Name and Title(s):
Hyman Gee
Physiotherapist, Clinical Instructor
Where do you work?
Student Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic at Queen’s Park Care Centre (New Westminster, BC)
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Making a difference in people’s lives. That applies to both the PT and OT students that spend time in the clinic as well as the clients that we treat. Clients are so sincere in their expression of gratitude when they achieve their rehabilitation goals and that is always a reward.
With students, seeing those ‘a-ha’ moments as they learn and gain competence and confidence with their practice is still great to be a part of after all these years as a clinical instructor. Occasionally I will hear where some of my previous students are now working after they’ve graduated and it’s just nice to know that I may have played a small part in their journey.
Why does physiotherapy matter?
Physiotherapy remains such an important part of health care. As we’ve seen time and again, clients’ active engagement in their rehabilitation and health through physiotherapy can have such a positive impact on their function.
Whether clients are acutely ill in the ICU, recovering in a hospital setting or trying to improve their health in the community, physiotherapy often plays a vital role in their return to better health. As physiotherapists, our training and evidence-informed practice facilitates diagnosis and treatment of people across their lifespan. So one might ask, why wouldn’t physiotherapy matter?
What is a common misconception with your work?
Some people not as familiar with physiotherapy clinical education think that physiotherapy students (especially senior students) can come to their clinical placement and take over my entire caseload in very rapid fashion. The truth of the matter is, physiotherapy students, brilliant as they often are, benefit from guidance and feedback to develop their practical skills and manage clients’ rehabilitation.
Although the amount and type of guidance may be a bit different depending on the students’ level of training and it may evolve over the course of their placement, all students benefit from clinical instruction over the entire span of their placements. As a clinical instructor, I’m always finding opportunities to listen and observe students’ interactions with clients and provide feedback whether they’re in their first week of clinical training or their final week of clinical training.
What drew you to physical therapy?
Physical therapy gave me the opportunity to challenge my problem-solving skills in an applied science-based discipline and also to make a profoundly positive impact on people’s health and well-being.
What is unique about what you do?
I enjoy my work and my role as a physiotherapist and a clinical instructor. I get to practice as a physiotherapist with a variety of clients and also navigate the challenges and joys of facilitating student learning most months of the year. I work with a pretty awesome team at my workplace as well which doesn’t hurt!
What is one thing we might be surprised to learn about you?
After never owning a pet besides little fish in the family aquarium as a child, I recently became a ‘dog person’. We got our dog Jasper 3.5 years ago and I love him. Some may think that he is my favourite child. Prior to this, I always thought that I was a ‘cat person’ – who knew?