Week 12/9 Reflection

     Reflection with regards to my mentorship at Back In the Game Physical Therapy…

Social Conscience:
I think the therapists at BIG have every intention to heal patients and get them "Back In the Game." They do their best to educate physical therapy aides like myself and patients. Brendon Blake, the owner and main therapist at each of BIG's three offices, has charitably offered to help employees with different aches and pains, an action that never goes unappreciated. However, I don't see a notable effort to reach further than their offices to make a true difference in the community, which may be due to limited time and resources. The office is still a friendly and inviting place to be, though, and the patients leave with a grateful smile.

Building Your Network:
Brendon does a phenomenal job marketing his business. He makes lasting relationships with patients and their doctors. I believe that I've heard him say that receive the majority of their new patients through doctor and previous patient referrals. Sadly though, I sometimes feel that the relationships and efforts are not motivated by true compassion for people. Money seems to be a driving force and I completely understand this.
I've seen how important remembering names of people and small details about them can be not only in the healthcare field but in life in general. Just going the extra mile of making a mental note to ask about an event a friend was so enthusiastically beaming to you about attending the upcoming weekend can go a long.

Week 12/2: Essential Question

How does nutrition contribute to one's overall health?

Why did you select this as your essential question?  

- I selected this question because nutrition and health are highly important and interest me. They are topics that I enjoy researching and relate to my mentorship at a physical therapy office. I know that nutrition can impact your functioning and recovery but I do not know exactly how. I'd like to learn how exactly required nutrients benefit and affect the body. As a diabetic, I have found nutrition and exercise to be the key to maintaining stable blood sugar levels. I am curious as to why exactly a diet of fresh vegetables and fruits, complex carbs, lean meats and nuts makes me feel better than a diet including added sugar, simple carbs, and processed snacks.

What excites you most about finding the answer to this essential question?  

- I consciously try to make healthy choices for my daily diet because I find that this makes me feel, function, and look better. I have recently chosen to remove meat from my diet and include foods like couscous, quinoa, vegetables, fruit, granola, yogurt, and nuts. I am interested in learning more in the area of nutrition so I can apply that knowledge to my life. I believe that knowledge is power. The more I can learn about healthy living, the healthier I can make my life. Additionally, I can influence and educate the lives of people around me.

Do you feel that this question accurately reflects a desire/need that you have to find out more about this topic?

- Yes, I do feel that this question accurately reflects a desire and true NEED that I have to find out more. Generally, Americans are unaware of how the foods they eat can affect their body. Ignorance leads to a decline in health as far as nutrition is concerned. Often times processed foods and foods that manufacturer's claim to be "healthy" make up the majority of the average person's diet. I believe that when people learn the importance of nutrition, they are more likely to lead a healthy lifestyle.  This question is important and relevant.