Congratulations to Physical Therapy Student Essay Contest winners

Feb 15, 2022

ACAPT's Consortium for Humanities, Ethics & Professionalism (CHEP) joins the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation (JHR) to sponsor a judged writing competition designed to encourage deep thinking by physical therapy students about the role and value of humanities, ethics and professionalism in academic training and professional life.

The annual CHEP/JHR Physical Therapy Student Essay Contest offers a creative opportunity to ignite critical reflection in PT students across the nation.

Congratulations to the 2022 contest recipients who wrote about the challenges and benefits of remote learning during the pandemic from a student perspective, including how has this unique experience impacted their image of themselves as a physical therapy professional.

The first place winner will receive a $250 award from CHEP and their essays appear in the 2022 spring & fall issue of JHR.

First place

Joseph Rivera, a student at Columbia University. The judges described his essay as"intriguing, thought-provoking and courageous" as he draws insights from his Puerto Rican background to describe his journey to find his voice through the safety of Zoom enclosed dialogue. He highlights the intersection of power and privilege and the impact that virtual learning had on these discussions.

Joseph shares more about his writing experience here and you can read his full article Finding voice & vulnerability through virtual learning in the fall issue of JHR. "I enjoyed the entire contest process & writing experience," says Joseph. "It's been very helpful to think about how far I've come."

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Physical Therapist Assistant students can learn more about this year's essay prompt and submission process here.

Finalists

Bridget Graff, a student from Marquette University. In her unique essay, Bridget showed vulnerability and growth during a time where little of either was otherwise evident. She creatively ties examples to physical therapy practice and her own journey to enable readers to understand the long-term impact of the pandemic and online learning.

Read her essay: Finding balance: The hidden gift of being thrown off-course.

Noah Watson, a student at A. T. Sill University. Noah’s essay led readers into a world with visuals and embedded quotes as a means of reflection to effectively “bring the inside out” for the reader. He uses detailed experiences to generate curiosity and engage the reader in a compelling fashion.

Read his essay: Turn your cameras on.