Building a Better DPT Student Experience at Rehab 2 Perform
Clinical rotations are an important bridge between the classroom and clinical practice. At Rehab 2 Perform, we want that experience to extend beyond the individual clinic and clinical instructor.
As Director of Student Experience, Dr. Sydney Williams, DPT, SCS, MS is helping create a more connected and consistent experience for DPT students across R2P. From additional education and case discussions to office hours and opportunities to connect with students and clinicians across our organization, the goal is to give students resources they can use during their rotation and carry forward into their careers.
In the video below, Sydney shares more about her background, her role, and what students can expect during their time at Rehab 2 Perform.
More Than a Clinical Rotation
A strong clinical rotation should give students more than exposure to patient care. It should challenge how they think, help them connect what they have learned in the classroom to real-world practice, and give them opportunities to grow alongside experienced clinicians.
At Rehab 2 Perform, we want students to feel like they are part of our clinical community throughout their rotation, regardless of which R2P location or clinical instructor they are working with.
Sydney’s role helps us create that connection while providing a more consistent layer of support across the student experience.
Building More Opportunities to Learn and Connect
In addition to the day-to-day mentorship students receive from their clinical instructors, we continue to build opportunities for students to learn from and connect with clinicians and other students across R2P.
That includes:
- Monthly clinical calls focused on discussion, application, and continued learning
- Student office hours providing another resource for questions, guidance, and support
- Case-based discussions that challenge students to think critically through real clinical scenarios
- R2P Connect curriculum designed to complement the clinical experience with practical education
- Connection across locations so the student experience extends beyond one clinic or one clinical instructor
What the Student Experience Looks Like in Practice
The goal is to turn additional education and support into experiences students can use during their rotations and carry forward into their careers. Here are a few ways that’s currently happening at R2P:
Clinical Calls + Case-Based Learning
Recent student clinical calls have explored the phases of rehabilitation and worked through a post-operative ACL reconstruction case, challenging students to apply clinical reasoning to progression, strength development, and return-to-sport decisions.
Hands-On Performance Testing
DPT students were recently invited to an internal mini-course on isokinetic dynamometry and the HUMAC, gaining hands-on experience with testing, data interpretation, and the use of objective performance measures throughout rehabilitation and return to sport.
Exposure Beyond the Clinic
Next month, our current DPT student cohort will visit APTA Headquarters alongside Chief Growth Officer Dr. Jamie Schindler, giving students an opportunity to learn more about the broader physical therapy profession, the role of APTA, and career opportunities beyond traditional clinical practice.
Support Throughout the Rotation
These experiences complement the ongoing support available to R2P students, including weekly student office hours and our evolving R2P Connect curriculum.
Together, these resources provide additional opportunities for students to ask questions, work through challenging cases, strengthen their clinical reasoning, and connect with the broader R2P clinical community throughout their rotations.
Developing Future Clinicians
Our goal is not simply to provide students with a place to complete their clinical hours.
We want DPT students to leave Rehab 2 Perform having been challenged, supported, and exposed to a performance-based approach to physical therapy that helps prepare them for what comes next in their careers.
For our university and DPT program partners, we’re grateful for the continued opportunity to be part of that development and look forward to continuing to strengthen the clinical education experience together.
About Rehab 2 Perform
Rehab 2 Perform is a cutting-edge health and wellness company changing expectations of the healthcare experience. With 15+ locations across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region, R2P delivers a gym-based, movement-driven approach to rehabilitation and performance. The company’s team of physical therapists is dedicated to helping individuals of all ages and abilities move, feel, and perform better for life.