Selena's Clinical Rotation Journey

I am Selena Phan. It is my last year in physical therapy school at Stony Brook University. I was placed at a clinical in San Diego, California for one of my rotations. I will be there for 2 months learning advancements in physical therapy. I need assistance paying for essentials such as a room to stay, food, and plane ticket with some help. I am currently a full time student working 3 jobs and this $5,000 amount will help pay for a safe place to stay.

My philosophy in life is to treat others with empathy. We never know what is going on in anyone's life so I strive on being empathetic to patients and anyone I encounter in my life. That is a primary reason, I decided to go into this field. I wanted to truly make a difference with my patients through exercise as medicine as I build meaningful relationships with my patients those of whom include those who are learning to walk again after being in an accident, those who need help getting back to the sport that they love, those who suffered a heart attack and need care to return to everyday life.

My goal is to change the life of all my patients, one step and many more at a time. I have completed rotations at St. Catherines Hospital and Northwell health Peconic Bay Cardiopulmary Rehab working with patients who've suffered from strokes, heart attacks, car accidents, falls, domestic violence, and much more. I hope to continue being one of the first faces they see to support them in their recovery.

I have also traveled to underdeveloped communities where water was scarce and medical care was non-existent. I volunteered my time to assist in giving free dental, medical, gynecological care. I taught children of hispanic decent how to use a toothbrush because they never had access to one. I've taken spanish classes to aid me in proper communication with patients who do not know english.

I was captain of the US MARINES Youth Physical Fitness program in my high school. It was a program to promote health, fitness, high self-esteem in youths across America. I was a positive role model to hundreds of students growing up helping them stay away from drugs and alcohol by way of implementing a healthy lifestyle. We had students grow to become US MARINES. The annual competition we had would be in SAN, DIEGO CALIFORNIA each year. That is why this town holds a special place in my heart and I want to give back to the town that built my confidence, health, self-esteem and love of helping others. This program gave me an opportunity of hope and taught me utmost respect.

I also am an avid rugby player having played on the Women's Oneonta Rugby Football Club as Back's Captain for 2 years and continuing to play on the D2 Stony Brook Seawolves team. I've played for a total of 7 years. The Respect on the field and off is incomparable.

I also received the Exercise Science Award at my undergraduate graduation at State College at Oneonta, granted to the most achieving student with Magna Cum Laude.