Week 3/24

ASSIGNMENT --> On your blog this week, discuss how each of the following tasks are on-going at your mentorship.  Answer each of the questions posed below:

Career Path:  If you wanted to follow in the career path of someone at your internship site, what would you need to do to make this happen?  (Tip – ask the person for advice and use this in your response.)
Brendon has told me that to be a physical therapist I should major in something like Exercise Science or Psychology and maybe minor in Business or Marketing to have an edge on other graduates. He told me that in my three years of Physical Therapy school, I could do some of my internships at their office and he could eventually help me set up my own office. 
Workload:  How does the organization distribute the level of work among the staff?  How equitable do you believe the distribution is?
The work distribution is very reasonable. There is someone who manages the front desk and insurance/paperwork, etc. There are a few aides like myself who take orders from Brendon to help patients in and out of the office. And of course, there is Brendon, the physical therapist in the office. 
We are all busy pretty much all of the time!Tasks:  What types of tasks are you discovering that you enjoy or excel at completing?  Which ones are less attractive or fulfilling?
I enjoy helping patients learn and perform exercises, removing needles, and honestly, folding laundry is good stuff! I am efficient at everything I need to do in the office, because none of it is rocket science and I'm a bit of a perfectionist. However, I really don't "enjoy" putting stim pads on patients or doing laser. The pads are sticky and have an unpleasant smell once they've been on sweaty backs, and doing laser on injuries is time consuming and makes my shoulder sore. None of the employees like to laser!

Week 3/17

Culture/Collegiality: 

There are a relatively small number of employees at Back In The Game Physical Therapy. Therefore, we are all close and comfortable with each other. I love that about working at the office. My co-workers and I take an interest in each others lives. Brendon always asks me how my weekend was and takes the time to listen. We are able to share exciting parts of our lives with one another such as my visit to GCSU. Employees ask nicely for favors and can joke around to make time more fun. My boss and the other staff at BIG definitely illustrate my ideal employer, because the atmosphere is professional yet friendly.

Collaboration:

I remember Brendon mentioning speaking to a group of cross country runners at a sports store. He also has to communicate with patients' doctors. But other than those, I am unaware of BIG's involvement in our area.

Mentoring:

Brendon is always teaching patients about their ailments and helping them understand the process. I teach exercises to patients which is sort of like mentoring to them.

Interview with Dr. Layne Norton

I chose to interview Dr. Layne Norton. He earned a BS in Biochemistry from Eckard College and received his PhD in Nutrtional Sciences from University of Illinois. Dr. Norton currently works as a  bodybuilding/figure/physique coach, scivation consultant, IFPA & NGA natural pro bodybuilder, and professional powerlifter. I learned about Dr. Norton from a client of his on my Instagram. I was amazed by his knowledge and success in the fitness and health world. To learn more about Dr. Layne Norton, visit his website biolayne.com.

Below are Dr. Norton's responses to my questions. I understand that he works a demanding job, but I was underwhelmed by the information I received. 

What are the most prevalent risks of poor nutrition?

most likely that are serious are obesity, type II diabetes, and heart disease

How does regular poor nutrition impact health in both the short and long run?

Poor nutrition can reduce energy & mood in the short term and in the long run can lead to serious health implications as previously discussed

How does eating too little protein affect health?

It may lead to acceleration of sarcopenia in elderly, and certainly reduce optimal muscle mass and muscle health.  Moreover it may exacerbate insulin resistance.

Does the source of your macronutrients matter as long as you meet your daily requirements?

The short answer is that it probably matters to a small degree, but the overwhelming most important thing is the total amount of protein/carb/fat intake.

What are the affects of consuming too little or too much fiber?

Too little fiber may contribute to insulin resistance and GI disorders like diverticulitis and even colon cancer.

Do you support vegetarian or vegan diets? Why or why not?

Can you eat them and be healthy? Probably.  Are they optimal for health?  No.  

What is the connection between nutrition and disease?

Believe this is answered previously?

What foods should be included/excluded for optimum nutrition and health?

