Physical therapy is a demanding profession, requiring an extremely focused approach. But practitioners cannot simply declare that their personal and work lives are entirely separate, and that one aspect holds no potential implications for the latter. Consider the following scenario.

Defining the Line

Kevin is very happy in his staff position at New Bridge Physical Therapy, located in the same town where he earned his undergraduate and doctor of physical therapy degrees. He had worked at a clinic in another state for the first 2 years of his career as a physical therapist (PT), but he'd found that he missed the ambiance of the university town, as well as the friends he'd made in school and the community. Several of his former classmates and fraternity brothers live and work in the surrounding area.

What Kevin also enjoys about New Bridge is that the practice is expanding—he was hired not only as a clinician but also to serve as outreach coordinator. The practice is trying to solidify and increase its client base as it increases its services and programs. Kevin hopes to one day open his own practice, and he sees the outreach role as valuable experience in how to build a business.