Jouen Chang – MPT Graduation 2024

What inspired you to pursue the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) degree at UBC?

Growing up, I knew that I always wanted to be in the healthcare industry, but I also loved the exercise and movement side of things, which made pursuing a physical therapy degree an easy choice. Additionally, my personal experience with injury showed me the tremendous impact that a physical therapist can have on an individual, and I wanted to give back to others the way that physiotherapists have positively impacted me.

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work with a physical therapist who really took a biopsychosocial model approach to my care which helped me learn the importance of not only addressing the physical, but also the social and emotional factors with injury. What inspires me to be a physical therapist is just the opportunity we have to help clients get back to doing what they love. I chose to come to UBC because of the beautiful campus, being a walking distance away from the beach, and a short drive to the mountains, which made living in Vancouver, an easy choice while pursuing my studies.

How was your experience in the MPT program?

Overall, I had an amazing experience here in the UBC MPT program, but the best part about the program is the people. There’s something special about spending 40 hours a week for two years with the same 120 peers, all while pursuing an intensive degree. There were many laughs, (also tears during stressful exam seasons), but the best part was having people to share unforgettable memories with.

Additionally, having supportive faculty who truly care about your learning and the opportunities to work with preceptors on placement who were so willing to dedicate time toward student learning makes the UBC MPT program an amazing learning experience.

What do you want to tell new physical therapy students about what they can expect during the program?

This program is a whole lotta grind, and maybe a few tears, but it’s all worth the 2 years of fun with some of the most amazing people. My piece of advice is to lean on classmates, learn how you study best, and also take time to do the things you love. Yes, it’s an intense program, but don’t forget to enjoy life along the way, whether that’s going on a ski trip with friends on the weekend, or binging on Netflix instead of studying, maintaining mental health is key to having a positive experience in this program

Be ready to study, learn more than you think you can handle, and also form friendships that will last far beyond graduation from this program!

How did you enjoy the community(s) you visited while on placement?

I was able to travel to Penticton and Prince George for my out-of-town placements, both places I had never been to before. I would say I was quite scared at first to be moving to a different community for 5 weeks, but I quickly realized it was a great opportunity to explore other beautiful parts of BC while learning on placement. I would say it was great to see how physiotherapy can look different in different communities, especially smaller cities, and I was grateful for how welcoming and helpful everyone was, whether that was offering a place to stay or getting a ride to placement.

I would say take this opportunity to go somewhere you’ve never been before, because it’s not every day you get to just travel somewhere for 5 weeks with no strings attached, because you never know what kind of cool beautiful places you could discover.

Where are you hoping the MPT program takes you? What’s next?

After graduation, I will be working in both public practice at VGH in the acute surgery ward, and private practice at Myodetox in Kitsilano. I am excited to finally be able to use the skills that I’ve learned and apply them in the real world,  to be a part of someone’s rehab journey, and help people get back to doing what they love, whether that’s getting back on the soccer field, or just being able to go for a walk with their grandkids.