Student Conclave
PT = Physical Therapist or Physical Therapy
PTA = Physical Therapist Assistant
APTA = American Physical Therapy Association
What is a Student Conclave?
Let’s start at the top, with APTA. The APTA is physical therapy’s professional organization for the United States and it stands for American Physical Therapy Association. This is the national level that includes practicing PTs & PTAs, retired PTs & PTAs, and student PTs & PTAs. Each state has its own subsection with all the same kinds of people and within each state are special interest groups, some of which are just for students (we call them SSIGs!). These are the people that organize the Student Conclaves. For example, the NC SSIG puts together the NC Conclave, the CA SSIG puts together the CA Conclave, and so on and so forth. And Conclave is basically just another word for conference, which is kind of just another word for big meeting. But these are much more fun than those meetings from work that should have been an email!
Long drive but I was definitely ready to get this thing started!
Being involved with a SSIG and helping to organize these events allows students to develop additional professional skills outside of our regular coursework that we can take with us to our future careers. It also allows us to explore topics we’re interested in that working professionals may not benefit as much from. At the big, BIG conference in February, it’s kind of the other way around. The working pros discuss really advanced techniques and concepts that most students won’t really understand because we’re still learning all the background info. At this year’s NC Student Conclave, we were able to have panel discussions with experienced PTs and PTAs about what defines our roles, how we work with other professionals, and what to expect as new graduates (when we get there).
What do you do at a Conclave?
The biggest benefit, by-and-large, of going to a Conclave is NETWORKING! I got to meet people from my career field that I’d previously only been able to admire through webinars and Twitter. I got to meet people from different companies and learn about their specialties, which I can also share with others when I hear they are interested in the same topics. I got to meet other students from across the state who are passionate about making a difference and being involved! One unexpected opportunity I had that I thought was special was talking with a group of PTA students. Through my conversation with them, I was able to learn more personal insights on what their role is and what they expect from a good employer. I was also able to talk to them about what made the biggest difference between a good or sour working relationship with PTs. No surprises here; It’s all about communication!
There’s also a ton of opportunities for learning. At this Conclave, we had some excellent speakers present on topics like pain perception and treatment, traumatic brain injury assessment and intervention for tactical athletes, and using the vestibular system (provides your body info about motion, balance, position, and orientation) and breathing techniques as part of treatment for muscular and skeletal conditions. I still have more thinking to do on these topics but you may see a post about one of them in the future!
Last, but certainly not least, you get swag at a Conclave! I was not one of the lucky raffle winners who got a yoga mat and yoga block but I did get cups, pens, highlighters, snacks, lip balm, bottle openers, a book, and a chip clip. My group leader also gave me a t-shirt (which I’m totally showing off at school on Monday) and a Starbucks gift card (which I definitely used for the drive home) because he’s extra nice and wanted to show some extra appreciation.
Do you have a favorite part?
Nope! I loved being involved with making this event happen. I loved meeting other enthusiastic people from a wide variety of backgrounds. I loved learning. I even love my new collection of pens and cups.
One particular thing that I did love about a physical therapy Conclave is that almost no one cares if you get up to stretch in the middle of a long presentation. In fact, getting up and moving around is often encouraged or incorporated into some kind of activity for many speakers. I’m looking forward to the next conference!