I don't think you have to exclude any foods so long as they are incorporated in moderation and not excess.  The only thing that should be eliminated are foods that someone might have an allergy to.  

Can you explain how nutrition affects hormonal levels inside the body and why this is important?

This is a really broad question and very difficult to answer, I could write a book on this I'm afraid?

What advice can you give to someone looking to improve their health through nutrtition?

I think the most important thing is to not fally into fads.  Fad diets do not work because they are not maintainable.  Healthy Nutrition means eating in a way that balances health with sustainability.  If you use fad diets, you'll just end up putting all the fat you lost back on and in many cases, more fat than you had previously, which may increase your health risk.  

Dr. Layne Norton, PhD Nutritional Sciences

BioLayne LLC

Week 1/21: Semester Reflection

Describe the most memorable experience you have had this semester in regards to the Honors Mentorship Program?

My most memorable experiences (couldn't narrow it down to one!!)...

1) Anytime I learned something new! Brendon was always eager to teach not just interns, but the patients, too! He would often have me bring out different fragments of the skeleton models in the office so he could explain a particular stretch, movement, or injury. This helped give me a visual of my dad's limited movement from his shoulder surgery. 

2) Funny interactions with the patients! From working the same office hours every week, I   was able to grow relationships with the regular patients. One man (one of my faves) always showed me pictures on his phone of his daughters on their wedding day or some funny meme. He joked around with everyone and made my days brighter!

What was the biggest lesson learned during your first semester of your
mentorship experience?

My biggest lesson was about professionalism in general. I learned great people skills,
communication skills, business promotion, etc. I've definitely grown from my experience at
BIG Physical Therapy. I feel better prepared for "the real world"...or at least college! 

How will you use this experience in the future? How has this experience
changed your view of learning?

I'll certainly use this experience to help me decide my future career. To be honest, I'm not
sure if physical therapy is the route I would like to take. However, my mentorship has gotten
my gears turning and made me question what I would truly enjoy doing for a living.  

I've always believed that knowledge is power. This mentorship has shown me how
knowledge can increase your credibility, opportunities, and problem solving abilities.

How has it changed your view of the career area in which you are mentoring?

Physical Therapy is a lot less...physical...than I had anticipated. I thought there would be far
more sweating and activity involved like a gym atmosphere. Instead, I've found that there is 
a lot of laundry, paperwork, socialization, and stretching. I know that I would strive better
from a more active career.

Week of 1/13: Project Planning

Holy cow! I've got to tell you, I'm a tad bit overwhelmed. Sleep, school, tennis, homework, health...it is hard to balance everything.  The end of the year is approaching fast which means I have to get focused on my big presentation for HMP! This planning should definitely help me begin my final project...

What is driving my research?

My passion for nutrition is driving my research! My favorite thing is finding a delicious recipe made from surprising (and surprisingly healthy) ingredients...like my healthy blueberry pancakes made with cottage cheese. They taste naughty but they're packed with protein and plenty of nutrients. I love to nourish my body with unprocessed foods and enjoy introducing different "super foods" like carob, cacao nibs, flax seed, goji berries, acai powder, and chia seeds. By doing this, I hope to help my body operate at its highest potential. I'd like to know more about how my body uses nutrients and what nutrients I need to live a long, healthy life.


What is my current essential question?

My current essential question is "How does nutrition impact one's overall health?" and has not changed. This question covers the following:
-What nutrients does the body need? 
-How do these nutrients affect the body's functioning?
-What happens when we don't get enough of or get too much of these nutrients?
-How can we ensure we get enough nutrients in order to ensure good health?

Other than the required website, what other tools do I envision to best show case my project?

I envision charts and many visuals such as food and an interactive power point. 
-Charts to easily display nutrients and their benefit to your body. 
-Food to compare nutrient density of different meals.
-Interactive power point to share my information in a fun way.

What will I do for my "real inquiry?"

I'm thinking an interview and a survey could really enhance the quality of my research. An expert in nutrition could really help me clarify my findings and a survey can address the general lack of knowledge about nutrition.

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.