience base for a Doctor of Physical Therapy post-graduate education.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
I think my favorite part of this internship is working with the staff and meeting and creating special bonds with patients. The staff at PhysioEdge are so welcoming and help me to get the most out of this internship. They are open to many questions and help me to look at situations from different viewpoints. The patients are also very welcoming while keeping me on my toes with some very interesting questions. I have met patients from all age groups, from teenagers to the elderly to a world-class athlete who is competing in Tokyo for the Summer 2021 Olympics. It was so cool to meet a world-class athlete going through the physical therapy sessions to heal and prepare at such a high-level competition.
What is most rewarding about your internship?
Every day I see patients come into the clinic with pain and stiffness, sometimes to the point of tears when we treat them with exercises and machines. However, it is the best feeling to see their smile and relief when they leave knowing that the physical therapy exercises helped them get back to a normal life. Although the actual physical therapy is improving their healing process, I found that the patient’s mindset and the physical therapist’s empathy are needed as a combination for recovery. The physical combined with the psychological components are key to a successful treatment. My background in psychology really helped.
Visit the Summer Internship Stories page to read more about student internship experiences.