10 minute read
Member Spotlight: Rosa Elena Torres-Panchame PT, DPT page
Member Spotlight
How Long have you been a member of APTA New York?
I’ve been a member since 2001, which was the time I was a student beginning my entry-level degree.
What do you enjoy most about APTA New York?
I enjoy meeting and connecting with others, serving the membership, and being part of and learning about the processes that help create change in our profession.
Tell us a little about your background, and how your path led you to where you are today.
Like many other individuals, unexpected extraordinary opportunities and the courage to seize them are the background themes in the path that has led me to where I am today. I am one of six sister siblings, first-generation in mainland U.S. from parents who migrated from Puerto Rico in the 1950s. While my parents didn’t have much formal education, they instilled the value of education and hard work in hopes of a better life for their daughters. So, by the time it came to deciding to go to college, it was a no-brainer. Fortunately, I was awarded an undergraduate scholarship to attend Long Island University (LIU) in my hometown Brooklyn. Personally, and around the same time, my mother had been experiencing various orthopedic conditions that created pain and limited movement. Initially torn between a career in journalism and biological sciences, I decided on physical therapy to help others in similar situations as my mother, the goal being to empower them with the knowledge and understanding of their conditions to optimize the management of associated physical dysfunctions.
After completing my BS/ MS in Physical Therapy degree from LIU Brooklyn, I immediately began to work at an outpatient orthopedic and sports physical therapy clinic. Despite my comfortability with managing the patient population, I recognized the need to have more experience and understanding of the acute hospital paths my patients often experienced. Therefore, I embraced this reflection and took a position with NYU Medical Center/ Rusk Institute, where I rotated the next few years through their hospital outpatient, acute care, and acute rehab settings. It was an amazing experience that challenged and prepared me to be a more well-rounded physical therapist. While returning to LIU Brooklyn in the evenings to complete my transitional DPT degree, an opportunity opened at the University’s on-campus outpatient physical therapy clinic. I spent the next 11 years at LIU in various capacities as staff physical therapist and clinic director, then later employed within the academic program
Member Spotlight (Continued)
as Director of Physical Therapy Admissions, full-time teaching faculty, and lastly, Director of Clinical Education. My passion for the profession extended from patient education to the education of student physical therapists and the support they need to become competent and caring future physical therapists. This passion led me to attend various educational workshops domestically and internationally and complete a certificate in essential skills in medical education through the Association for Medical Education in Europe. Concurrently, I began a Ph.D. in Physical Therapy program at Nova Southeastern University, and presently, I’m in the dissertation phase. I am now in the Chapter of my life where I want to continue to grow, learn, and create within physical therapist education. So, naturally, I shook things up in my life, took a chance, and accepted a position to support the development of a new DPT Program at St. John’s University in Queens, NY, currently as the Assistant Program Director and Director of Clinical Education.
While the many paths have been incredible thus far, even more so have been the peers and colleagues I’ve met along the way, who, in addition to my husband and family, are the real secret of any successful path I can claim. Through their support, capacity to connect and willingness to share, I learned from them, became a better person, and grew [and continue to grow] professionally.
What’s the most rewarding part about your work and what are some challenges?
Since I started working at St. John’s University (SJU) in 2019, we have been in the development phase for the new DPT Program, which just recently attained Candidacy status this past November. The challenges lie in the frequent cognitive load from working and task switching across various programmatic planning components. Therefore, it can sometimes be quite exhausting and requires a lot of flexibility to stay focused on the larger vision, especially after a year or two without students. Students and their curiosity have always been a source of inspiration for me which I missed greatly during this time.
I can best relate the rewarding aspects of my work to an old parable of the “Three Bricklayers.” While there are variations, generally, the story depicts the responses of 3 bricklayers when asked what they are doing. The first one replies, “I’m laying down the brick,” the second replies, “I’m building a wall,” and the third enthusiastically replies, “I’m building a beautiful cathedral.” I’m constantly recalibrating and aligning the tasks with the larger vision for our future students at St. John’s University, similar to the third bricklayer. But it does take some mental resilience. Thank goodness I have great colleagues with whom to laugh and find fun in most of these processes. While challenges exist, because naturally, they must, the most rewarding part of my work is collaborating with others at St. John’s University (PT program, administration, and interprofessional faculty) and learning from the development process of the program: creating, seeing it evolve, and envisioning the students who will benefit from it.
Member Spotlight (Continued)
What is a typical day like for you?
