Perceptions of the professional and personal impact of hybrid fellowship training: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate graduate perceptions of how fellowship training impacted their post-training professional and personal lives.

Methods: Interviews were conducted with 13 graduates of a hybrid (e.g. blended-learning) fellowship program. All participants were at least 1 year post completion of fellowship to limit recall bias and allow for post-training personal and professional development. Qualitative analysis was performed on interview transcriptions using directed content analysis with two coders other than the interviewers, followed by discussion until agreement was reached if there were disputes related to coding analysis. If needed, arbitration was provided from one of two interviewers.

Results: Analysis revealed three primary constructs of post-fellowship impact: practical, social, and personal. Practical subthemes were centric to care delivery. Social subthemes extended to intra, inter, and non-professional connections. Personal subthemes noted professional and cognitive evolution.

Discussion: Participants clearly described impact extending well beyond day-to-day practice suggesting that fellowship impacted the whole person versus sole practitioner. This study may impact program structure and content inclusion for fellowship programs as well as providing support for fellows in training.

KEYWORDS:

• Fellowship
• post-graduate
• career evolution
• career development
• post-professional education
• personal development

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kevin L. MacPherson

Kevin MacPherson is a Clinical Lecturer for the University of Florida Department of Physical Therapy’s entry-level clinical doctorate program and adjunct faculty for the Bellin College Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship Program. He is a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Specialist and Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Dr MacPherson owns a small private practice, AthletePRX.

Mark Shepherd

Mark Shepherd is a physical therapist who holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) and is both board certified in orthopaedics (OCS) and is fellowship trained in orthopaedic manual physical therapy (FAAOMPT). He holds academic appointments at South College Physical Therapy Program, Bellin College, and Rasmussen College and teaches with Evidence in Motion and the International Spine and Pain Institute. Dr. Shepherd has published several peer reviewed articles and presented at both state and national conferences. He continues to practice in clinical care in the state of Maryland.

Jamie Childs Everett

Jamie Childs Everett is a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and holds the Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist recognition and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy. She owns her own private practice in Cheyenne, Wyoming and currently sits as the Component President for the Wyoming Physical Therapy Association. She recently presented at the AAOMPT conference and serves as a lab assistant for the Institute of Clinical Excellence, a post-professional continuing education program for physical therapists.

Adam Fritsch

Adam J Fritsch is a staff physical therapist at Athletico Physical Therapy. Board certified in Orthopedics and current Fellow in Training with Evidence in Motion.

J.M. Whitman

Julie M Whitman is the Director of Bellin College’s Doctorate of Science in Physical Therapy Program and the Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship Program, as well as the Evidence in Motion Post-Professional DPT in Musculoskeletal Management. She is board certified in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT). Dr Whitman is widely published, including educational CD-ROMs, e-books, and texts on Orthopaedic and Manual Physical Therapy. She has 40+ peer-reviewed manuscripts, and over 30 published abstracts in the areas of orthopaedics and manual physical therapy. She has been either the primary author or co-author on research grants from the Foundation for Physical Therapy, the Orthopaedic Section of the APTA, and the AAOMPT, and served on the Steering Committee for Physical Therapy Journal. She has presented research both nationally and internationally at professional conferences, and awards include: AAOMPT’s Kaltenborn “Teach I Must” Award, Section on Geriatrics Excellence in Research Award, JOSPT George J. Davies - James A. Gould Excellence in Clinical Inquiry Award, AAOMPT Outstanding Research Award, Discovery Health Clinical Excellence Award in Back Care at the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapists Conference, Outstanding Clinical Educator in the State of Texas, the Jack Walker Award, and Steven J. Rose Excellence in Research Award.

Kim Dunleavy

Kim Dunleavy is a Clinical Associate Professor and the Director of Community Engagement and Professional Education at the University of Florida in the Physical Therapy Department. She is an APTA Orthopaedic Board Certified Specialist, completed a Masters in Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy through the Ola Grimsby Institute, a Masters in Sports Physical Therapy from the University of Central Arkansas and a PhD in Instructional Technology from Wayne State University. She is a Fellow of the National Academies of Practice and represents the American Council for Academic Physical Therapy Education on the Global Forum for Innovation in Health Professions Education - a component of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. She teaches entry-level and continuing professional education courses on the management of musculoskeletal diagnoses. Her scholarship spans interprofessional and global educational models and methods as well as evaluation and management of chronic musculoskeletal conditions, particularly using exercise for chronic cervical pain. She is the author of a textbook on Therapeutic Exercise Prescription. Her current research has two directions; participatory ergonomic approaches to manage chronic low back pain in seafood workers and interprofessional education methods.