Show ES BRADY Thanks Hka Kata Parkin i movM irovn to to ‘ to earn and than to my own two foot Wftha’tough attitude intalliganca humor and patience— thaw AREN’T therapists help patients learn to help doctors or nurses From the point HEY Bom June 13 1959 in Novi Scotia Canada ther- They're physical apists who specialize in rehabilitating pea- pie who have suffered Education: Dahouie Uni varaity Nova ' Scotia Canada: BSckiadanco and education J couldn't bad to being to type they had pulmonary (lung) spinal-cor- d or brain damage ( such as stroke) and getUniveriity ting them back into everyday life (SUNY) 1 Brooklyn NY spoke recently with Kate BS in physical Parkin manager of inpatient retheraov 1989 NYU master’s in hab programs at New York’s developmental famed Mount Sinai Hospital to disabilities physical find out more about physical therapy 1994 therapy The reason I was on die story? I had myself just before Christmas suffered a mild stroke left arm and leg I Include affecting my counselor' was sent to Mount Sinai for two Good Shepherd weeks of rehab which was so Services 1984-8- 7 effective that I am today back stall physical working and living' at home and therapist NYU Medical walking without a cane “People CenterRusk arrive hoe still in shock’’ said Institute Parkin “but come to grips with 1989-9- 7 manager of learning how to walk again” pediatric and It was clinical admissions adult therapies Beth Israel coordinator Donna O’Rourke iN over again to put ona foot head of the If you've other Boot Camp you have notion of what's involved As PARADE’S Cm Medical Center-Th- e Institute for Neurology and manager of inpatient rehabilitation programs The Mount Sinai Hospital Hft my hand off the handled about 1300 admissions Evtr deor physical-therap- y have and graduate gree many iFtamsHMii whs dldT Mnthti training in various specialties How are they selected? “Dedi-- ‘ cation is how we judge1 said O'Rourke '“and the bond they " forge with the patient” Parkin who lives in Brooklyn and previously worked in education and counseling of inner-cit- y youth has a master's in physical therapy “The therapist must do two dungs” she said “Never giye the patient false hopes and never 1& them give up hope” Is it tgood career for a young person to enter? “PTs and OTs get a deceht salary” Parkin told PtrUi 1 dedicated ' who provided me with many of the facts about Sinai's rehab operation: There are three floors each with five physical thera- pists (PTs) and five occupa- tional therapists (OTs) a total of eight attending' doctora plus RNs and aides Last year they hiiasmka To work at Sinai a physical therapist must have an occupa-tiona-l- - PHOTO BY UEHSIE DVNEA: HAK AND MAKEUP BY ASSUMPTA CLOHESSY FOB SUSAN PUCE ApkaUtomjtl in a Mg-dt- y me “It's in the low 40s for new grads and later on rises into die V high 50s More than half of our theraoiss arc omen like Ycra Lekas aijd 5andra Winner ftuy own Careen lend to start in hospitals mid then soine go into private practice Others prefer the teamwork and cams- - feaspltal —mil Oust pitosltnlsvki feilppupinttal ntttirfiiL ' tharyiati PT-aidO- raderie of a hospital” When I asked what makes a great therapist Paikin did not hesitate “A fearless energy and the desire to help people” she said “You get a tremendous reward in know-- ’ ing you’re helping people" S Ivrmon information visit the Americana back American Physical Therapy at wwwjuHaorg raw -- macu a tooa- - I |