Dashaé Smallwood
*Pronounced like Asia with a D in front.
Who is Dashaé?
Dashaé is the creator of The Curly Clinician and a newly graduated PT now working in pediatrics. Her content focuses on her PT journey and lifestyle.
How did you find her?
Trusty ol' Google! When I started putting together all of my information and writing my essay for PT school applications a couple of years ago, I also started looking for blogs to read about what this journey has been like for other people. The Curly Clinician was the first site that caught my eye because curly is an identifier I can relate to that doesn't always get representation (Seriously, all those hairstyles for creating video game characters and hardly ever curly options?). Also, I didn't know clinician was a term that could be applied to PTs, so I thought I would find more opportunities to learn on her website.
Image used with permission of Dashaé Smallwood.
What about Dashaé inspires you?
I love that she's open about her struggles. Her content is not just about her wins, which I'm so glad to see her celebrate, but also about the work it takes to maintain a brand, her journey through conquering the NPTE (the licensing exam for PTs), and her personal emotional insights. Being open is hard, especially when you're doing it in a place where anyone can see. But being open can also be a life-changing beacon for others and this is SO appreciated.
I also love that she shares her life as a PT AND her interest in style! People are multifaceted and are not meant to be or do only one thing. It's great to see content creators not only recognizing this element but also talking and sharing about it. I drew a lot of encouragement from Dashaé’s blog about starting my own and I’m happy with where it’s taken me so far!
Is there anything else?
Yeah, one more thing for now. Last spring, Dashaé and I ended up in a small group together during a virtual DEI conference. It took at least half of my concentration to not go full fangirl right then! I really enjoyed our chat and hope our paths cross again soon!
If you'd like to check out this awesome person, you can do so here:
And these are some of my personal favorites from her blog:
10 Lessons From My First Year of PT School
My 24 Hour Wheelchair Experience
