Grzegorz Koziel

UIP 250
5/24/18

Analysis Paper – Information Interview

Who I interview

Name: Liliana Raya

Position: Rehab Technician/Aide at Athletico Physical Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy Student at

Governor's State University

Responsibilities: As a rehab aide at Athletico, Liliana’s main responsibilities are taking patients through

the exercises recommended by the physical therapists. On daily basis, she oversees cleaning the

treatment tables and tools, taking out the trash, and keeping the place clean. She is also

responsible for making the phone calls and scheduling patients.

What we discussed

Greg: What made you interested in physical therapy and how did you become a rehab aide?

Liliana: I was a junior at DePaul majoring in health sciences and I wasn’t sure what I want to do after

graduation. At the time, there was an opening at a nearby Athletico for a rehab technician. I

applied and few weeks later I had an interview and eventually got the job. I really like working

with people there and decided to pursue a career in physical therapy.

Greg: What was the hardest part of the job and how did you deal with it?

Liliana: One of my responsibilities was taking the patients through the exercises. At first, as I didn’t have

a lot of experience, I struggled with explaining some of the techniques. You have to multitask on

the job as you have to keep the area clean and at the same time work with 2-3 patients. The thing
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UIP 250
5/24/18
that helped me the most was simply asking questions. If I didn’t understand something, I would

ask the therapists for help and always made sure to return the favor.

Greg: What type of clients do you work with and what is the atmosphere at your workplace?

Liliana: I have a variety of patients. I work with a lot of people from nearby Yelp! Company and they are

mostly younger people. The atmosphere at work is great. Although it is fast paced, we all get

along. It is important to build good relationships with the PTs. You can always ask them if they

need any help and in return you can learn a lot from them.

Greg: At the end of the day, are you satisfied with your job?

Liliana: Definitely! Like I said, the atmosphere at work is great. Also, if I do a good job I get a lot of

compliments from patients and PTs. I get to help other and learn a lot every day.

Greg: How about school? You go to Governor’s State University, am I right? What year are you in and

did the experience from DePaul and your current job helped you?

Liliana: I am currently in my 3rd and final year. DePaul prepared me because I had some basic knowledge

and the job at Athletico was very helpful when it comes to my clinical work and internships. Also,

if you are planning to go into physical therapy school you can get the required hours in clinical

setting and if you have good relationships with the therapists at the job, they will most likely be

willing to write a recommendation letter for you.

Greg: What is the hardest part about being a DPT student? And how much time do you spend at school?

Liliana: I would say that the hardest part was getting into the school. Currently I go to school Monday

through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and sometimes I have exams on Fridays. Apart from that,

you have internships over the summer. It is really time consuming but worth it. After the

interview, I’ll send you a sample classes schedule I am currently taking.

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UIP 250
5/24/18
Greg: Do you have any tips for me?

Liliana: Yes! I think as a personal trainer you already have some experience, so you should look into

becoming a rehab aide too as it will help you in the future. Try to shadow PTs in different settings

like hospitals, gyms, and clinics. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions whether it’s at work or at

school. You can also check out the PTCAS.org website that would help you in applying for a DPT

program.

What I learned

After talking to Liliana, I had a better understanding of what the DPT programs are like and what

I should expect. She gave me important tips on how to succeed as a rehab aide and how to get the most

out of this experience. She also provided me with a lot of helpful websites including the portal through

which you apply to the schools, list of prerequisites, Facebook groups for rehab aides and DPT students,

etc. I learned a lot about the applying process itself as well. After all, I am a bit afraid of what is coming as

I realized it won’t be easy but I am even more determined to work hard to reach my goal. After the

interview I feel like the career I chose to pursue is right for me. It is rewardable as I would get to help

people get back to full health and I would be able to continue working with patients through the various

exercises and rehabilitation.

What’s next

There are a couple things that I have to do in order to make sure that I am ready for the graduate

school and career in physical therapy. First, I must improve my GPA. Getting into a DPT program is very

difficult and requires good GPA to compete with others. Another thing I will do is learning more about

GRE tests and preparing for it next year as it is another important aspect when it comes to getting into a

graduate school. After the interview, I scheduled an appointment with my academic advisor to go over
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the possible schedule for the next year. I will check which DPT prerequisites I already have and what

classes I have to take next year to make sure that I am on the right track. Also, I also want to look for a job

as a rehab aide. During the interview, Liliana talked about the importance of making connections in the

field. To do so, I will once more review my resume and cover letters. I plan on applying for Athletico just

like my interviewee did in the past. I will also apply to other physical therapy facilities in my area both

online and by visiting the branches. If my job search won’t be successful, I will definitively try to shadow

some PTs in different setting and try to get more experience. After all, I think I am on a good track to

becoming a physical therapist and I will continue to work hard toward my goal.