The cutest little boy getting PT
Arti Patel, a biology major from Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City, New Jersey always wanted a chance to re-connect with her Indian heritage. Having visited India a few times several years back to be with family, Arti was ready to take on a more challenging opportunity in the field of Physical Therapy in Bangalore, India. She came to know about the PT Internship at Leave UR Mark through her university’s study abroad fair on campus. Saint Peter’s offers a rich array of opportunities abroad to it’s students and finds that students engaging in internships abroad is a great way to supplement their academics. For this reason, Arti embarked on a 5 week journey to work with a multi-disciplinary team that rehabilitates children with neuromuscular and developmental disabilities in the lush green city in Southern India.
Arti had found through her experiences in the United States, that the restrictions and laws make it difficult for undergraduate students to gain hands on and in-depth experience in physical therapy. On her 5 week internship, Arti found that the physical therapists in India were very hands on. She quickly realized that they use more manual therapy and apply a lot more pressure to patients. For example, if a child’s leg was in pain, the physical therapists would really try to “dig in” to the pain to try and release it. In general, she felt that the physicians are a lot more forward with their patients than might be considered professional in the United States. This is ultimately a part of the Indian culture, where there are less formalities and the physicians want to treat the problem quickly. In order for the patients to feel better, the physicians can sometimes seem more strict or stern.
Leave UR Mark interns on a weekend trip
Arti advises future Physical Therapy interns to ask tons of questions and have a lot of patience. Often interns are dealing with children that not only have physical issues, but also many behavioral issues. When patients fall or go backwards in their treatment, it’s important to have good bedside manner with them and be friendly with their parents. Arti focused much of her time on Pediatric Rehabilitation and shadowing two therapists that work on several children a day.
The 5 week internship has been a great learning experience for Arti who had never worked abroad prior to the internship. She feels that she is constantly learning at every step along the way. She feels she is more street smart, more confident about traveling, and has learned a great deal from the children and physical therapists that she worked with. Arti also is grateful to see another side of poverty that she was not exposed to in the United States. Some of her favorite trips on the weekend were Hampi and Kerala and she recommends that all interns go on at least one or two of these before they leave India. She also says with a smile on her face, “There is a surprise in India every single day”. Make sure you are open to it!
To apply for this internship, please visit: http://leaveurmark.com/physical-therapy-internship-detail/ or email info@leaveurmark.com to inquire.
Interns relaxing in the Leave UR Mark swimming pool
