"... This experience also helped me better understand myself and my interests as a future clinician. As I attended different sessions, I noticed that I naturally gravitated toward topics involving POTS, dysautonomia, chronic illness, and interventions aimed at managing complex conditions. Through this, I realized that my personal health challenges have played a significant role in shaping my professional interests. These experiences have given me a deeper sense of empathy and a strong desire to continue expanding my knowledge so that I can one day support and advocate for patients in the same way that healthcare providers have supported me. Recognizing these interests was validating and helped clarify the type of physical therapist I hope to become."

"... Before I went, I thought CSM would be mostly high-level research and talks that might go over my head as a PTA student. After going, I realized how many connections there are between what I’m learning in school and what people are talking about at the conference. Things like exercise progressions, outcome measures, patient education, and being part of the health care team all showed up in different sessions and conversations. It made me see my classes differently. It highlights that what I am learning now in my classes are building blocks for real situations I might see in future patients."

"... The APTA CSM was one of my first experiences outside the classroom involving the profession of physical therapy. One of my biggest goals while attending CSM was to gain knowledge and confidence that I can carry into my schooling and one day my future career as a physical therapist assistant. I was specifically looking to gain knowledge in the specialty of pelvic health. While I will have the opportunity to take an elective course for pelvic health while in school, I knew this conference would be an incredible opportunity to dive into the pelvic health world."