Since the pandemic, I’ve been mostly working remotely. I typically start my day by listing the things I’m grateful for along with other intentions in a journal book I have. Then, I review my calendar, which often looks completely different by the end of the day as unexpected meetings get added. Generally, due to the developing nature of my work, I’m always on email, have virtual meetings (even when on campus at times), administrative work duties, outreach to clinical sites, and meetings for other scholarship and service-related activities. At the end of the day, I like to relax with my husband (Felix) and dog (Jasper) and watch international food shows or something fun to distract the mind.
Who is one of your role models and why?
This is a hard question because there are so many qualities I enjoy and admire in various individuals daily and across diverse contexts. However, if I had to choose one, it would be Supreme Court Justice Sonia Maria Sotomayor. She is a role model for me because, despite her humble beginnings (which started here in New York City), her resilience and hard work positioned her to be considered for one of the most challenging professions in this country. Out of 113 Supreme Court Justices, she is just one of four women and the first Hispanic ever to be appointed. Being a “first” or different is admirable and a hard place to be sometimes. Yet, she commits to the role with a lot of grace and humbleness, which resonates with me.
What’s the most important trend you see today?
Many important trends are happening in physical therapy. However, one trend that stands out to me since the pandemic is discussions on innovative ways to educate students using technology, both in the classroom and clinic. Because we were forced to move forward virtually last year, it seems like there is more acceptance across the education community to consider how we can apply the best of the “lessons learned” to what we do in traditional, non-hybrid, PT educational programs.
What advice would you give APTA New York members who are new to the profession and want to make a difference?
I would encourage new members to start getting involved by attending a district meeting, volunteering in an event, or even attending the Delegate Assembly (the highest decision-making body of the APTA at the state level).
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They can also reach out to their District’s Director, Chair, or Vice-Chair (or anyone on the district’s executive board for that matter) and email them to inquire about how to get involved. Contact information for the executive board members is available on the Chapter’s webpage under Districts. If members do not know their district or want to join a particular district, I believe they can reach out to the Chapter and inquire there as well. All are more than happy to provide any guidance needed for our fellow peers.
The ability to engage in service at the professional level, observe and learn about processes, share your voice, and be part of a decision-making group for your profession is a powerful thing and a great learning experience. I’m still learning and have a way to go! The APTA New York community is a very friendly group, so new members or even long-standing members who haven’t been previously active will always be welcomed. I was one of them who had not been active initially. It wasn’t until a colleague, Peggy Lynam (before she was President of APTA New York), invited me to join a district meeting that I felt encouraged and welcomed to do so. So, if any new members are reading this or my experience resonates with you, I welcome you! I’m so grateful to have met so many colleagues within APTA New York, and many have become dear friends. Now that things are still somewhat virtual, it may be easier to connect without much travel, so take advantage!
How do you make time to volunteer and be active in groups you’re involved with?
I absolutely live by my calendar and to-do lists! I map everything out, whether it is scheduled meeting times or times I set aside to do independent work. It has been helpful for time management in making sure I have dedicated time to prepare, meet goals, and attend meetings, whether for work or service. Then, of course, there are times I may fall behind, but at least I have a structure and process in place to help get back on track. I currently serve as the Vice-Chair of the Greater NY District and am an appointed member of APTA New York’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. I also serve as a nominating committee member for the NYNJ Physical Therapy Clinical Education Consortium and ACAPT’s Clinical Reasoning Curricula and Assessment Consortium.
Member Spotlight
What else would you like your fellow APTA New York Members to know about you
I guess some fun things to share about myself outside the work/ professional realm is that I am happily married to my husband, Felix, and we recently celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. One of our marriage secrets is that we date each other weekly, whether it is going out for good food or watching a movie. We have a fur-pup that is five years old named Jasper, who is a Jack Russel and Rat Terrier mix. While I am a bit of a workaholic, I’m very family orientated, so I like to keep close connections with my mom, dad, sisters, nephews, in-laws, sisters/brothers-in-law, and good friends. And anyone who meets me knows that I can’t go a day without laughter… I truly believe that laughter is food for our souls, aside from love and acts of kindness.
Please return to aabdulmatin@aptany.org along with your headshot photo.
The 2022-2024 Slate of Officers
President
Michael Tisbe, PT, DPT
Vice President
Jeremy B. Crow, PT, DPT Michael Masaracchio, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT
Speaker of the Assembly
Genevieve B. Smith, PT, DPT
Nominating Committee Member
Keri A. Gill-Smith, PT, DPT
