NeuroPT

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sukaina

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I'm a Canadian student (finishing up my BSc. in Life Science-Major = Neuroscience; Double Minors = Biology and Psychology at UTSC) thinking about a career in physiotherapy. I've worked at a muskoskeletal PT clinic and never enjoyed it. However, when I job shadowed a few physiotherapists at a neurology clinic, I instantly fell in love with it. It was all stroke, traumatic brain injuries, degenerative diseases etc. Everything I've focussed on my last 4 years in school. However, I am just wondering, what is the scope for the NeuroPT field? Is it hard to get a job upon graduation?


Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
In the states, there are many facilities that specialize in neuroPT. Some of the top neuro places in the states are Rancho Los Amigos (LA), Rehab Institute of Chicago, TIRR (TX), Sheppard Center (Atl), Mt Sinai (NYC), Kessler Institute (NJ), etc. With your experiences and drive to specialize in this aspect of PT, I think you would fit right in and shouldn't have a hard time finding work. In physio school, you will have to rotate through all aspects of PT, so if you can get through those, you should be good. Although I am a practicing sports/ortho PT, my clinical at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (TBI, SCI, stroke) was the most fulfilling and challenging.

Do a search on "model SCI or TBI centers" and you will find a few. Of course there are smaller clinics out there, but these are the ones that are shoulder deep in neuro research. All tend to be teaching hospitals, too, which caters to new grads well.

I would research schools with good neuro programs (or good neuro clinicals) as that will help you a ton.

Hope this helps.
 
Thank you! That was most encouraging. So your advice would be to focus on getting into a school with many connections to neurorehab clinics.

Does anybody happen to know which schools have a strong neuro focus in the States?

In Canada, University of Toronto and McMaster is very well connected to many NeuroPT clinics.
 
Northwestern in Chicago has a reputation for being a strong neuro program - they have connections with RIC, and a lot of the faculty does neuro research
 
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