Central District
Print this Article | Send to Colleague
VPTA Central District Gives Back
By Kate Lomaka
I have been a fervent supporter of the Virginia Physical Therapy Association (VPTA) since my first year of physical therapy school at VCU. As the Class of 2019’s VPTA Representative, I made every effort to attend as many district monthly meetings, social gatherings, and state-wide conferences as possible. Not only do the meetings usually come with a free meal, but the topics covered get me excited to learn outside of the classroom! The VPTA Centric District incentivizes attendance by asking those present to sign-in at the beginning of the meeting. Every attendance counts as an entry into a raffle (or double entry if you bring a friend) to attend a national/state conference. Last summer, I was surprisingly chosen as the lucky winner to have my registration fee covered for the Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) in Washington, D.C.
CSM provided me with humbling and exciting experiences, all of which were made possible by the VPTA Central District. I was constantly surrounded by students and clinicians who were so passionate about the field of physical therapy! Conversations throughout each day were a conglomeration of research updates, real-life patient scenarios, and catch-ups with old and new friends. I used my time at CSM to try out sessions across many sections, from pediatrics to orthopedics and neurologic PT. As a student, this was the most helpful approach as the CSM experience can be quite daunting (it is after all the biggest PT conference in the nation!). Thanks to the VPTA, I stepped out of my comfort zone educationally and socially, stored away some clinical pearls, and reignited my passion for this field I will soon be stepping into as a licensed clinician.
For students who are hesitant about or questioning how to get involved in PT school, I recommend first attending a VPTA district meeting! The Central District does a fantastic job of providing a space for students and clinicians to reap educational and social benefits from the meetings. Additionally, it pays off to be an active member! The Central District may choose you as the next recipient for an amazing opportunity!
