Still A Master Of None: Being A New Physical Therapist in 2025
- Judith Wang
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
"Jack of all trades, master of none"--what a bummer of a statement to someone who'd like to be good at things in general. The full quote, "jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one", is lesser used and possibly more impactful in rapidly changing times. Emerging from being deep in studies, the conversation of a future in AI changes to global economies, social and environmental impact, and access to healthcare is overwhelming. Surely, the clinical reasoning I need for making a quality assessment in the clinic won't be helpful in addressing macro issues--or can it?
The universe ushers us into something that is meant for us, if we are still enough to listen.
I pivoted a few times before committing to a physical therapy (PT) program. The home stretch felt expedited. I completed my doctorate, then moved across the country before passing the board exam to practice as a clinician. It feels natural to tell others that moving forward, things get better, but in reality it feels like approaching a precipice. In the years prior to grad school, the opportunities were open ended; but committing to pursue a career in physical therapy felt much more streamlined. Three years to obtain a doctorate required devotion and grit, a tremendous level of focus to honing clinical skills and essential clinical reasoning steeped in science and research. Yet, with school complete, navigating uncertainty is once again at the forefront and no less daunting.
So, naturally, I physically left my problems and went on vacation and off the grid -- the best kind of travel involves dropping modern responsibilities (read: emails and pings).
For the first months out of graduation, I kept busy by seeking out the next mountain to climb, figuratively. (Disclosure: here comes a woo-woo bit.) Upstream was the only direction that made sense--the next challenge and rat-race accolade. In Buddhist teachings, there is a parable of a log floating down the river towards the ocean. In the parable, the only way to get to the ocean is to not get caught on a shore or trapped along the way. The barriers to the path are symbolic of areas of resistance in our lives--whether that is our own ego, habits and mindset, people we encounter, or otherwise. The parable teaches to move forward with the flow of life's ups and downs. The universe ushers us into something that is meant for us, if we are still enough to listen. Going off the grid after passing my board exams, I was fortunate enough for opportunity to tune out the busyness.
I signed my offer letter on a train to New York, reading the small font on an iPhone mini. The decision followed a handful of interviews with physical therapy clinics in the area that were all advocating for the profession with their own spin. At each clinic, a few elements were consistent. Management recognized employee burn out and how to avoid it, there is a shortage of therapists, and insurance payer rates make profit margins narrow. From a clinician's standpoint, it makes for tough schedules, a challenge to create meaningful 1:1 patient treatments, and an uphill battle to pay off student loans. Clinics are combatting these barriers. Some by crafting strategic schedules, streamlining documentation practices to ease clinician's workload, implementing AI in electronic health records, and/or offering comprehensive continued education opportunities.
This has shed light on a few things. One, a scalable model for a successful physical therapy company leverages having upper management understand the needs of a therapist in their day to day practice. Two, documentation systems are necessary, but a poor system acts as a constraint to therapists. Third, the increasing challenge therapists face in being compensated for their work is magnified by reduced insurance reimbursements while costs rise.
My role at least in the near future is not to solve health disparities, but to be proud of the work I do day by day in the clinic with each patient interaction. If I can continue to hone my clinical reasoning skills, serve the patients to the best of my ability, and take pride in the work I accomplish with my colleagues, I will inherently be advocating for physical therapy as a profession. If more therapists are able to elevate the level of care while navigating the changing landscape, as a whole, increasing the quality of patient-centered care and continue to improve skilled treatment techniques, the leverage that PT practice will have in advocating for fair insurance reimbursements may increase and the profession may be able to serve the public more adequately.
Personally, I'm excited about working alongside friendly faces. The clinic has a mom-and-pop feel--a metal doorframe is lined with an elaborate collection of magnets from around the world, the equipment is refreshed but nothing excessively flashy, and the clinicians are down to earth. In the first year at work, I'll be adding some new manual skills (and probably some more letters behind my name) to my toolbelt. I don't expect to be an expert in anything, more likely a master of none. In the changing times, it seems that our ability to pivot and flow will help us connect with others and find meaning in our work. For now, I am cautiously optimistic that the effort I make now can be meaningful in its own way.
Comment, like, or leave a message. Happy to connect and share stories over the years!
Written by:
Judith Wang
Founder, Project Green Beard PT, DPT, CSCS and UCSC Banana Slug
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